Outlook

Derek Albeln is a physical outfielder with an impressive speed and strength combination … Will be a key component in the Cavaliers outfield.

Freshman Year 2019

Played in 43 games, 25 as a starter … Batted .319 (29-for-91) with six doubles, two triples, six home runs, 35 runs scored and 33 driven in … Also swiped 10 bases … Produced eight multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI games … Committed just two errors and had a fielding percentage of .913 … Began his collegiate career with a two-run triple in a 3-1 win at Brookhaven in the season opener (2-7-19) … Belted two home runs and drove in five runs in a 12-2 win over Ellsworth (2-14-19) … His two home runs tie the sixth-best game in team history … Had a single and double and drove in two runs in a 14-0 win over Minnesota West (3-7-19) … Ripped a double and a home run, scored three times and drove in four runs in a 37-2 blowout over Ottawa JV (3-13-19) … That started a season-long eight-game hitting streak … Collected three RBIs with a pair of singles in a 16-1 rout over Southwestern (3-20-19) … Batted .555 (11-for-20) over the streak, with two doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 runs, and 12 RBIs … Had three hits with a double, scored twice and drove in three in a 18-5 win at Allen (4-1-19) … The next day had a single and home run and three RBIs in a 16-9 win over Rockhurst JV (4-2-19) … Belton a solo home run in an 8-3 loss to Barton in the consolation bracket at the Central District Tournament (5-17-19) ... Earned third-team NJCAA All-Academic honors with a 3.64 GPA.

High School  

Was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner for coach Mason Mershon at Hickman High School, Columbia, Mo. … Graduated 2018 … Named Missouri Class 5 All-District 9 as a senior … Also selected Rawlings-Perfect Game honorable mention All-American the Kewpies make the Missouri Class 5 championship game as a senior and finish the year with a record of 27-11 … Hit .309 with 35 hits, 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 35 runs and 35 driven in his senior year … Set a Missouri record for at bats in a season … As a junior batted .338 with 32 hits, four doubles, three triples, three homers, 22 runs and 30 RBI …  Played summer baseball for Mac-N-Seitz … Earned four varsity letters in football … Earned Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 All-District 6 honors at defensive back as a senior.

Personal  

Born Derek J. Abeln on Sept. 22, 1999, in Columbia, Mo. … Nickname is D.A. … Son of David and Bethan Abeln … Has a sister, Kierston … Majoring in information technology … Also recruited by Neosho County Community College … Favorite foods are ribs, steak and mint ice cream … Favorite fast food restaurant is Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers … Favorite restaurant is Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous … Favorite TV shows are Friends, Flash and Arrow … Favorite movie is 13 hours … Favorite sports movie is Facing the Giants … Favorite actor is Mark Wahlberg … Favorite book is The Energy Bus … Favorite music entertainer is Big Sean … Favorite cartoon character is Popeye … Favorite athletes are Chipper Jones and Mookie Betts … Favorite sports teams are the New York Yankees, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Lakers … The best player he has played against is Missouri Tigers quarterback Drew Locke … His greatest sports moment was picking off Lock ... Notable alumni from his school are Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, James “Bud” Waton, co-founder of Walmart and J’Den Cox, Olympic bronze medalist wrestler at the 2016 Rio Games.