Asaad Ali, Follows Dad to Sports Career

LOUISVILLE, KY–It is not always that the world’s most famous sportsman is your biggest fan in the stadium. But for Louisville Cardinal’s catcher Asaad Ali being the son of boxing legend Muhammad Ali helps.

The communication major at the University of Luisville was selected in the 40th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by Los Angeles Anaheim after his senior season at Niles High School. But he opted to go to the college route. Ali trained at IMG Academies in Bradenton last summer and has said one reason he chose Louisville was that it recruited him normally, while other programs showed up with his father’s face on a T-shirt.

After college, he hopes to coach high school or college baseball. Person with the greatest influence on his athletic career is Jimmy Brawley, who has helped him throughout his baseball career.

Meanwhile, his coach is all praise for him. “Asaad makes a name for himself. He’s well-respected, very popular,” coach McDonnell said. “The kids enjoy being around him, and he enjoys being in the program. He’s worked very hard. He’s in bullpen-catcher mode, where you have to put your time in, and it’s a grind. He does it with a smile on his face and has a lot of fun.

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