Athens pitcher Jacob McNairy puts on an Alabama baseball cap after signing with the university to play baseball during a ceremony on Wednesday.

Athens High pitcher Jacob McNairy announced his intention to play for Alabama a couple of months ago. On Wednesday, he made it official.

McNairy signed his national letter of intent to play baseball for the Crimson Tide in front of a multitude of family, friends and teammates in the Athens cafeteria.

“It feels good to be officially part of the (Alabama) family now,” McNairy said. “I’ve always been an Alabama fan, and that’s where I have wanted to go.”

As a pitcher, McNairy went 8-3 last season with a 1.93 ERA, 68 strikeouts and eight walks in 61 2/3 innings. His fastball has been clocked at 90 mph, according to Perfect Game. McNairy also hit .407 with 18 doubles and 39 RBIs. He was selected first-team All-State as a second baseman.

Despite his great numbers as a hitter, McNairy said he will focus on being a pitcher only in college.

Athens baseball coach Chuck Smith said after McNairy committed in early August he was not surprised at his pitcher’s success.

“Ever since I’ve been here, Jacob has been a very hard worker,” Smith said. “He has kept his nose down and done everything he is supposed to do. He does everything he can to not only make himself better but push the guys around him to be better, too. As a coach, you wish you had an entire team of guys like that. That’s a special leadership quality he has which will help him all through life.”

McNairy had been going to visit Alabama for a long time, especially after his sister attended school there.

“I went to some (baseball) games down there and got to see their new stadium,” McNairy said. “It’s one of the nicest baseball stadiums in the country. Their facilities are off the charts.”

McNairy has put in a lot of time and effort in his baseball career to get to where he is today, and credits his coaches and family with helping push him towards his goal of playing at Alabama.

“I credit a lot of my success to my coaches, both in high school and travel ball,” McNairy said. “I also started working with a trainer in September, who has helped me get the velocity on my fastball up. Also, I have to thank my family for supporting me in what I do. I couldn’t do it without them.”