UConn Baseball Recruiting and Commitment Thread

[huskymedic]

Winkel (MVP) and Lucas: The 2018 New Haven Register All-Area Baseball Team

 

[History Geek]

2018 Register All-Area Baseball MVP: Pat Winkel, Amity

Nice article.

 

[kris1]

2018 Register All-Area Baseball MVP: Pat Winkel, Amity

Nice article.

 

[Oxford Bob]

Burrows signs with Pirates

 

[huskymedic]

5’10”, 175 lbs RHP/INF from El Camino College in CA

El Camino College RHP Kenneth Haus Scouting Report, January 2018

 

[huskymedic]

^^^

 

[dbmill]

5’10”, 175 lbs RHP/INF from El Camino College in CA

El Camino College RHP Kenneth Haus Scouting Report, January 2018

I was wondering if UConn would sign a California JUCO pitcher if Mike Burrows decided to go pro. That answers that question.

 

[huskymedic]

Winkel (MVP) and Lucas: The 2018 New Haven Register All-Area Baseball Team

2018 Register All-Area Baseball MVP: Pat Winkel, Amity

Nice article.

The 2018 GameTimeCT All-State Baseball Team

Winkel (POY) and Lucas.

 

[dbmill]

Looks like 3B/SS Todd Petersen, from Newtown (CT) Class of 2019 has committed to UConn baseball.

Prep Baseball Report New England
2019 3B/RHH Todd Petersen of @nighthawksports.com has committed to UCONN, congrats! #ctbase #PBR
June 13 at 2:48 PM

 

[huskymedic]

Looks like 3B/SS Todd Petersen, from Newtown (CT) Class of 2019 has committed to UConn baseball.

Prep Baseball Report New England
2019 3B/RHH Todd Petersen of @nighthawksports.com has committed to UCONN, congrats! #ctbase #PBR
June 13 at 2:48 PM

6-5 170lb 3rd/SS

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[dbmill]

IH Braves Baseball‏ @IH_BSB Jul 17
Huge congrats to ‘19 RHP Josh Cohen on his commitment to @UConnBSB #GoHuskies #RollTribepic.twitter.com/S0KDJiqE4w

PS2 Athletics and PBR New Jersey
1 reply 8 retweets

 

[huskymedic]

IH Braves Baseball‏ @IH_BSB Jul 17
Huge congrats to ‘19 RHP Josh Cohen on his commitment to @UConnBSB #GoHuskies #RollTribepic.twitter.com/S0KDJiqE4w

PS2 Athletics and PBR New Jersey
1 reply 8 retweets

Some background: Cancer-Free for a Year Cohen Returns to the Mound

 

[dbmill]

Prep Baseball Report > New Jersey > News

Cohen's battle inspiring Indian Hills baseball

Perhaps the saga of Ryan Radue's cancer story helped influence the decision to commit to UConn.

 

[Stainmaster]

Some background: Cancer-Free for a Year Cohen Returns to the Mound

What an incredible story.

If I'm not mistaken, that's a UConn shirt with an old logo he's wearing in a photo from 2+ months pre-commitment. That's another great angle if he's a longtime fan of the school.

 

[UCCornelius]

Looks like a new 2020 commit (and a BIG one).
Prep Baseball Report - Player: David Christoforo

6-20-18
6-foot-6, 232-pound, large, wide, monster athletic frame. Legs, hands and wrists have above average strength to them. Moves extremely well for his size. A left-handed hitter, top tool is his ability to hit and hit with power. At the plate, hands are super loose at the shoulders, feet are even, wider than shoulder width. The lower half is under control, uses a small leg kick for timing, hands have separation during the load. The swing is flat through the zone, and finishes high with two hands. The approach is more to the pull side, shows big time power, has lift and length to the swing. The tee exit velocity was clocked at 89 mph, ran the sixty yard dash at 7.87, moves well. The batting practice was impressive, along with making hard contact during game play. Defensively, moves extremely well at both behind the plate and at first base. The arm was clocked at 79 mph with pop time of 1.94- 2.03, arm gets a tick long and works out of a high ¾ slot. The feet are quick, locks down the front side, solid flight to the baseball. The footwork, glove are smooth and soft hands around the bag, good drops steps in starting the double play. The arm was clocked at 77 mph across the diamond. The glove is clean, can pick the baseball with ease. Solid, tall target to throw to. Projects for me as more of a first baseman long term, good chance will outgrow as a catcher. Big time power guy, should be off the board fairly quick.

 

[scotty0330]

Another one for 2020

 

[UConNick]

Can't seem to find much on him (although there's a Brendan O'Connell from Lyman Hall that is playing at Bentley next year and a different Brendan O'Donnell from the class of 2019 in PA that also per PG has a UConn offer!). Some showcase places on twitter say he's up to 86 from the mound and has great bat speed. Two way potential as a LHP/OF/1B is very cool.

 

[dbmill]

Another one for 2020

Can't seem to find much on him (although there's a Brendan O'Connell from Lyman Hall that is playing at Bentley next year and a different Brendan O'Donnell from the class of 2019 in PA that also per PG has a UConn offer!). Some showcase places on twitter say he's up to 86 from the mound and has great bat speed. Two way potential as a LHP/OF/1B is very cool.

Seems like UConn has really gotten into the heat of the college baseball recruiting season recently.

Both PG and Prep Baseball Report seem to list Brendan O'Donnell primarily as a LHP. That's good news to me, as he is only the second LHP recruit commit that UConn has out of the high school classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020 so far. The other LHP commit is Max Nielsen.

Before the 2018 high school class, UConn has recruited a number of lefty pitchers out of high school the last few years. It seems that they either become very important cogs on the pitching staff (Kay, Cate, Poulin, Feole, for example), or they wash out of the program within a couple years.

 

[dbmill]

A recent scouting report on UConn's latest recruit:

Prep Baseball Report - Player: Brendan O'Donnell

7/18/18

6-foot-1, 215-pound left-handed pitcher and first baseman. Big and physical left-handed hitting first baseman who also worked out in the outfield. Threw 83 mph from the outfield with carry and accuracy. The approach is athletic and aggressive to the ball. Threw 81 mph across the diamond from first base to third. The glove and feet are excellent around the bag. Ran a 4.8 down the line on his dig to first base. The bat has a tee exit velocity of 91 mph. The swing is big and strong, power potential with the bat. The setup is wide, front foot open to start. The front foot has a big pick up and put down as the ball approaches. The front foot dives into the plate as the swing begins. The hands are strong and fast, thunder in the bat. On the mound, the fastball touched 86 mph, arm side run to the pitch. The spin pitch is slurvy, could be shortened into a slider but he has a feel for the pitch. Sits at 71 -72 mph with a good shape to it. The changeup is a developing pitch, sitting at 76-77 mph. The pitch is thrown with good hand speed. . The delivery has crossfire to the feet, leading to obvious deception in the delivery. The slot is above ¾ and work free. The lift is athletic and repeated, soft glove side and he stays in the delivery. Excellent 2-way prospect, high level.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

Rumor has it... 2020 SS Phoenix Billings from Hand of Madison has committed to UConn
Prep Baseball Report - Phoenix Billings

 

[huskymedic]

202o Commit from New Hampshire:

Gilford’s Siravo showing off five-tool potential

 

[dbmill]

It's getting to be quite an interesting summer recruiting season for UConn.