Donaldsonville native signs professional contract

After marking his name in the Texas A&M University-Texarkana baseball record books as the saves leader, former Eagle Adam Falcon is moving to the professional baseball level, agreeing to terms to join the Yuma Hammers of the Independent Desert League.

Adam Falcon is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound flame-thrower, who is a native of Donaldsonville. Falcon will join the Yuma Hammers after pitching in some nail-biting situations for the Eagles in 2016. He also played in Canada in the Western Major Baseball League for the Fort McMurry Giants.

Falcon started his collegiate baseball career at Baton Rouge Community College as a two-way player and played one season for the BRCC Bears. Falcon signed with NCAA Division-I school Nicholls State. He pitched two seasons for the Colonels and transferred to Texas A&M-Texarkana in his final collegiate season. Falcon possesses a 90-93 mph fastball that touched 95 mph on occasions in the postseason for the Eagles.

In the Eagles’ 2016 inaugural season, Falcon was named the closer of the pitching staff. Falcon made 13 appearances, compiled a 1-1 record, held opponents to an impressive .191 batting average and recorded six saves on the season. Falcon placed his name in the Eagle baseball record book as the saves leader.

Prior to signing his professional contract, Falcon was the closer for the Fort McMurry Giants. Falcon led the Giants in appearances with 18, a team-high two saves, tossed 31.2 innings and struck out 44 batters.

Adam Falcon spoke on signing his professional baseball contract and said, "I was excited and relieved to hear that I was picked up by the Yuma Hammers. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I have received an unbelievable amount of support from my family, my TAMUT baseball family and from my teammates in Canada. They encouraged me to keep chasing my dreams. Without their support, I don't think I would have made it even this far. I still have a long way to go to reach my goals, but I am going to enjoy every bit of the ride."

The Yuma Hammers are a part of the Desert League of Professional Baseball, which is an Independent Professional Fall League. The Hammers are a brand new team that will be playing in Yuma, Ariz.. The Desert League held a training camp in Chandler, Ariz. from Sept. 15-20. More than 300 players attended the training camp to showcase their abilities. Falcon stated that the Yuma Hammers had offered him a contract, and the team manager has placed him as the closer for the team.

Falcon also spoke on his lone season at TAMUT and said, "I will always cherish my time at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Our team had amazing chemistry, and we always played to the best of our ability. We exceeded many expectations as a first-year program. It was always fun playing and it was definitely the best time of my college career, and i wouldn't trade it for anything else.”

"I am just very excited that Adam is getting an opportunity to continue to pitch. Adam developed a ton while he was with us and being able to pitch in the Desert League should allow him to showcase his talents in front of MLB scouts. Hopefully, it leads to bigger and better things for him in his baseball career," TAMUT head coach Steve Jones said.