MADISON- Bob Jones super sophomore Dylan Ray is being touted as the No. 1 high school baseball player in Alabama and has already verbally committed to Alabama, but his biggest claim to fame may be his desire to play the sport at whatever cost.

The current third baseman and pitcher for the Patriots is rocketing the baseball at home plate with speeds reaching 95 miles per hour. He’s leading the team in homeruns (8), RBIs (32), slugging percentage (.773) and batting average (.413) all while nursing an elbow strain causing him to skip most of his pitching rotation and just handle the team’s designated hitter position. For those in the know of high school baseball, Ray is the real deal.

“We believe the sky is the limit for this kid as he has the potential to be drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft after high school,” said Jared Smith head coach of Bob Jones. “He is also a great teammate who wants to play wherever he is needed to make the team the best. He’s even offered to change positions to help the team get the best possible lineup on the field.”

“I’ve always loved baseball and the thought of playing the next level,” said Ray. “I even thought that when I used to play backyard whiffle ball growing up with some of my current teammates. Growing up I used to watch You Tube videos to learn how to hit the ball and to try and put elevation on the ball. I’m still watching those videos today.”

The son of Tom and Lajeanna Ray, along with a younger brother, Brayden, an eighth grader at Liberty Middle School, older brother, Jacob, who attends the University of Alabama, and older sister McKenna who plays softball for the University of North Alabama, Ray moved to the Madison area while in the sixth grade. Once he attended Discovery Middle School, the determination and desire to hit and not sit came to the forefront for Ray.

After winning the county championship in the seventh grade, the Discovery Panthers were being led by Ray into the new season, but he suffered a partial UCL tear in his right throwing elbow. Although no surgery was needed, he was instructed by a doctor in Birmingham to shut down throwing for eight weeks. Ray said of his learning of the doctor’s instructions, “I was devastated. I wanted to play and help my team.”

Ray was so determined not to sit, he chose to teach himself to throw left handed so he could continue to play and lead his team to what would be another county championship. He would spend hours, many times well into the night darkness, throwing a soft baseball against a wall of his home learning the form needed to throw left handed. His parents were extremely encouraging as they saw the determination he showed of doing whatever it took to keep playing.

“I bought a Rawlings glove for left handers and made it back just in time for the county tournament, which we won,” said Ray.

After a superb freshman year with the Patriots a season ago, Ray (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) had an outstanding off-season venture to college camps. While attending a camp at Alabama he was clocked at 90 miles per hour and almost on the spot was offered a position on the Alabama recruiting map. He was thrilled at the possibility of playing for the Crimson Tide as he grew up a fan of Alabama. “Yes, I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else or wearing the colors of other schools,” added Ray.

He recently verbally committed to Alabama while also receiving offers from Mississippi State, West Virginia and Auburn. He said he is totally committed to Alabama and has hopes of studying nutrition and physical fitness

One baseball service has tagged him the top prospect in the state, which Ray, in his own humble way, said, “That’s nice, but I know other players can outwork you despite the ranking. I always feel like going out and giving my best. Of course being the top ranked player automatically puts a target on me by other teams. I’ll deal with it, just as I have other adversities in my life.”

“Dylan is blessed with great size, talent and a tremendous work ethic,” said Smith of his star player. “He lives in the weight room so much so, we actually have to monitor him to make sure he isn’t overdoing it. He volunteered to change positions to help the team and you don’t often have guys of his caliber wanting to move positions, which is a huge asset to our team.”

In true Ray fashion, he has also taught himself to play the ukulele after seeing a person play the musical instrument on America’s Got Talent TV program. He ordered one off E-bay and has learned several songs he can play at any time.

He’s an active member of the school’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a regular attendee of Crosspointe Church.

“I feel super blessed,” said Ray. “I’ve always believed let the light shine in you be brighter than the light shining on you.”