Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Baseball Adds Woodard IV to Signing Class
4/13/2017 9:53:00 AM | Baseball
The Nashville Native is the ninth player to sign to the 2017 class
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The Blue Raiders added middle infielder Albert "L.A." Woodard IV to their 2017 signing class, Head Coach Jim McGuire and staff announced Thursday.
Albert 'L.A.' Woodard|SS|6'0" 160 lbs.|R/R|Nashville, Tenn./John Overton HS/Kansas City Kansas CC|
The Nashville native, has spent the last two seasons tearing up the junior college ranks, at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Woodard will have two years of eligibility with the Blue Raiders after spending his freshman and sophomore year with the Blue Devils.
"We feel like L.A. has a different skillset than what we have right now," said McGuire. "He brings a lot to the table, he's a good defender, but he's a good baserunner, base stealer, great speed, tremendous athleticism. He does a lot of things that should allow him to hit at the top part of the lineup for us and be one of our better defensive players in the middle of our infield."
In 38 games this season, Woodard has compiled an impressive .348 batting average, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 22 RBI, while ranking 13th in the nation with 22 stolen bases.
A season ago as a freshman, Woodard was sporting a .314 batting average, with 11 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and 38 RBI, earning him an All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach, Tim Donnelly, agrees that Woodard will have an immediate impact with a chance to bat at the top of the order next season.
"He's a really athletic kid who has a lot of bat speed and good hands, good defender," said Donnelly. "He's a patient leadoff hitter that sees the strike zone well, and that doesn't strikeout as much. He will bring in a leader's mentality to this team next year, great kid and great student as he currently has a 4.0 GPA."
Woodard is just the latest of an already talented signing class, the Blue Raider coaching staff has now signed nine players to join the program next season.
Albert 'L.A.' Woodard|SS|6'0" 160 lbs.|R/R|Nashville, Tenn./John Overton HS/Kansas City Kansas CC|
The Nashville native, has spent the last two seasons tearing up the junior college ranks, at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Woodard will have two years of eligibility with the Blue Raiders after spending his freshman and sophomore year with the Blue Devils.
"We feel like L.A. has a different skillset than what we have right now," said McGuire. "He brings a lot to the table, he's a good defender, but he's a good baserunner, base stealer, great speed, tremendous athleticism. He does a lot of things that should allow him to hit at the top part of the lineup for us and be one of our better defensive players in the middle of our infield."
In 38 games this season, Woodard has compiled an impressive .348 batting average, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 22 RBI, while ranking 13th in the nation with 22 stolen bases.
A season ago as a freshman, Woodard was sporting a .314 batting average, with 11 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and 38 RBI, earning him an All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach, Tim Donnelly, agrees that Woodard will have an immediate impact with a chance to bat at the top of the order next season.
"He's a really athletic kid who has a lot of bat speed and good hands, good defender," said Donnelly. "He's a patient leadoff hitter that sees the strike zone well, and that doesn't strikeout as much. He will bring in a leader's mentality to this team next year, great kid and great student as he currently has a 4.0 GPA."
Woodard is just the latest of an already talented signing class, the Blue Raider coaching staff has now signed nine players to join the program next season.
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