ORLANDO, Fla. - Ask any University of Central Florida baseball player about their teammate Ray Alejo, and they'll all have a similar response.

• Alejo attended Boone High School
• Led the team with 34 stolen bases last season
• Originally attended Ole Miss

"[He's] the UCF baseball team’s best player,” utility player Dallas Beaver said.

The center fielder has taken on a cult following with his teammates and on social, after his "unofficial" Twitter account began actively promoting his feats of strength and accomplishments. But even as he's able to laugh at some of his supposed larger than life achievements, he is just thankful he got his wish to play for the Knights fulfilled.

"I don’t really care if there’s a scholarship or anything involved. Just give me a spot on the team and I'll be there," Alejo recalled telling UCF coaches after transferring from Ole Miss and briefly playing JUCO ball. The Boone-alum has spent the last couple of years on the UCF roster, and last season saw one of his primary strengths capitalized on. 

“Last year, my confidence, it gave me confidence that my speed was elite and I could use it to my advantage on the field,” he said.

There are, of course, multiple ways in which the Knights can utilize his speed.

“Defensively, he covers so much ground in the outfield, which just shrinks the field,” head coach Greg Lovelady said. As far as the base paths, he may be the best the Knights have. Last year, in his first full season with the team, he led the squad with 34 steals. Now, Lovelady gives him the greenlight at his own discretion.

“All the movement, the fear, and just being a gnat out there, it’s just annoying," Lovelady said. "It distracts everyone in the way that we want it to.”

Now, Alejo isn't hiding his desires to top last year's effort.

“I’m striving for 60," he said. "Shoot higher. If I come up short, I steal like fifty bases.”