Nov. 12, 2015

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. 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 on some high end fastballs around this summer."

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 single-season.

"Tyler has had great baseball training, he played his high school baseball for Jeff Mauldin at Trussville High School," added Shoop. "We have had several of Coach Mauldin's players (current Blazer's 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 was selected to the All-Tournament team for the 2015 East Cobb Invitational, 17WWBA, 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.

"He also has a tremendous work ethic," Shoop said. "Tyler's 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."

For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).