Barry Benton Class: Junior Hometown: Jacksonville, Ala. High School: Jacksonville H.S. Height / Weight: 6-2 / 195 Position: LHP B/T: L/L

Furman: Looking to make the transition from the bullpen into a starter's role this spring...should compete for one of three weekend slots...will be counted on to throw innings...has made steady progress in two seasons of play...must keep the ball down to be effective. 2008 -- Made 24 appearances, all in relief, but did not earn a decision...worked 19 1/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts...fashioned a strong start to the season, posting a 1.08 ERA in his first six appearances (8.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)...threw 2.0 innings (1 H, 3K) of shutout ball against UNC Asheville (8-7 win) and 2.0 scoreless frames (1 H) against The Citadel (11-4 win)...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll...played with the Xenia Athletes In Action in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League...went 1-2 with a 4.64 ERA in 10 appearances (three starts)...notched one save. 2007 -- Appeared in five games, all in relief...worked only 4.0 innings...was roughed up in his collegiate debut, surrendering a grand slam in a 12-1 season opening loss to 25th-ranked Kentucky...hurled 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his next three appearances...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.

High School: 2006 graduate of Jacksonville (4A) High School..baseball coach was David Deerman...pitched and also played first base...went 24-8 with a 1.10 ERA and compiled 291 strikeouts during his career...helped Jacksonville to three state semifinal playoff appearances and one state runner-up finish, registered his junior year when his squad was ranked No. 1 in Alabama state Class 4A...two-time All-Calhoun County selection...earned first team all-state honors in 2006 after going 10-2 and recording 115 strikeouts...selected for 2004 Alabama Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.

Personal: Full name Jordan Barry Benton...son of JB and Judy Benton...born February 23, 1988 in Birmingham, Alabama...has a sister, C.J...father ran track at LSU...great-uncle, James Cook, played basketball at American...carries a 3.90 GPA...biology major.