The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Inks Tyler Gates
11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tyler Gates of Northport, Ala. will join the UAB baseball team for the 2017 season, head coach Brian Shoop announced on Monday. Gates, a right-handed pitcher, will have two years of eligibility at UAB after finishing his career at Shelton State Community College this spring.
"Tyler Gates is our final signee of the early signing period, and we could not be more excited," said Shoop.
Gates was a workhorse for Shelton State Community College during the 2015 season. He tallied 57.1 innings on the mound, posting a 5-3 record in 12 starts. He recorded 35 strikeouts and kept his ERA at an impressive 2.98 mark.
"Tyler has continued his dominance on the mound at the junior college level," added Shoop. "He has been tutored under Bobby Sprowl, one of the best pitching coaches anywhere. Coach Sprowl has produced so many professional and college players (including current Blazer Stephen Baggett) and you know every time you get a Bobby Sprowl product, you get a young man ready to compete at a high level."
Gates was the captain of the Tuscaloosa County High School baseball teams his final two seasons. During his senior season he had a 12-2 record and 1.45 ERA. Gates also notched 130 strikeouts in 82.1 innings pitched. He also was the schools starting quarterback, guiding the Wildcats to a 9-3 record his senior year.
"He has been really good for years, but coming back from his injury he developed a plus change-up to go along with his power fastball and slider which will take him to another level," Shoop said. "We absolutely see Tyler as a front of the rotation starter who will make a huge impact on our program next year. We have had a great run of starting pitchers with Chase Mallard and James Naile both being named First-Team Conference USA in addition to Alex Luna and Johnny Lieske forming one of the best rotations in C-USA that last two years. Tyler Gates is certainly in the same class on the mound and we can't wait to see him in Green and Gold next year. We will be a better team playing behind Tyler pitching."
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