CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen chose playing high-level college football at Notre Dame over pursuing a career in baseball.
During Monday's celebrity batting practice session with the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox, Jansen showed a hint of his diamond star power.
Jansen muscled up to hit a group-high seven home runs in two turns at the plate. That was easily better than all his teammates, with only wide receiver Joe Webb, a converted quarterback, showing a fraction of such consistent power.
Jansen didn't let his power get to his head, however. He doesn't want to be called "Long Ball Snapper" or get any other nicknames for his exploits.
It helped the likely winner — rookie running back Tyler Gaffney, who was drafted as an outfielder by Pirates (24th round) in 2012 — couldn't participate. He still needs to finish school at Stanford.
Jansen figures that Gaffney would have beaten him. For now, though, he's the Panthers' home run king.
