#PrepareAtPeace | Alec Allred ’18 Becomes First WPU Baseball Player to Play Professionally
Alec Allred ’18 has made William Peace University history by becoming the first-ever baseball player to sign a professional contract. Allred signed a professional deal last week with the Westside Woolly Mammoths and has already appeared in one game. The team is based in Detroit, MI, in the United Shores Professional Baseball League (USPBL), which was designed as a developmental league for players who want to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).
“Playing professional baseball has always been my dream and I will proudly say I played baseball at William Peace University.”
Allred’s signing marks a huge success for Athletics at WPU, as he is only the second-ever WPU student-athlete to sign with a professional team. He led the Pacers during the 2018 season with a .395 batting average and .492 slugging percentage, while also leading the team in hits and runs batted in. Allred was named USA South Baseball Player of the Week once this season and was named to the USA South All-Conference First Team of the East Division.
Allred was also awarded the Pacer Outstanding Male Athlete Award in April. The award is given annually to one male student-athlete deemed to have had the greatest impact on the University’s athletic program during the academic year.
“I can’t say thank you enough to my teammates and my coaches for all that they did to get me to this point,” Allred said. “I also want to say thank you to the Athletic Department and the University for preparing me in this next step. Playing professional baseball has always been my dream and I will proudly say I played baseball at William Peace University.”
In the last two years, more than 20 players from the USPBL have had their contracts bought out by MLB organizations. If Allred continues to perform as he did for WPU, then the possibilities for his professional career are endless.
“Not only is it a great deal for Alec and his career, but it’s great for the University and the baseball program.”
“It has been a pleasure to have Alec as a part of our program,” expressed WPU Head Baseball Coach, Curtis Owen. “I am extremely excited for Alec and the opportunity he has been given. He has set the bar high for future Pacers. We wish him the best of luck and we look forward to following his success.”
Allred’s signing comes at an exciting time for William Peace Athletics, with the announcement of the addition of Track and Field in the fall of 2017, WPU now offers 18 intercollegiate sports programs. Since 2012, the University has added 12 intercollegiate sports programs.
“What a great story of hard work and chasing your dreams,” said Kevin Daniels, Director of Athletics at William Peace University. “Being one of our first student-athletes to sign a professional contract is a big deal. Not only is it a great deal for Alec and his career, but it’s great for the University and the baseball program.”
Allred recently played his first game in the USPBL, where he went 1-2 with a single and a strikeout. While at WPU, he majored in Liberal Studies and minored in Political Science.
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