UConn Baseball Recruiting and Commitment Thread

[UConNick]

I respect Zapata. Dude could have quit when he was struggling but he stuck it out for 4 years and even pitched some nice midweek games for us during his senior year.

He is a husky in my book.

Of course, but he had offers from schools like Kentucky and LSU; we had to invest a full scholarship unit into him. Certainly, he made lemons out of lemonade, though it would’ve been nice if he’d been able to approach the admittedly lofty expectations many of us had.

Re: @dbmill , forgot about Rossomando! He and Zapata were definitely two of our bigger grabs that unfortunately didn’t work out the way we’d hoped. But, it’s evened out by guys like Cate coming out of nowhere to become a second round pick, or Jacob Wallace evolving into a dominant reliever with a 96mph fastball. I guess we root for the best but take the good with the bad, just like in any other UConn sport.

 

[huskymedic]

Coach Penders is now getting into international recruiting, even if it is Canada.

More on Calvin Ziegler from Prep Baseball Report:

>11.01.18
Ziegler is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hander with easy and loose arm from a clean 3/4 slot. Not much effort involved and gets out front with feel and a repeatable delivery. Spins an overhand curveball in the 72-74 range that backs off his fastball that sits in the 85-88 range while touching 89. He plays outfield and is aggressive at the plate with bat speed but the arm has a chance to be real special. Has gone under the radar but that won't last long. Top 2020 RHP in Ontario, lookout for Ziegler early in 2019. <

Prep Baseball Report - Player: Calvin Ziegler

 

[huskymedic]

Billings/Donahue/Petersen mentions: 25 CIAC baseball players to watch in 2019

Phoenix Billings, Hand: The junior SS is committed to UConn. Hit .409 with 13 extra base hits, 22 RBI and 5 stolen bases last season.

Zach Donohue, South Windsor: The senior P/2B is committed to playing at UConn. One of the top arms in the CCC hoping to guide South Windsor to LL title.

Todd Petersen, Newtown: The UConn commit was named first team All-SWC last season at SS. Hit .333 with 27 runs scored out of the leadoff spot.

 

[dbmill]

Phoenix Billings and Zach Donohue get mentions in the Courant as well.
The Courant’s Fab 15 baseball players to watch

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Phoenix Billings and Zach Donohue get mentions in the Courant as well.
The Courant’s Fab 15 baseball players to watch

Should not have clicked on that link, I have classmate's sons who are listed. Good for them; but, darn, I am getting old.

 

[huskymedic]

Hmmm...

rhyde @rhyde_ 49 minutes ago
University of Connecticut ‘23

Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF from Berlin High School in Berlin CT.

From his Perfect Game profile: Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF with a 6-1 175 lb. frame from Berlin, CT who attends Berlin. Medium frame with projectable, athletic build. Ran 60 yard dash in 7.37 seconds. Showed very well with the bat, real bat speed, shifts well into contact and gets lower half involved, middle-field approach, good leverage off of front side when on time, gets barrel out well, has strength, drove the ball well and projects for serious pop. Worked out behind the plate, stationary set, explodes out of crouch well but doesn't gain significant ground, quick transfer and release with quality arm strength, clocked up to 75 mph. Also pitched and looked good, deceptive tempo, athleticism throughout delivery, fastball worked 83-84 mph and pounded the bottom of the zone with it, good plane to plate, showed solid curveball with good spin but varying shape, lots of strikes. Named to 2018 Northeast Showcase Top Prospect List, very good student.<<

 

[dbmill]

Hmmm...

rhyde @rhyde_ 49 minutes ago
University of Connecticut ‘23

Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF from Berlin High School in Berlin CT.

From his Perfect Game profile: Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF with a 6-1 175 lb. frame from Berlin, CT who attends Berlin. Medium frame with projectable, athletic build. Ran 60 yard dash in 7.37 seconds. Showed very well with the bat, real bat speed, shifts well into contact and gets lower half involved, middle-field approach, good leverage off of front side when on time, gets barrel out well, has strength, drove the ball well and projects for serious pop. Worked out behind the plate, stationary set, explodes out of crouch well but doesn't gain significant ground, quick transfer and release with quality arm strength, clocked up to 75 mph. Also pitched and looked good, deceptive tempo, athleticism throughout delivery, fastball worked 83-84 mph and pounded the bottom of the zone with it, good plane to plate, showed solid curveball with good spin but varying shape, lots of strikes. Named to 2018 Northeast Showcase Top Prospect List, very good student.<<

And this is from the Comments section of Ryan Hyde's profile on Prep Baseball Report:

>6-foot-1, 175-pound, wide, athletic frame, has plenty of room to fill out and put weight on. A right-handed hitting catcher, top tool is his arm, its above average with carry and flight to it. Pop time of 1.97-2.03, arm is clean, works out of a high ¾ slot, clocked at 77 mph, throws are online. The right foot replaces the left foot, gains ground and works inline to target. The hands are soft on the catch, gets around the baseball, works hard on the dirt ball. At the plate, feet are wide and even, hands are relaxed at the shoulders, bat starts in a flat position. For timing has simple load, small pick up and put down with stride foot, gains ground. The swing is flat through the zone, keeps the barrel in the zone. The approach is more line drive, staying in the middle of the field. The tee exit velocity was clocked at 83 mph, with more in there. Time down the line was at 5.1, long strider. Shows the ability to be a top catch and throw guy, good follow.<

 

[dbmill]

Hmmm...

rhyde @rhyde_ 49 minutes ago
University of Connecticut ‘23

Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF from Berlin High School in Berlin CT.

From his Perfect Game profile: Ryan Hyde is a 2019 C/OF with a 6-1 175 lb. frame from Berlin, CT who attends Berlin. Medium frame with projectable, athletic build. Ran 60 yard dash in 7.37 seconds. Showed very well with the bat, real bat speed, shifts well into contact and gets lower half involved, middle-field approach, good leverage off of front side when on time, gets barrel out well, has strength, drove the ball well and projects for serious pop. Worked out behind the plate, stationary set, explodes out of crouch well but doesn't gain significant ground, quick transfer and release with quality arm strength, clocked up to 75 mph. Also pitched and looked good, deceptive tempo, athleticism throughout delivery, fastball worked 83-84 mph and pounded the bottom of the zone with it, good plane to plate, showed solid curveball with good spin but varying shape, lots of strikes. Named to 2018 Northeast Showcase Top Prospect List, very good student.<<

An 8.5 rating from Perfect Game is not bad at all.

 

[Dibbie]

Phoenix Billings and Zach Donohue get mentions in the Courant as well.
The Courant’s Fab 15 baseball players to watch

That’s my son in the photo. Unfortunately, a slow grower and only now hitting UCONN metrics. Started the HS season with a 6 inning no hitter and 14 Ks. At least his twin sister will be a Husky like mom and dad.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Local blurb on Big North Conference's pitcher of the month - Josh Cohen of Indian Hills (the fact that he's even playing baseball today, not to mention going to a a D1 baseball program is an accomplishment in and of itself).

"Big North Conference pitcher: Josh Cohen, Indian Hills, Sr.

Colden started his season off with a bang and struck out 15 batters on his way to a complete-game 4-0 win over Marist on April 6. The UConn recruit allowed just two hits in the victory and walked one. Cohen is a cancer survivor and through the Make-a-Wish Foundation pitched in front of scouts at the New York Mets' training facility in Florida last year."

Baseball Players of the Week: Top hitters, pitchers in every conference for Week 1

 

[kris1]

As expected: Wilbur Cross’ Marrero signs NLI to play baseball at UConn

>>Andrew Marrero has been on UConn’s radar for some time. He verbally committed two years ago, months before he was to being his sophomore season at Wilbur Cross. He never wavered in his commitment since and signed a national letter of intent at the high school Thursday to make it official: Marrero will play baseball for the Huskies.<<

>>Marrero is the first recruit for Penders to play for one of the city schools in New Haven.<<

>>“He’s got a very good fastball and an explosive slider. Look at his strikeouts last year, 94 in 52 innings, and only 18 walks. He’s a workhorse, he has a rubber arm.<<

Marrero and Wilbur Cross got off to a good start in 2019, unitl yesterday....I thought it was a misprint at first glance!
AMITY 31, WILBUR CROSS 0 (5 INN.)
WILBUR CROSS 000 00—0 2 4
AMITY 3(10)(11) 7X—31 29 2
Records: Wilbur Cross 4-1, Amity 5-1. Batteries: WC—Marrero (L), Roman, Suarez and Hete; A—Ranani (W), Pletter and Crow. Highlights: WC—Galindez went 1-for-2. A—Shepa hit a grand slam. Julian Stevens went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Cole Kuchachik went 6-for-6 with four RBIs.

AMITY NOTES:
Jack Ranani (So.) C/RHP
Jack Pletter (Sr.) RHP (2019 Colby commit)
Jacob Crow (So.) C
Michael Shepa (Sr.) LHP/OF
Julian Stevens (So.) OF
Cole Kuchachik (Sr.) OF

Ranani and Stevens are two kids to keep an eye on as potential D1 recruits.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Marrero and Wilbur Cross got off to a good start in 2019, unitl yesterday....I thought it was a misprint at first glance!
AMITY 31, WILBUR CROSS 0 (5 INN.)
WILBUR CROSS 000 00—0 2 4
AMITY 3(10)(11) 7X—31 29 2
Records: Wilbur Cross 4-1, Amity 5-1. Batteries: WC—Marrero (L), Roman, Suarez and Hete; A—Ranani (W), Pletter and Crow. Highlights: WC—Galindez went 1-for-2. A—Shepa hit a grand slam. Julian Stevens went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Cole Kuchachik went 6-for-6 with four RBIs.

AMITY NOTES:
Jack Ranani (So.) C/RHP
Jack Pletter (Sr.) RHP (2019 Colby commit)
Jacob Crow (So.) C
Michael Shepa (Sr.) LHP/OF
Julian Stevens (So.) OF
Cole Kuchachik (Sr.) OF

Ranani and Stevens are two kids to keep an eye on as potential D1 recruits.

Amity has always had a good baseball program. They were solid even back in the old Housy days.

 

[huskyblooz]

Penders has had his eye on Stevens for awhile. Stevens looking at Stanford & Vandy.

 

[uconnbaseball]

Penders has had his eye on Stevens for awhile. Stevens looking at Stanford & Vandy.

Do we have a shot?

 

[UCCornelius]

Just because UConn is looking at him, and he is looking at other schools, does not mean that he has offers at any of them (including UConn).

 

[huskyblooz]

Penders has had his eye on Stevens for awhile. Stevens looking at Stanford & Vandy.

Stevens hit another dinger today to go with 4 RBIs

 

[kris1]

Stevens hit another dinger today to go with 4 RBIs

Stevens tallied three hits (infield single, 2-run HR, double) and 3 RBIs....but who's counting
#3 Amity tops Foran, 7-1
John Lumpinski (Sr., RHP/Siena commit) moved to 4-0 and allowed his first earned run of the season.

 

[huskymedic]

2020 Commit Phoenix Billings

 

[kris1]

2020 Commit Phoenix Billings

#6 Hand knocked off #1 Ledyard, 5-3 (Billings was 3-3 with a BB)
NFA stunned #3 Amity, 3-2

 

[BaseballDog]

2020 Commit Phoenix Billings

He won't be allowed to trot that slow around the bases on Penders watch.

 

[dbmill]

Story on UConn recruit Reggie Crawford, a LHP due to be in Storrs next season. Among other things, it says that 6 major league scouts were checking him out at a recent game:

North Schuylkill Pitcher Reggie Crawford Creating Buzz In Schuylkill County

 

[dbmill]

Story on UConn recruit Pat Gallagher, a RHP due to be in Storrs next season.

High school baseball: Leominster High ace Pat Gallagher has come a long way for the Blue Devils

 

[huskymedic]

Story on UConn recruit Reggie Crawford, a LHP due to be in Storrs next season. Among other things, it says that 6 major league scouts were checking him out at a recent game:

North Schuylkill Pitcher Reggie Crawford Creating Buzz In Schuylkill County

LOL...

>>"In April last year I was probably 90 percent certain that I was going to college for swimming, but this summer really changed it around and I switched things up so I'm happy that I did," again said Reggie.

"His world has turned around in the last 12 months from going to be a state champion swimmer, and not really thinking about baseball to now have five, six, seven scouts at every game. Big things are coming for him," again said Nick.

Crawford reached 94 mph on the gun last fall. Once fully stretched out this spring with warmer weather Crawford says he can climb to 96 or 97 mph.

"I'm extremely excited. It's looking pretty promising so I can't wait for it," added Reggie.

"He does have that left-handed sling and like I said he really hasn't thrown that much in the last few years because of swimming. So he has a lot left in his arm and he has a lot more to learn," added Nick.<<

 

[uconnbaseball]

Please stay away MLB...until after his junior year here!

 

[huskymedic]