Prior to AUM: Played last season at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., for head coach Steve Kittrell … appeared in 15 games, recording a 0-1 record with a 6.91 ERA … tallied two saves and 17 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings … allowed opponents to hit just .262 on the year … lettered for two seasons at Shelton State Community College for head coach Bobby Sprowl … recorded a 10-2 record in 42 career appearances for the Bucs … posted a 3.18 career ERA in 113 1/3 innings, striking out 134 and walking just 55 … earned Alabama Community College Conference second-team all-region and ACCC Northern first-team all-league honors as a sophomore … helped lead the Buccaneers to the 2009 ACCC state championship and National Junior College Athletic Association World Series appearance … tossed 49 innings in a team-best 20 appearances as a sophomore, recording a 4-1 record with a 2.94 earned run average … struck out 63 hitters, while walking just 23, and posted three saves … struck out a season-high 11 against Northwest Shoals Community College on May 12, 2010 … compiled a 6-1 record, a 3.36 ERA in 64.1 innings as a freshman … recorded 71 strikeouts in 22 appearances … allowed opponents to hit just .178 … posted 10 strikeouts against NSCC in 4 1/3 innings on April 25, 2009.

Prep: Was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. … helped lead team to the quarterfinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A quarterfinals as a senior … named an Under Armour Preseason All-American prior to senior season … earned 6A first-team all-state honors his final two seasons … threw a pair of no-hitters during his career … finished with more than 200 strikeouts during his career, including a school-record 114 as a senior … holds the school record with for ERA in a season with a mark of 0.86 as a senior.

Personal: Born on July 9, 1990 … full name is Michael J. Carden … is the son of Mike and Angie Carden … has a younger sister, Stacy … majoring in education.