For those who need further proof junior college can be a stepping stone to bigger things, Perfect Game came out with its top ten JUCO to four-year schools impact transfers, and a former Yavapai College baseball player made the list. First baseman Riley Nelson came in at number four.
Nelson, who signed with Vanderbilt, hit .412 for the Roughriders last season with 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, 21 doubles, two triples, 48 runs scored, a .495 on-base percentage, and a .788 slugging percentage. He was also named to the all-conference first team. Nelson joins a Commodores team that went 38-23 last season.
Number one on Perfect Game’s JUCO impact transfer list is Brent Iredale. A graduate of New Mexico Junior College, he was a back-to-back conference MVP, a junior college All-American second team selection, and set the school’s all-time home run record with 42. Iredale signed with Arkansas.