Baseball
- Title:
- Student Assistant Coach
Chandler Avant returns to The University of Alabama baseball program for the 2020-21 season. He will serve on head coach Brad Bohannon's staff as a Student Assistant Coach for the Crimson Tide.
Avant rejoins the Crimson Tide following a two-year stint in the New York Mets' organization. He was originally drafted by the Mets in the 2018 MLB Draft following a standout playing career at Alabama.
He spent four seasons at the Capstone prior to being drafted. In his senior campaign in 2018, Avant totaled a team-high 22 multi-hit efforts and a team-leading 12 multi-RBI performances while pacing UA in RBI with 38 and ranking second in runs scored with 37. He reached base safely in 47 of 55 games in his senior season, including a streak of 23 consecutive games to begin the 2018 slate.
After suffering a season-ending injury his sophomore year, Avant returned for his junior campaign to start all 54 games and close out the season with a .286 (66-231) average. The junior shortstop teamed up with sophomore second baseman Cobie Vance to turn 31 double plays, a total that tied for 10th in the conference during the regular season, while recording a league-leading 190 assists at short. He wrapped up the regular season tied for 11th in the SEC in doubles with 15, while leading the team in that category. Avant led the Crimson Tide in hits with 60 and recorded at least one hit in all but 11 games on the season.
Avant put together an impressive performance as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending injury midway through the schedule. He improved upon a freshman campaign that saw him start 57 of 59 games and be one of the key contributors for the Crimson Tide on both sides of the ball.
The Troy, Ala., native is on-pace to graduate with his undergraduate degree in human performance exercise science in the fall of 2020.
