On Board with Curtis Thigpen

"Hook 'Em Horns". That's the battle cry of Syracuse Chiefs catcher and former Texas Longhorn Curtis Thigpen from his days of helping the Longhorns to three NCAA College World Series appearances and the NCAA title in 2003.

If Thigpen and the rest of the 2007 Chiefs can recapture what Thigpen's Longhorns had, perhaps they can deliver Syracuse fans a Governor's Cup Title as well.

"There's a ton of talent here," Thigpen said of the Chiefs' roster. "We have a lot of guys that can do a lot of great things."

Thigpen's hard-nosed attitude has made him a favorite of fans wherever he plays and could be a real sparkplug for the Jays in the near future. He has a good eye, patience at the plate and makes good contact. He also has some power potential.

That power was evident in this season's early series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees when Thigpen helped seal a doubleheader sweep with a three-run double in an 8-2 game one scorching and followed that with a two-run walk-off homer in the nightcap that gave the Chiefs a 3-2 win.

Thigpen has endeared himself to the Jays with very impressive plate discipline and the hints of power to come. He was one of the youngest hitters in the Blue Jays system to reach Double-A, and another solid season in Syracuse could put him on the road to Toronto.

The Jays were intrigued by the athleticism and excellent makeup that this Forney, Texas native had when the club drafted him in the second round in 2004 after he received his degree in health promotion and fitness.

After being drafted by Toronto, Thigpen flourished in the Jays system. Drafted as a good hitter, an okay fielder, and then a catcher, he has scouts talking about him as an everyday catcher in the Major Leagues. "Athletic, agile behind the plate. Playable hands. Runs well for catcher. Likes to play. Aggressive.", said scouts that have seen him since his days with the Auburn Doubledays.

"He played a lot of first base for the Longhorns, and has enough athleticism to play anywhere on the diamond except for shortstop and center field," scouts have said. "Offensively, he makes consistent line-drive contact and has some gap power. Thigpen could be very useful in the major leagues as a backup catcher who could play multiple positions."

The Chiefs found that out firsthand when Mike Vento went down with an early season injury and Thigpen was pressed into service at third base as Syracuse juggled its defense to replace the injured right fielder.

Thigpen was also on the Arizona Fall League's inaugural "Rising Stars Showcase" game featuring elite prospects from every organization in Major League Baseball.

If he can improve his defense and become even an average catcher, Thigpen could be an impact player in the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup very soon.

Forney, located just outside Dallas, is where the Chiefs catcher was born Curtis Barnard Thigpen on April 19, 1983 to Drew and Libba Thigpen. He has an older brother Andy.

"My dad really influenced me," Thigpen said of his formative years that guided him into baseball as a career. "He pushed me to play. He worked with me a lot and bought me everything I needed (for baseball). My parents did whatever it took for me to be the best I could be. They made sure I was playing in the best and most select leagues around. They made sure I had lessons from hitting and pitching coaches. My success is because of the opportunity they gave me."

Thigpen was a very good student in high school, having made the National Honor Society in his junior and senior years. "My mom and dad were very strict," Thigpen said when it came to his studies. "School was very important to me. I never let my school work suffer but baseball was still No. 1.

Thigpen was All-State in baseball in each of his 4 years at Forney High School while also playing football, basketball and track.

Although he's a Texas boy you might think more California with his blonde hair and movie-star smile. "I don't own a pair of cowboy boots," Thigpen said matter-of-factly "I don't live on a ranch, I live in the city. I don't listen to country music. I'm not your stereotypical Texan."

Thigpen is not a prototypical big bodied catcher, either. His body type is similar to Houston Astros catcher Brad Ausmus. "(Thigpen) has a well defined, lean, muscular, athletic build," according to pro scouts.

You can look ladies. You can dream. But hands off! He's taken. "I have a pretty serious girlfriend," Thigpen gleamed as he talked about Natalie, who he met while at the University of Texas in Austin.

Have laptop will travel could be Thigpen's current rally cry.

If Thigpen isn't concentrating on his baseball obligations he's attached to his computer. "I take my computer with me everywhere," Thigpen said. "I shop a lot online."

Wondering what he buys?

Well, he's very careful when it comes to his looks. He says he visits standardstyle.com and bluefly.com, showing that he enjoys looking good outside of a baseball uniform.

"I prefer jeans and a t-shirt," Thigpen mused about his looks when he goes out. "I try and make it that 'O he just threw that on look' but it might have taken me 45 minutes to pick out 'The Look'."

Thigpen dabbles with photography and loves music, mostly new age, Maroon-Five, The Fray, Frou Frou and Imogen Heap. "It's all on my computer, the pictures, music, everything." Thigpen said.

Between baseball and his computer you wouldn't think Thigpen would have time to get out much. When he does he chooses to hang with friends mostly. "That was the great thing about college," Thigpen said. "I made a lot of friends. They are still friends to this day."

The last movie Thigpen claims to have seen in a theater was "The Count of Monte Cristo" which was released in January of 2002. He does go for the "chick flicks", too. "How to lose a guy in 10 Days" and "What Women Want" are among his favorites. "It would be awesome to know what a girl was thinking," Thigpen said.

Thigpen currently drives a 2005 BMW-530 but has a dream of owning 2007 CLS550 Mercedes, which starts at $68,000.

The dream coulc ome true if his talent for business was to flourish. His business resume includes starting a baseball camp/clinic, 'National Champs Camp', which is a baseball instruction company founded and staffed by Thigpen and a lot of former Longhorns in Austin, Texas. You can check out the site at http://www.nationalchampscamp.com. He also has a NIKE shoe contract.

"I don't know if I'll ever be satisfied about the way I am playing," Thigpen said. "I can be happy if I'm not playing but I'll never be satisfied. I'll do my best to play hard and smart while I'm in Syracuse but everyone's goal is to be in the big leagues."