The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Signs RHP Carson Jones
11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Carson Jones of Moulton, Ala., will join the UAB baseball team for the 2017 season, head coach Brian Shoop announced Wednesday. Jones played the last two seasons at Calhoun Community College.
"Carson Jones is a great sign for our baseball team," said Shoop. "Carson began his college career as a catcher, but was moved to the mound to take advantage of his arm strength and his competitive nature. He has made an impressive transition already achieving a high level of success. The exciting part is that Carson will only get better as he gains more experience on the mound. Coach Hopper calls Carson a `blank slate with unlimited potential', and can't wait to start working with him."
In nine appearances last season at Calhoun CC, Jones had a 2.82 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched. The RHP tallied 35 strikeouts and only issued 19 walks. He showed his off his arm strength on the mound by throwing three complete games, including a shutout.
"In his first year of pitching Carson was Calhoun's Most Valuable Pitcher," added Shoop. "His teammates think so highly of him that they voted Carson as the most trusted teammate and the player who gives Calhoun the best chance to win. Pitchers who can dominate the strike zone have had the most success in our program and Carson is already is a strike thrower who can throw three pitches for strikes. On top of that, he has the potential to develop into a power arm who can throw strikes. Those types of guys are hard to find and they can be special on the mound."
Jones played high school baseball at Lawrence County High School in Moulton, Ala. During his tenure at Lawrence HS, he was selected to the 2012 and 2013 First Team All-Area and First Team All-County Team. Jones was also a standout basketball player for the Red Devils.
"We are so grateful to Coach Burns at Calhoun Community College who completed the transition from catcher to pitcher and has done an incredible job of helping Carson make the transition so beautifully, Shoop sad. "Carson is certainly one of the top junior college prospects in our state."
Jones has done an equally impressive job in the classroom as a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies.
"Carson is another example of an amazing young man in the classroom as well as off the field," added Shoop. "He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa (must have a 3.5 GPA or above in junior college to qualify for this academic honor). He will excel in school, earn his UAB degree and be an incredible role model off the field. We are thrilled that Carson Jones will be joining the UAB Baseball family next fall."
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