Madison College right-hander Tyler Jones will return to the mound in the college ranks for a third season with one of the most successful NCAA Division I programs in the country, Louisiana State University (LSU). Jones was selected in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player's draft by the Chicago White Sox. 

The LSU baseball program and head coach Paul Mainieri are no strangers to success. Mainieri led the Tigers to a College World Series appearance in 2008 and brought home the national championship in 2009. Jones is one of 18 new recruits brought in this season to help the Tigers win a second national championship in three years.

"This is a very significant day for us, and I'm really proud and happy to announce our incoming class," said Mainieri to Bill Franques, the LSU Sports Information Director. "The 2011 season will mark a transition to a new era in our program. We only have two players remaining from our original signing class that arrived in the fall of 2007 -- pitchers Ben Alsup and Daniel Bradshaw. That class was rated No. 1 in the country and was instrumental in us winning the national championship in 2009. Hopefully, this new class will have the same significant impact on our program that the original class had. I think there is a really good chance for that to happen."

Jones, a first team All-American, became a highly coveted prospect by delivering dominant performances on the mound for Madison College over the past two seasons. This summer, Jones pitched for the Madison Mallards leading the team in wins and innings pitched.

"I wouldn't be in this situation without Madison College Baseball," said Jones. "Coach (Mike) Davenport gave me every opportunity to succeed."

Jones helped lead the WolfPack to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II World Series appearance in Enid, Oklahoma during the 2010 season. The righthander led the team in wins (9), strikeouts (77) and inning pitched (74.2) last season.

"Tyler put more effort into improving his pitching mechanics last summer and it translated into a huge increase in velocity and movement on his fastball," commented Head Coach Mike Davenport.  " He anchored a talented pitching staff and was a major contributor to our post-season run.  Tyler is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of doing on the mound.  He has the ability to be a contributor to LSU's pitching staff in the tough SEC."

The WolfPack Baseball team has had a run of pitchers heading to high profile programs.  In addition to Tyler, Cody Winiarski, a two-year Madison College starter, went 5-0 in his first season with a University of Viriginia baseball team that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals last year.  Nick Rice, a 2009 Madison College pitcher, also plays in the tough ACC conference for a North Carolina State team that also played in a NCAA Regional this past season.  These are just a few examples of the many players that have gone on to NCAA schools.

In a side note, one of his new teammates at LSU is Raph Rhymes, the NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year, who also played in the NJCAA Division II World Series this spring. The two did not get the chance to face each other in the tournament, but will room together at LSU.

LSU Story on Incoming Recruits

Tyler Jones Bio

Tyler Jones Drafted by White Sox