Right-handed pitcher comes to UAB from Heartland (Ill.) Community College"
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Dillon Napoleon, a right-handed pitcher from Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois., has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UAB and compete for the Blazer baseball program.
Napoleon completed his freshman season at Heartland this past spring, posting a 7-1 record on the mound with a 2.62 ERA. He struck out 64 batters and walked 17 in 44 2/3 innings on his way to ranking third in the NJCAA in strikeouts per inning. Napoleon held opponents to a .229 batting average over 10 appearances and nine starts as he helped the Hawks to a 42-9 record.
Napoleon will play his sophomore season at Heartland in the spring of 2010 before enrolling at UAB for the 2010-11 academic year.
"Going into this recruiting season, we knew we could lose up to nine pitchers off the current roster, so pitching was our number one need," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "Dillon Napoleon is exactly what we were looking for, and we are thrilled to announce him as our first signee of this recruiting class."
This past summer, Napoleon pitched for the Springfield Sliders of the Prospect League, one of the top collegiate summer leagues in the country. He finished the season 3-2 with a 4.14 ERA and struck out 46 batters in 37 innings.
Before going to Heartland, Napoleon played his high school baseball for his father Mike at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois., where he also played quarterback and wide receiver on the football team. As a pitcher and shortstop, he earned all-state, all-conference and team MVP honors during his senior year in 2008. He was also named the MVP of his American Legion team in the summer of 2008.
"Dillon is a power pitcher with electric stuff and can dominate a game on the mound," Shoop said. "He is also a tough, competitive young man who will handle well the pressures of pitching in Conference USA each weekend. Lastly, he is a great athlete who is very mature mentally, having played for his dad in high school and coach Nate Metzger in junior college. We believe he is a great addition to our weekend rotation for the 2011 season."
The son of Mike and Melanie Napoleon, Dillon Napoleon has one brother, Dusty, who plays in the Oakland Athletics organization.
Wednesday marked the start of the early signing period for baseball. The early period continues through Nov. 18.