[Flamepop]

Pilots' Alex Close excelling after draft disappointment
Rising senior was attracted by school's Christian mission.

David Teel
8:26 p.m. EDT, July 16, 2014

HAMPTON — Alex Close is the first to acknowledge he's not a can't-miss, five-tool, Mike Trout clone. Sabermetricians don't swoon at his numbers, and Major League scouts don't speed-dial the front office after his every at-bat.

But Close is a natural power hitter, and throughout his youth career he knew little except individual and team achievement. A freshman All-America season at Liberty University in 2012 — he led the Big South with 14 home runs — continued that arc, making his 2013 crash all the more jarring.

Faith, family and a summer with the Peninsula Pilots helped him rebound.

Click Here for Full Story

be sure to watch the video too.

[Sly Fox]

Nice find! I agree about checking out the video. This kid definitely gets it.

[Chippy]

He's quite an ambassador for the school and for Christ.

[BJWilliams]

Some of the best major league players didn't start out as can't miss, make scouts race for the phone kind of players.

[Cider Jim]

He's quite an ambassador for the school and for Christ.

And our Honors Program: he will be writing his senior Honors thesis next year.

[alabama24]

Alex only has one problem as far as I can see... He's an Auburn fan.

Seriously, he is a stand up guy and I am VERY glad to have him back at Liberty. My boys like talking to him during the Flames Kids Club CFA "meet and greet" they do each year. They say that Alex is their favorite player.

#GOFLAMES (and #RTR! )

[BJWilliams]

He has a chance to really increase his stock this year by coming back (especially since he will probably have to be the major offensive producer with Seiz now in the pros)