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Alabama had high hopes for Bryce Fowler when after last season it landed the guy who was supposed to be one of the top junior college outfielders in the country.
Fowler brought his immense talents to the SEC from Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. But he began his collegiate career at Southern Mississippi, so up until this season he had stayed in his home state. Fowler spent 2 seasons with the Golden Eagles, redshirting his first season there after just 3 at-bats.
During 2 seasons in Hattiesburg, Fowler was a mere blip on the college baseball radar with exactly 1 hit.
Then he transferred to Pearl River, where things got going. In his 1 season there, he posted a team-high .419 batting average. In 57 games, Fowler smacked 11 homers and had 52 RBI. He was also a demon on the basepaths, stealing 24 bases.
But back to that slugging potential and back to Alabama, where Fowler is trying to make a big-time impression. Well, on Wednesday against in-state foe Alabama State, Fowler made a grand impression, you might say. With the Crimson Tide already ahead 4-0 with the bases loaded, 1 out and an 0-1 count, Fowler pummeled a pitch to dead center field for a grand slam, instantly doubling Alabama’s lead to 8-0 in the Tuscaloosa chilly weather.
According to NCAA Baseball’s social media, the exit velocity on the slam was measured at 100 miles per hour.
Alabama was already off and running on Wednesday thanks to its prized new addition as it tried to improve to 5-0 on the young season.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
