Jack Julian
Hixson High School baseball standout Jack Julian has signed with MTSU to continue his academic and baseball career.
A signing ceremony was held recently at the school with teammates, coaches, family, and friends in attendance. Julian, an all district pitcher and catcher for the Wildcats, will join the Blue Raiders, and new Head Coach Jim Toman, as a pitcher next fall.
The 6'4", 225 pound senior became a dominate force on the mound last spring helping lead the Wildcats and Coach Colton Green's baseball team to their third straight district title.
Coach Green said, "Jack had a phenomenal year for us last year, and I knew with his size and ability, he would get some looks. I am extremely proud of how hard he's worked, and can't wait to see what kind of senior year and college career he will have. I couldn't be happier for him."
He batted .427 with 33 RBI's, 8 doubles, and 23 runs scored. On the mound, he finished with a 3.19 ERA, while striking out 86 batters in 64 innings. Julian's 18 strikeout performance vs East Ridge, and dominant outings on the mound vs Signal Mountain, Central, and Red Bank, were a few of his highlights of last season's road to the title. Julian led the Wildcats in batting, and when not pitching, showed he was one of the top catchers in the area.
Julian continued to develop his pitches over the summer with his travel team, eXposure Baseball, one of the premiere programs in the country led by Brandon Turner and based in Chattanooga.
Julian said, "Once I started throwing in the 90's consistently this summer, and having success against some great hitters from around the country, college coaches took notice and the offers poured in. It didn't take me long to decide pitching is my future. I love the challenge on the mound vs a hitter.
"I knew MTSU was where I wanted to play the minute I arrived on campus for my visit. Coach Toman and his staff are bringing a winning tradition with them. It's big time baseball. Coach Toman was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator back when South Carolina won two straight college World Series. The MTSU facilities are phenomenal and the proximity to Chattanooga is close enough that my family and friends can attend games."
MTSU is a NCAA division 1 member of Conference USA, one of the top baseball conferences in the country. They play a vigorous non-conference schedule as well that include teams like Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.
Julian said, "I'm excited about being part of Coach Toman's first signing class and helping the Blue Raiders get back to the NCAA Regionals, then to Omaha and the CWS. But, what I really want to do first is to help Hixson High School baseball make it to the State this spring...in Murfreesboro at MTSU's Reese Smith Jr. Field, that would be awesome."