Vaughn Institutes New UA Baseball Tradition

Alabama baseball has a new magic jersey number.

Three of new coach Rob Vaughn's core values are toughness, ownership and grit.

As first reported by Will Miller of BamaCentral.com, these pillars are crucial in this new era, under Vaughn and one way they're being represented is with the jersey No. 3 being designated for a player who best embodies them.

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But who would that be for the 2024 Crimson Tide under Vaughn?

Here's the answer: graduate outfielder Evan Sleight. Like Vaughn, Sleight is brand new at the Capstone. Both arrived from the Big Ten, Vaughn was hired from Maryland and Sleight transferred from Rutgers. Last season for the Scarlet Knights Sleight hit .315 in 203 at-bats with 27 extra-base hits (including 12 home runs). He's from Framingham, Mass.

Sleight wore No. 6 on his uniform tops in fall practice, including the exhibition matchups. He hit a home run and scored two runs on Oct. 28 against Florida State.

"He's [Vaughn] brought a whole bunch of great things to the table," right-handed starting pitcher Ben Hess said. "Even the number three that Evan wears, he brought that in."

The players, Vaughn recently noted , have lived out commitment to their goals, and the three pillars are an integral part of that.

Bama opens the season Fri. Feb. 16 with a three game set at home vs. Manhattan College. Friday's first pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT and the game can be heard on Tide 100.9 FM and 1230 AM WTBC along with the Tide app.