Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: first-year player at FMU....Transfer from Louisburg College, where he played two seasons....Good defensive catcher....Has caught a lot of baseball....Handles pitchers well....Good arm....May switch positions to get playing time right away....Former JUCO teammate of current Patriot Brian Kahn....Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award 2020, 2021....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2021....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2019 (fall), 2020 (spring, fall), 2021 (spring).

LC: As a sophomore, hit .286 with 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, 2 homers, 12 RBIs, and a .406 on-base percentage....Registered a .975 fielding percentage (121 chances) as Louisburg went 26-19....Louisburg College Male Athlete of the Year 2019....NJCAA Region X second-team All-Region 2019....NJCAA Region X Gold Glove Team Catcher 2019....NJCAA Region X Defensive Player of the Year 2019....As a freshman, played in 50 games with a .331 average, 32 runs scored, 20 doubles, 7 homers, 41 RBIs, a .578 slugging percentage, and a .425 on-base percentage....Posted a .981 fielding percentage over 262 chances...Helped Louisburg to a 31-22 mark....Jerry Narron (Former MLB Player, Manager and Current Coach for Arizona Diamondbacks) Award Winner 2018....NJCAA Region X second-team All-Region 2018.

PERSONAL:

• Born Derek Taylor Neal in Goldsboro, NC
• A graduate of Rosewood High School, where he played for coaches Jason King and Josh Smith
• Goldsboro News Argus Player of the Year 2017
• NC All-State Baseball Team 2017
• Received Congressional Nomination to the United States Air Force Academy by United States House of Representative David Rouzer
• Nickname is Derek

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Pilot   
• Favorite Superhero: Incredible Hulk
• Favorite Athlete: Mookie Betts
• Favorite Sports Team:  Boston Red Sox
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: American Sniper
• Favorite Food: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
• Favorite Vacation Spot: Beach
• Twitter Handle: Derek_Neal11
• Instagram Account: Derek_Neal11
• Your Motivation Music: Country
• Favorite Thing About FMU: Griffin Athletic Complex
• Favorite Off-Field Activity: Anything in the great outdoors
• Goals for Upcoming Season: Get to the NCAA II World Series
• Why you first chose your sport: Been played for generations in my family
• The biggest mental challenge to you improving faster: Having a short memory; learning from the past and moving on
• Interesting Notes: Goldsboro News Argus Player of the Year 2017, NC All-State Baseball Team 2017, Jerry Narron (Former MLB Player, Manager and Current Coach for Arizona Diamondbacks) Award Winner 2018, NJCAA Region X Second Team All Region 2018, Louisburg College Male Athlete of the Year 2019, NJCAA Region X Second Team All Region 2019, NJCAA Region X Gold Glove Team Catcher 2019, NJCAA Region X Defensive Player of the Year 2019; Received Congressional Nomination to the United States Air Force Academy by United States House of Representative David Rouzer