Dylan Lonergan expected to join Alabama baseball in January, per Rob Vaughn

Alabama head baseball coach Rob Vaughn revealed Monday that he expects Crimson Tide freshman quarterback Dylan Lonergan to join the team this baseball season.

Alabama’s football team is heading into their Week 5 matchup against Texas A&M this Saturday, but their baseball team is heading into their first practice of the fall, which is where Vaughn revealed his timeline and expectations for

“As of today, we’re moving forward like, yeah, he’ll show up in January,” Vaughn said Monday. “But I think time will tell based on what happens this fall, whether he does or doesn’t.”

Lonergan was a highly touted two-sport start for the 2023 recruiting class, ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 13 quarterback in the 2023 cycle according to On3’s Industry Ranking as well as the No. 292 baseball prospect in the country according to Perfect Game, boasting a 90 mph fastball.

He enrolled early and arrived at Tuscaloosa in January, spending time with Alabama’s baseball program as well as their football team for spring practice. He impressed in Alabama’s spring game, completing 57% of his passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, but did not appear on the diamond for the Crimson Tide baseball team fresh out of high school last season.

But it seems like that will change this year, as Vaughn pulled back the curtain on what Lonergan’s transition from football to baseball could look like in the near future.

“That’s been the conversation, for him to come over in January and start working with us and doing some things with us,” Vaughn said. “But I think time will tell. If that guy starts getting too many snaps this fall, things can change. Everything can change.”

Lonergan has had conversations with head football coach Nick Saban as well during the offseason regarding joint custody between the football and baseball programs. It’s clear that the plan is for him to join the baseball team in January around the time the football season ends, but a few factors could play an impact.

Lonergan is currently listed as the team’s fourth-string quarterback, making him unlikely to take snaps under center for the Crimson Tide this season. But the Crimson Tide also find themselves regularly playing football in the month of January given their success and regularity in the College Football Playoff picture.

But regardless, the focus now for Lonergan is football, and it will be intriguing to see when and how his transition to the baseball diamond shakes out this spring.

“We don’t want to be a distraction to Dylan right now. He’s got a job to do. He’s here for a reason … “We’ll be ready and fine either way, but we’re excited about the prospect of Dylan coming over in January,” Vaughn said.