The University of North Alabama baseball program has a rich tradition when it comes to seeing its former players advancing to professional baseball careers. UNA has had 15 players selected in the Major League Draft, including pitcher Tyler Joyner in 2018 by the Baltimore Orioles. From the more than 50 former Lions who have gone on to play professional baseball, UNA has seen five of its former players reach the Major Leagues and two have played in the World Series.
LIONS IN THE MLB DRAFT
Year   Round   Overall      Pick      Round Pick   Team            Player                 Position
1982   23       588         18         Los Angeles Dodgers         Mike Gentle            P
1986   29       711          5         Atlanta Braves                   Jim Czajkowski       P
1986   17       428          9         Chicago Cubs                    Harry Shelton          OF
1989   36       924          5         Texas Rangers                   Russ Cleveland      P
1989   34       892         25         Minnesota Twins                  Greg Bowles          OF
1990   18       495         17         Texas Rangers                   Rodney Busha       P
1990   18       479          1         *MIAMI-min                         Charlie Rogers       P
1991   18       474         11         Seattle Mariners                  Craig Bryant           SS
1993   40      1136         28         Colorado Rockies                Terry Jones            OF
1996   36      1066         11         Philadelphia Phillies            Justin Fenus           P
2000   17       491          1         Florida Marlins                   Josh Willingham      2B
2002   34      1026         24         New York Yankees              Nathan Bowden       INF
2005   28       851         21         Oakland Athletics                Mike Klug              2B
2006   15       440          4         Pittsburgh Pirates               James Barksdale    OF
2018   30       895         11         Baltimore Orioles               Â
Tyler Joyner           P
* MIAMI (minors) Picks in the June Draft
FIVE FORMER LIONS HAVE PLAYED IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES
Terry Jones
Colorado Rockies       1996
Montreal Expos           1998-2001
Jim Czajkowski
Colorado Rockies       1994
Cedric Landrum
Chicago Cubs            1991
New York Mets           1993
Sergio Romo
San Francisco Giants   2008-2016
Los Angeles Dodgers   2017
Tampa Bay Rays         2017-2018
Miami Marlins               2019
Minnesota Twins          2019
Josh Willingham
Florida Marlins               2004-2008
Washington Nationals   2009-2010
Oakland A's                   2011
Minnesota Twins           2012-2014
Kansas City Royals       2014
UNA'S MLB SUPERLATIVES
TWO FORMER LIONS HAVE PLAYED IN THE WORLD SERIES
Former UNA pitcher Sergio Romo was a member of three World Championship teams with the San Francisco Giants. Romo pitched in 68 games for the World Champion Giants in 2010, in 69 games for the Giants' 2012 championship team and in 64 games for the 2014 championship Giants team. As a closer for the Giants, he recorded three saves during the 2012 World Series, helping the Giants win the title. During the playoffs, he had saves in the clinching games of the NL Division Series and the World Series.
Former UNA Lions Josh Willingham played with the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 American League Wild Card Game, the 2014 American League Divisional Series and the 2014 World Series.
Romo and Willingham were on opposing teams in the 2014 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals.
FORMER LION WAS SELECTED FOR MLB ALL-STAR TEAM
Former UNA pitcher Sergio Romo was selected for the 2013 National League All-Star team as a relief pitcher representing the San Francisco Giants.
WILLINGHAM HIT TWO GRAND SLAMS IN A SINGLE MAJOR LEAGUE GAME
Former UNA Lion Josh Willingham is one of just 13 players in the history of Major League Baseball to hit two grand slams in a single game. On July 27, 2009, while playing for the Washington Nationals, Willingham hit two grand slams against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 14-6 win by the Nationals. He also tied a franchise record with eight runs batted in. The bat that he used to hit the two grand slams is on display in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. (above).
Willingham hits his second grand slam of the day on July 27, 2009.
WILLINGHAM HONORED AS AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Willingham was named American League Player of the Week for the week of April 9–15, 2012. Willingham hit 10-22 with three home runs in three consecutive games and four RBI, getting a hit in every single game.
WILLINGHAM RECEIVES SILVER SLUGGER AWARD IN 2012
Josh Willingham was named an American League Silver Slugger in 2012 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Willingham hit .260 with 35 home runs and 110 runs batted in. He finished the season with 66 extra-base hits, walked 76 times and scored 85 runs.
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