Hess recorded 106 total strikeouts last season, including 70 in conference play which was good for 3rd best in the SEC.
With the 26th overall selection, Hess becomes the highest Crimson Tide pitcher ever selected, the second highest draft pick in Alabama baseball history, and is the 5th player from the Crimson Tide to be selected in the 1st round.
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Pressure, of the most intense kind, is part of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.
New Alabama head man Kalen DeBoer has it. So too did Nick Saban.
No Crimson Tide head coach, no matter the extent of success or failure can escape the unrelenting pressure.
In Tuscaloosa, a national championship is an every-season goal.
And it is the standard by which every season’s success is measured.
Kalen DeBoer has never experienced anything like it before.
Not only does he carry the burden of the Alabama standard, but he carries it immediately following college football’s greatest-ever coach.
For Alabama football fans the good news is every indication so far, Kalen DeBoer was a perfect choice to face such challenge.
Not everyone agrees. Eyeballs are attracted to stories claiming the Crimson Tide is sure to slip under DeBoer.
Unfortunately, the theme will likely remain popular until the Alabama Crimson Tide, under Kalen DeBoer wins multiple national championships.
For example, labeled an ESPN Insider, Courtney Cronin, recently opined “Let’s say they (Alabama) struggle in some of those early games.
The first two weeks, non-conference programs at home.
They shouldn’t have any problem with that. But then the Wisconsin game on the road and then having Georgia come to town.
If Alabama loses those games, and if this team struggles, Nick Saban’s going to have to talk about that on College GameDay.
Kalen DeBoer won’t be able to escape the Nick Saban shadow in which he’s already in.
Can you imagine how loud that noise is going to get?”
