SPRINGFIELD – When J.J. Altobelli recommended LJ Layhew spend his summer in Springfield, the Rice catcher searched a map.
“The first thing I had to do was look up where it was at,” Layhew said. “I’ve never been anywhere near the Northwest before.”
Layhew is a Houston native who only had to move a few miles to enroll at Rice last season. After an injury-filled redshirt freshman season, Layhew is healthy and back on the field for the Drifters this summer.
“Before this season started, the last time I was in a real game was July 2025, so almost a full year,” Layhew said. “It is definitely exciting to be out on the field again.”
Layhew, a 5-foot-8, 205-pound catcher, is joined by three other Owls in Springfield on the recommendation of Altobelli, a Rice assistant who played four years at Oregon from 2010-13. Springfield coach Jeff Lyle and Altobelli are longtime friends who have coached together.
“J.J. told me that coach Lyle was good and the weather would be a lot better than it is in Houston right now,” Layhew said.
Layhew is batting .220 with four stolen bases and 14 RBI in 19 games for the Drifters (6-18), who are home against the Marion Berries through Thursday.
“I don’t put much value in numbers or stats. A good summer for me would be No. 1, that my shoulder is healthy,” Layhew said. “That is the most important thing. Aside from that, I am getting my body in shape by playing six days a week for two or three months. I understand the physical aspect more now than I did previously. It is a long season so to be able to be healthy is the most important thing.”
Layhew sat out his first year at Rice due to a torn ligament in his thumb and a partially torn labrum in his shoulder.
He had surgery on his thumb on July 31, 2025 and was unable to do much on the field until October. He was able to start catching for a few weeks before his shoulder started giving him problems.
“I was able to start hitting and played a couple scrimmages in the fall, but then my shoulder would flare back up and I was on and off with rehab all season for my shoulder,” Layhew said. “I did not get completely healthy until about two weeks before the season ended. I would build back up, hit a wall and slow back down, it was pretty consistent like that until two or three weeks before the season ended.”
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Layhew’s run of good health has continued into the summer.
“This is the first time in a couple of years that I have had a month and a half with no pain,” he said.
Rice went 35-24, including 16-11 in the American Conference, before its season ended with back-to-back losses in the conference tournament.
“It was definitely tough sitting out, but being only 18, I knew it was beneficial to get that year under my belt and understand what Division 1 college baseball is like,” Layhew said. “Getting reps in practice was beneficial because I was not used to seeing velocity and arms like that, so catching them was great.”
The Owls graduated two of their top catchers so Layhew expects to contend for a starting spot next year.
“I am not overlooking that this summer is my tryout for fall ball,” he said. “I’ve got to show the staff that I am healthy and able to compete at that level. This is not something you can slack off on, this is for real and I am excited about how it is going.”
Bus rides to Bend, Wenatchee, Victoria, Walla Walla, and Ridgefield have given him some new scenery during his first trips around the Northwest.
“Seeing mountains and rivers is definitely a change of scenery from Houston,” he said.
Layhew’s parents, Brandon and Lauren, have already visited Hamlin Sports Park and will return next month along with his two younger siblings.
“That will be nice to see all of them,” he said.
