Nov. 20, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB baseball program recently signed Madison, Ala., product Edwin Reyes to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period.

Reyes is a three-year varsity starter at Bob Jones High School, where he posted a 5-1 record with a 3.23 ERA this past spring as a junior. The right-hander struck out 51 batters while walking 19 in 47 innings of work. As a sophomore in 2008, Reyes collected three wins on the mound, including a victory over eventual 5A state semifinalist John Carroll High School.

"We first met Edwin at our summer camp and liked him immediately, both as a player and a person," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "As a player, Edwin has the frame and loose arm that project him to be a very good college pitcher in the years ahead. We believe he will develop into an outstanding arm."

Also an infielder throughout his career at Bob Jones, Reyes managed a .330 batting average at the plate during his recent junior campaign for head coach Jeff Bell.

Reyes played summer baseball for the East Coast Grays coached by Joe Caruso and competed in the 2009 World Wood Bat Association Tournament in East Cobb, Ga. In 2008, he participated in the Perfect Game Showcase series, where he received an 8.5 rating out of 10.

The son of Ed and Nancy Reyes, Edwin Reyes is an honor roll student at Bob Jones and is also involved in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"As a person, Edwin comes from a special family and is as good a young man as there is," Shoop said. "We think everyone in the UAB community will love Edwin Reyes, and we are excited he chose to join the UAB baseball family."

Reyes will complete his senior year at Bob Jones this coming spring before enrolling as a freshman at UAB for the 2010-11 academic year.