Alabama left-handed pitcher Omar Melendez announced on Twitter that he was transferring to the University of Maryland to continue his academic and athletic career.
Melendez had a 3.45 earned run average in 93.0 innings pitched for the Hornets this past season after limited playing time his freshman season in 2022. He also recorded 96 strikeouts this year and finished with a perfect 12-0 record in 15 games.
Melendez was honored with HBCU Baseball Black College Nines (BCN) Pitcher of the Year award along with first team BCN Elites. He garnered a slew of awards from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Second-Team All-American honors, ABCA Second-Team All-American honors, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Second-Team All-American, SWAC Pitcher of the Year, and First-Team All-SWAC.
Led the SWAC in wins 12, ranked 2nd in the NCAA statistical category, No. 16th with a 2.52 earned run average and complete games (4) No. 3 NCAA. Melendez ranked third in the SWAC in innings pitched 93.0, fourth in strikeouts 96, and fifth in opponent batting average .253. Melendez was voted the SWAC Pitcher of the Week four times.
Melendez pitched for USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in a three-game series over Chinese Taipei. Selected and played in the HBCU Swingman Classic in Seattle, Washington, and the HBCU All-Star Game in Atlanta, Ga.