ATLANTA -- It's fun to watch Matt Rose hit. After all, the Georgia State infielder is one of the nation's top home run hitters.
But it might be even more fun to watch Will Johnson watch Matt Rose hit.
Johnson, the freshman outfielder, has become almost as famous as his slugging teammate for the dance that he does to Rose's walk-up song, “I Don't Get Tired,” by Kevin Gates.
“I don't know why, but in the first game, I just started dancing to Matt's song and he hit a home run, so I kept doing it,” Johnson said.
If you believe in superstitions, Johnson's gyrations have inspired Rose to slug 12 home runs, tying him for fifth in Division I this season and helping the Panthers to first place in the Sun Belt Conference with a 13-3 record.
Rose's total this season gives him 27 career bombs, more than any junior in the nation. Only six seniors have more career homers.
And even when the ball doesn't leave the park, Rose has been ultra-productive with 12 doubles, a triple and a .331 batting average. He leads the Sun Belt with 38 RBI, and he has scored 31 runs.
Now fans and even opposing players look for Johnson in the dugout when Rose is walking to the plate.
Georgia State pitcher Nathan Bates says, “It's energizing. Even though we know it's coming, we all get excited, especially when Matt's coming up with guys on base.”
Maybe the only person who doesn't watch Johnson is Rose himself.
“I've only seen him do it one time, and I can't watch anymore because I wouldn't stop laughing,” Rose said.
All kidding aside, Rose is serious about hitting, and that has shown in the improvements he has made each season.
As a rookie, the Melbourne, Fla., native made an immediate impact, hitting .299 with four homers and 32 RBI to earn Freshman All-America honors.
“I've become much more consistent as a hitter,” Rose said. “In high school, I just swung hard and hit fastballs. It's a whole lot different in college.”
He increased his average to .312 and belted 11 homers last season, when he had the luxury of hitting behind senior All-Americans Chase Raffield (14 homers) and Nic Wilson (18 homers).
This spring, there is no doubt that Rose is the centerpiece of the Georgia State lineup, and his dangerous presence benefits his teammates, especially Roach (seven homers, 36 RBI), Caden Bailey (28 RBI) and Ryan Blanton (five homers, 18 RBI). He has also shown maturity and discipline at the plate with a team-high 22 walks, including six intentionally.
Rose's value was in full evidence in Georgia State's April 18 victory at Appalachian State, when his two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted GSU to a 15-13 victory for a series sweep. He drove in five runs in the game, four of them in the eighth and ninth innings as the Panthers rallied from a 12-6 deficit.
Let that music play on.
