Sports

Alabama Baseball Player Trolls Rival After Failed Retaliation For Disrespectful Bat Flip

#Alabama Crimson Tide
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© Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


The Alabama baseball team won an SEC baseball series over conference rival Florida this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Star player Justin Lebron played a large role in that success.

The shortstop smacked a pair of home runs while racking up four RBIs in the three-game set. He made sure the Gators heard about it each time he crossed the plate.

Lebron’s antics were seen in both the Saturday and Sunday matchups. His actions in Game 2 led to retaliation a day later. That attempt to get even failed miserably for Florida.

Who is Justin Lebron?

The junior infielder is one of the top prospects in college baseball. MLB.com ranks him as the NCAA’s second-best draft eligible player and a Top 5 overall pick.

Lebron is a five-tool player. He possesses speed, defensive prowess, and offensive firepower.

Last season, he hit .316 for the Crimson Tide with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases. This year has been much of the same.

Lebron is batting .301 through 25 games. He’s already racked up 11 homers while swiping 21 bases. He flexed his muscle against the rival Gators this weekend.

Alabama won Game 1 in shutout fashion thanks to a no-hitter tossed by ace Tyler Fay. Game 2 was a bit more competitive.

The Tide led 4-2 through six frames. Lebron broke things open in the bottom of the seventh.

The shortstop drilled a two-run home run to double his team’s advantage. Before making his way around the bases, he admired the moonshot.

Lebron then flipped his bat at the catcher’s feet and jogged down the first base line. The Gators took offense.

Florida retaliated.

After taking the first two games of the set, Alabama looked for the sweep on Sunday. Leading 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Lebron stepped into the batter’s box with two men on and first base open.

The shortstop worked a 3-1 count. In most cases, an opposing pitcher would waste a pitch to issue a walk rather than risk damage in an unfavorable count.

Florida did not pitch around Justin Lebron. It threw at him. Lebron’s celebration from Game 2 likely played a part.

One pitch after being hit, he’d do more talking.

Brady Neal stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. He sent the first pitch he saw out of the park for a grand slam. That provided Alabama with a 9-4 lead.

Lebron slowly made his way around the basepath while spewing trash talk to any Gator in earshot.

Umpires did their best to keep the sides separated as Florida infielders began to swarm Lebron and shoo him back to the dugout. Tensions were high, but emotions were kept in check.

It was a frustrating weekend for the visiting team. Lebron twisted the knife.