The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Ivan De Jesus Signs To Play Baseball At UAB
5/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Ivan De Jesus, an outfielder from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UAB and compete for the Blazer baseball program.
De Jesus is a highly-acclaimed player who has found success at every level of amateur baseball in Puerto Rico. Within the last year, he helped his AA team to a national championship, was selected to play in the national Big League All-Star Game and was invited by Major League scouts to compete in Puerto Rico's annual Excellence Tournament for top prospects.
"Ivan is a great sign for the UAB baseball program," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "As a player, there's no question in my mind he will play professionally one day and is potentially a five-tool player when he matures."
De Jesus was a part of national sub-championship teams at both the 15-Under and 16-Under levels, batting .474 with 10 home runs as a high school sophomore and .390 with 12 home runs as a junior. His 15-Under team qualified for the Elite World Series in Kissimmee, Fla., where he hit .450.
During his junior year, he also played in the wood-bat Palomino League (19-Under), where he posted a .377 average. The 6-foot, 175-pound De Jesus bats and throws right-handed and is accomplished as both an infielder and outfielder.
De Jesus attended Cupeyville High School, an English-speaking private school in San Juan. He will enroll at UAB this fall and compete in the 2011 season.
"Everyone who met Ivan on his trip here loved him," Shoop said. "He has an infectious personality that makes him a joy to be around. As a student, he's outstanding. He's completely fluent in both Spanish and English and should perform well academically at UAB."
