While Union City senior baseball standout is focused on a potential return to the state tournament for the Tornadoes, he also has an eye even further into the future.
“It’s been my dream since I was a little kid to play baseball at the next level, and this gives me that opportunity,” Troy Joslin said after signing to continue his playing career at Jackson State Community College on Thursday.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said Joslin, who leads in nearly every offensive category and is also the Twisters’ No. 1 pitcher, was surrounded by family, senior teammates, coaches, and administrators as he made things official with the Green Jays.
Joslin made an immediate splash with the Tornado program last season after transferring from South Gibson County High School in the fall of his junior year.
Serving as the team’s leadoff hitter, he leads Union City in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, runs, and RBIs.
Perhaps more importantly, he is the ace of the pitching staff that has regularly given the Twisters a legitimate chance every time out – posting a 5-1 record with a 1.73 earned run average.
Joslin has struck out 72 batters in 44 1/3 innings for a Union City squad that improved to (16-8) with a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Madison Academic on Friday.
He insists he’s reveled in the responsibility of being the team’s ‘ace.’
“It’s a really important role and a big responsibility with a lot of expectations,” Joslin said. “Leading by example is important, and it’s also big to be able to go out and hold the other team while giving our guys a chance with the bats. Being a senior, I know setting the tone on Day 1 in every district series is important.”
Troy said being immediately accepted by teammates following his transfer as a junior was critical in his development as a Tornado standout.
“They took me straight in from Day 1,” claimed Joslin, who emerged as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher last season with seven wins and 83 strikeouts while helping Union City to 22 victories and a berth in the Class 1A state tourney. “I already knew some of the guys, but I can’t tell you how much the support I got from them and the community helped me. Our senior group is a real close-knit bunch. We’re very supportive of each other, and we’re quick to pick each other up when we need to.”
Joslin hopes good results in two seasons at Jackson State will provide him with another opportunity after that period. He says he was impressed by program facilities and the Green Jays’ camaraderie during his visit to the Jackson school.
Before he makes that transition, though, he is locked in on getting the Tornadoes back to the 2025 Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
“We’ve had a good season so far, and I feel like we have a good chance of going back to the state if we put it all together in the next few weeks,” Troy concluded. “This senior group is really solid, and we’ve been able to play our best when it mattered the most over the last couple of years.
“I believe we can do that again, and I think we can do even better than just get there this year.”
Joslin and his six senior teammates will be recognized at Wednesday’s regular-season finale when Union City hosts Humboldt at Elam Stadium.
(photos: Mike Hutchens – School Communications Director)
