Infielder and Northern Illinois University alum Alex Jones joins the Slammers this year. Jones closed the 2012 campaign with 53 starts for the Huskies, leading the team in several statistical categories on offense and defense, including batting average (.322), hits (68), doubles (21), triples (4), runs (33), on-base percentage (.379), slugging percentage (.474) and assists (148). Defensively in 244 chances, Jones only committed seven errors on the diamond for the Huskies and helped turn 31 of NIU's 42 double plays in 2012. Jones was one of 25 finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation’s best shortstop.