The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Jacob Orr
Dunn Announces Full 2025 Signing Class
8/8/2025 2:10:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB Head Baseball Coach Casey Dunn has announced the full 18-member 2025 signing class. The Blazers welcome nine players from the junior college ranks, three players from peer Division I schools, and six players entering the new season as true freshmen. In total, the Green and Gold picked up 10 pitchers, six position players, and two two-way players.
"This has been a very busy summer for our staff," said Dunn. "We knew that we would have to add a few pieces over the summer, but after the draft, we had to really work to add additional pieces that can help us win in the American."
UAB had to fill a roster that lost 25 players from the 2025 season, including three players who were taken in the MLB Draft. The three players selected were the most Blazers taken in a single MLB Draft since 2015. Outfielder Logan Braunschweig (9th round) and right-handed pitcher Colin Daniel (11th round) were selected by the Atlanta Braves, while catcher Nick Hollifield (14th round) was taken by the Washington Nationals. Additionally, T.J. Ford (14th round, Los Angeles Angels) and Jonathan Stevens (16th round, Minnesota Twins) were two signees who were selected in this year's draft.
"Draft day was great for our program as three current Blazers and two signees got to live out their dream of playing professional baseball," said Dunn. "I feel like we were prepared to handle what was lost, but it is hard to replace draft picks. This late class is a combination of portal and juco athletes."
The Green and Gold welcome Hunter Hyatt (Oregon), Bradley Loftin (Mississippi State), and Kevin Hall Jr. (Purdue Fort Wayne) to the South Side after spending multiple seasons at the Division I level. Hyatt, an incoming redshirt sophomore from Clyde Hill, Washington, began his career at Oregon but was sidelined due to injury. Loftin, a redshirt junior from Southaven, Mississippi, spent three seasons in Starkville before making his way to Birmingham.
"We had to take some chances on a few guys coming off injury, but if they return to form, it could be a special group," Dunn said of Hyatt and Loftin. "This is an athletic group with a few high-velocity arms and several left-handers."
Nine junior college players come to Birmingham for the 2026 season. The Blazers picked up four pitchers from the junior college ranks in the summer signing period. Josh Holley (Southern Union), Konner Keplinger (Shelton State), Caden Kok (St. Johns River State College), and Drew Thompson (North Central Texas College) bring multiple years of college experience to the Blazers' pitching staff.
"Josh is an outstanding human being first off," said Southern Union Head Coach Tucker Willard. "He is a very respectful young man and raised the right way, but when he gets on the field to pitch, he can flip that switch. Josh is ultra-competitive on the field and dominated the classroom both years at SU. He is one of the guys you never have to worry about on or off the field, and he is going to get the job done. Josh has all the potential in the world, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a draft pick after his career at UAB."
"Konner is a true pitcher," said Shelton State Assistant Coach Jake Vickerson. "He has an extremely high baseball IQ. I expect him to help the Blazers win on the weekends right away."
"I'm super excited for Caden," said St. Johns River State College Head Coach Ross Jones. "He's worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. Coach Dunn is getting a quality young man who should fit very well into his bullpen."
Mason Steele (Shelton State) and Drake Douglas (Northeast Mississippi) also come to the South Side as two-way players, with each bringing two years of junior college experience. Steele was the 2024 NJCAA Two-Way Player of the Year with the Bucs and helped lead them to back-to-back World Series appearances.
"Mason is as talented as any player in our state," said Vickerson. "He is a true two-way talent that will impact UAB on both sides of the ball, and he will make an immediate impact."
The Blazers also bring in two talented bats from junior college. Max Price (Glendale [CA]) and Alex Dupuy (LSU Eunice) come to Birmingham after two stellar seasons at their respective schools.
"I think Alex is a great young man that comes from an incredible junior college in LSU Eunice," said LSU Eunice Assistant Coach Nick Studdard. "He's a versatile player that can play all over the field and provide innings on the mound as well. He's a high baseball IQ player with high character. He is a winner on and off the field. I'm very excited to see what he does for the Blazers at UAB."
UAB welcomes six prep players and one junior college prospect from the fall signing class. That class included four pitchers and three position players. It was the Blazers' highest-ranked class since 2022, according to Perfect Game.
Three pitchers are homegrown talent from the Birmingham area. Christian Helmers and Jacob Francis were high school teammates at Hewitt-Trussville. Carter Samuelson prepped at Springville High School. Helmers (No. 24), Francis (No. 43), and Samuelson (No. 50) are all Top 50 overall prospects in the state of Alabama, per Perfect Game.
The lone junior college pitcher from the fall signing class was Andrew Prejean from Meridian CC. Prejean recorded 117 strikeouts in 96.2 innings over two seasons for the Eagles.
"Andrew is the ultimate competitor," said Meridian Assistant Coach Jarrod Parks. "He cares so much about the game and his team. He loved his teammates and this program with everything he had and still does. You knew you would get everything he had whenever he toed the rubber."
Jay Fuller (Oak Grove HS [AL]), Baylor Roberts (Saltillo HS [MS]), and Austin Pierzynski (The First Academy [FL]) are three prep bats looking to impact the Blazers in the spring. Fuller was named Second Team All-State in Class 4A in 2025. Roberts comes off a State Championship MVP performance in Mississippi's Class 6A Championship Series and was also named Mississippi's 6A Mr. Baseball. Pierzynski also comes off a state championship victory in Florida's Class 2A. He is the son of former MLB player A.J. Pierzynski.
The 2025 Fall Baseball roster can be found here or on uabsports.com. The fall schedule will be announced at a later date.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
Stay up to date with UAB Baseball by following @uab_baseball on Instagram and X.
"This has been a very busy summer for our staff," said Dunn. "We knew that we would have to add a few pieces over the summer, but after the draft, we had to really work to add additional pieces that can help us win in the American."
UAB had to fill a roster that lost 25 players from the 2025 season, including three players who were taken in the MLB Draft. The three players selected were the most Blazers taken in a single MLB Draft since 2015. Outfielder Logan Braunschweig (9th round) and right-handed pitcher Colin Daniel (11th round) were selected by the Atlanta Braves, while catcher Nick Hollifield (14th round) was taken by the Washington Nationals. Additionally, T.J. Ford (14th round, Los Angeles Angels) and Jonathan Stevens (16th round, Minnesota Twins) were two signees who were selected in this year's draft.
"Draft day was great for our program as three current Blazers and two signees got to live out their dream of playing professional baseball," said Dunn. "I feel like we were prepared to handle what was lost, but it is hard to replace draft picks. This late class is a combination of portal and juco athletes."
The Green and Gold welcome Hunter Hyatt (Oregon), Bradley Loftin (Mississippi State), and Kevin Hall Jr. (Purdue Fort Wayne) to the South Side after spending multiple seasons at the Division I level. Hyatt, an incoming redshirt sophomore from Clyde Hill, Washington, began his career at Oregon but was sidelined due to injury. Loftin, a redshirt junior from Southaven, Mississippi, spent three seasons in Starkville before making his way to Birmingham.
"We had to take some chances on a few guys coming off injury, but if they return to form, it could be a special group," Dunn said of Hyatt and Loftin. "This is an athletic group with a few high-velocity arms and several left-handers."
Nine junior college players come to Birmingham for the 2026 season. The Blazers picked up four pitchers from the junior college ranks in the summer signing period. Josh Holley (Southern Union), Konner Keplinger (Shelton State), Caden Kok (St. Johns River State College), and Drew Thompson (North Central Texas College) bring multiple years of college experience to the Blazers' pitching staff.
"Josh is an outstanding human being first off," said Southern Union Head Coach Tucker Willard. "He is a very respectful young man and raised the right way, but when he gets on the field to pitch, he can flip that switch. Josh is ultra-competitive on the field and dominated the classroom both years at SU. He is one of the guys you never have to worry about on or off the field, and he is going to get the job done. Josh has all the potential in the world, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a draft pick after his career at UAB."
"Konner is a true pitcher," said Shelton State Assistant Coach Jake Vickerson. "He has an extremely high baseball IQ. I expect him to help the Blazers win on the weekends right away."
"I'm super excited for Caden," said St. Johns River State College Head Coach Ross Jones. "He's worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. Coach Dunn is getting a quality young man who should fit very well into his bullpen."
Mason Steele (Shelton State) and Drake Douglas (Northeast Mississippi) also come to the South Side as two-way players, with each bringing two years of junior college experience. Steele was the 2024 NJCAA Two-Way Player of the Year with the Bucs and helped lead them to back-to-back World Series appearances.
"Mason is as talented as any player in our state," said Vickerson. "He is a true two-way talent that will impact UAB on both sides of the ball, and he will make an immediate impact."
The Blazers also bring in two talented bats from junior college. Max Price (Glendale [CA]) and Alex Dupuy (LSU Eunice) come to Birmingham after two stellar seasons at their respective schools.
"I think Alex is a great young man that comes from an incredible junior college in LSU Eunice," said LSU Eunice Assistant Coach Nick Studdard. "He's a versatile player that can play all over the field and provide innings on the mound as well. He's a high baseball IQ player with high character. He is a winner on and off the field. I'm very excited to see what he does for the Blazers at UAB."
UAB welcomes six prep players and one junior college prospect from the fall signing class. That class included four pitchers and three position players. It was the Blazers' highest-ranked class since 2022, according to Perfect Game.
Three pitchers are homegrown talent from the Birmingham area. Christian Helmers and Jacob Francis were high school teammates at Hewitt-Trussville. Carter Samuelson prepped at Springville High School. Helmers (No. 24), Francis (No. 43), and Samuelson (No. 50) are all Top 50 overall prospects in the state of Alabama, per Perfect Game.
The lone junior college pitcher from the fall signing class was Andrew Prejean from Meridian CC. Prejean recorded 117 strikeouts in 96.2 innings over two seasons for the Eagles.
"Andrew is the ultimate competitor," said Meridian Assistant Coach Jarrod Parks. "He cares so much about the game and his team. He loved his teammates and this program with everything he had and still does. You knew you would get everything he had whenever he toed the rubber."
Jay Fuller (Oak Grove HS [AL]), Baylor Roberts (Saltillo HS [MS]), and Austin Pierzynski (The First Academy [FL]) are three prep bats looking to impact the Blazers in the spring. Fuller was named Second Team All-State in Class 4A in 2025. Roberts comes off a State Championship MVP performance in Mississippi's Class 6A Championship Series and was also named Mississippi's 6A Mr. Baseball. Pierzynski also comes off a state championship victory in Florida's Class 2A. He is the son of former MLB player A.J. Pierzynski.
The 2025 Fall Baseball roster can be found here or on uabsports.com. The fall schedule will be announced at a later date.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
Stay up to date with UAB Baseball by following @uab_baseball on Instagram and X.
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