Alabama baseball's Connor Prielipp seen back on mound in Hoover before the SEC Tournament
Alabama baseball's Connor Prielipp was seen throwing a bullpen in front of scouts in Hoover on Monday. This is the first time the status of the left-handed pitcher's recovery has been made public since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of 2021.
![Alabama starting pitcher Connor Prielipp delivers the ball to the plate as the Crimson Tide opened the season against McNeese Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Sewell-Thomas Stadium. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FKV90NUBkJWJFPefhUT71g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEwNDk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-tuscaloosa-news/22046ee2bccf81c199fcca746e6e904e)
Prielipp is slotted as the No. 23 prospect for the MLB Draft on MLB.com.
Prielipp was reportedly sitting 88-92 mph with his four-seam fastball while maintaining an 84-88 mph curveball. He sat around 83-84 for his changeup. The bullpen session appeared to have taken place at Hoover High School.
Connor Prielipp (@AlabamaBSB) threw a ‘pen earlier today prior to the SEC tournament. Sat 88-92/93 (18-900rpm) mixing in power CB @ 82-84 (~2600rpm) & CH 83-84 (~2200rpm). Potential first rounder as he makes his way back. No. 46 on the #PGDraft board. pic.twitter.com/XNSi5GiAQ0
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 24, 2022
The junior has not played for the Crimson Tide this season, but pitched in seven games for Alabama in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19 after the Crimson Tide jumped out to 16-1 start.
While in an Alabama uniform, Prielipp has pitched in 28 total innings with 49 strikeouts.
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Prielipp appeared in three games before missing the majority of the 2021 season and having to get surgery on his elbow.
D1baseball analyst Kendall Rogers took to Twitter after the video was shared:
On a side note, a clearly healthy Connor Prielipp throwing a bullpen on his team’s practice day in Hoover is still bizarre to me with Bama’s slim postseason hopes on the line. Just a strange look IMO. https://t.co/UvWYcC1UDs
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) May 24, 2022
It is unlikely the junior will play in this weeks SEC Tournament.
Alabama will open the SEC Tournament on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. CT as the 11th seed taking on No. 6 Georgia at the Hoover Met.
Reach Max Wolborsky at MWolborsky@gannett.com or @wolbnotwoj on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball pitcher Connor Prielipp throws bullpen in Hoover
