The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Signs Tyler Tolbert
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tyler Tolbert of Trussville, Ala., signed with the UAB baseball team for the 2017 season, head coach Brian Shoop announced on Thursday. Tolbert is the second player to sign with the team thus far, joining Sylvester Toe.
"Tyler Tolbert is another great addition to UAB Baseball and is everything that we look for in a recruit," said Shoop. "He is very athletic and versatile and will be an outstanding defensive middle infielder, which has been a cornerstone of our team the last several years. We believe he will be an infielder from the mold of Jonathan Merritt and Nick Crawford, both who were great middle infielders at UAB and who both had an opportunity to play professionally. Tyler is also going to be a very good offensive threat as we saw him turn some high end fastballs around this summer. He's been fun to watch progress as he has just gotten better and better over this past year"
Tolbert has been patrolling the middle infield for Hewitt-Trussville High School the past three seasons. He appeared in 27 games during the 2015 season and posted a .316 batting average to go along with 16 RBIs. He was recognized as a Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention and heads into his senior season ranked fourth in school history with 69 assists in a season.
"Tyler has had great baseball training, having played his high school baseball for Jeff Mauldin at Trussville High School," added Shoop. "We have had several of Coach Mauldin's players (Thomas Lowery and Carter Pharis) and they are always as prepared for Division 1 baseball as any high school player you can get. Jeff's players are tough, fundamentally sound and great workers. Tyler also played summer baseball at a high level for Jamie Crane and the East Cobb Astros (the same summer coach and team that Blazer All-Conference player and current Director of Operations John Frost played for). He is ready to play at this level."
The 5-11 infielder has participated in many Perfect Game events and received a number of accolades including being selected to the All-tournament team for the 2015 East Cobb Invitational, the 17 WWBA, the Perfect Game EvoShield Classic and the Perfect Game National Qualifier. Tolbert received an 8.5 rating from PerfectGame.Org while playing for the East Cobb Pirates.
"Tyler also has a tremendous work ethic," Shoop said. "His character is off the charts and he plays the game with great passion and will bring energy to the team. We could not be any happier that we are adding Tyler Tolbert to the UAB Baseball Family."
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