A Falcon will now be a Brave.
This week, former University of Montevallo Falcon Adiel Melendez signed with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent following the 2025 MLB Draft. The lefty hurler recently completed a stellar career at Montevallo, where he posted a 3.21 ERA with 15 wins and 164 strikeouts for head coach Chandler Rose.
Melendez garnered multiple accolades in 2025, including First Team All-Gulf South Conference, Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) First Team, and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) First-Team All-Region.
“I will forever be grateful to the Atlanta Braves for giving me their confidence to take a chance on me and sign me,” said Melendez. “As I celebrate now, I want to make sure to thank my fiancé because this process was tough, and she was there with me every single step of the way. I want to thank my parents, my family, my friends from all over. To my trainers Bobby and Landon. And lastly, I want to thank my coaches at Montevallo, Coach Rose, Coach Ivey, and Coach Rev, along with Mr. Klotz. Coach Rose has been the best coach ever and I cannot say enough how grateful I am because he fought for me. All I need is the opportunity to play in the next level and show what I am capable of. I am now able to do that because of Coach Rose and to the Atlanta Braves.”
A native of Miami, Fla., Melendez becomes the 10th Falcon in program history to sign as a free agent. This also marks the second consecutive year a Montevallo alum has been drafted or signed. Last year, righty Logan Samuels was selected by the Braves and is currently playing for the Rome Emperors, a High-A Braves affiliate.
Overall, seven of Rose’s players have been drafted by MLB.
“I am beyond ecstatic and happy for Adiel,” said Rose. “The season he had was incredible to watch and be a part of. But, watching his work ethic and dedication to his craft every day the past two years has been amazing.” TG
