July 17, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois head baseball coach Dan Hartleb announced today the signing of shortstop/outfielder Daniel Parker (Lawrence, Kan.) to a National Letter of Intent. Parker was a second-team All-State selection by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches this spring after leading his Lawrence High team to a third-place finish in the Kansas class 6A state tournament.

"He's an offensive type of player who could see some time in any spot in the infield or in the outfield," said Illinois assistant coach Eric Snider, who was the lead recruiter on Parker. "He should make a contribution as an incoming freshman because he can swing the bat."

Parker is a 6-3, 185-pound left-handed hitter who played much of the spring season at shortstop but plays either of the corner outfield spots for his summer team, the Kansas City Sluggers. He was a three-year baseball letterwinner at Lawrence and also lettered twice in soccer. He was a first-team All-Sunflower League shortstop this spring and played in the all-star game for the Premier League, the Sluggers' summer league.

"He's a hard-nosed, hard-working, no-nonsense kid who just comes out and plays," Snider said. "It's going to be fun to be able to work with a player like that. He'll be able to help our team."

Daniel Parker
SS/OF // Fr. // 6-3 // 185 // L/R
Lawrence, Kansas // Lawrence High
Notes: Named to KABC All-State second team as a shortstop in 2007 ... Led Lawrence High to a third-place state finish in Kansas' class 6A ... Named a first-team All-Sunflower League shortstop in 2007 ... Played in Premier League All-Star game in summer of 2007 ... Older brother, John, pitches for Washington and Lee University ... Earliest baseball memory is helping his team to a tournament championship when he was six years old.