Dec. 4, 2002
San Diego State head coach Tony Gwynn has announced the signing of seven standout freshmen recruits, five from San Diego County, during the early signing period for the 2004 baseball season. Included in this group are a player ranked among the top 10 in the nation by Perfect Game Scouting Service and four others ranked among the top 100. The remaining two are both among the top 65 prospects in the state of California.
The top-rated player among the signees is left-handed pitcher/outfielder Ryan Sweeney from Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 6-4, 210-pound Sweeney has been a first-team all-state selection each of his three years at Xavier and is listed as the nation's number-seven prospect. As a junior last season, he hit .450 with 12 homers and had a record of 10-0 with a 0.37 earned run average.
The other six recruits all hail from California, led by shortstop Sean Henry from Armijo High in Suison. An all-league infielder and utility player, he is rated 60th in the nation and 10th in the state among prep players.
The local recruits are led by infielder Eddie Solis (Eastlake HS. #82 nationally) and infielder/pitcher Adam Jones (Morse HS, #83 nationally). Solis was the Division II CIF Player of the Year in 2002 after hitting .438 with 13 homers and 35 RBI. Jones was a second-team all-CIF selection who batted .392 as a junior.
The three other San Diego signees include outfielder/pitcher John Peabody (Rancho Bernardo HS, #98 nationally), outfielder Brandon Rauch (El Capitan HS, #44 in California) and catcher Brock Ungricht (Mission Bay HS, #61 in California).
Peabody was a first-team all-CIF and all-league selection as a junior when he hit .420 with 16 homers and 41 RBI. As a pitcher, he went 9-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Rauch earned all-CIF and all-East County honors last season after batting .391 with 13 HR and 37 RBI. Ungricht (.400, 5 HR, 42 RBI) was also first-team all-CIF and all-league honoree.
The complete list of SDSU's freshman early signings is as follows:
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Current School (City)Sean Henry SS 6-0 170 Armijo HS (Suison, CA)Adam Jones INF/RHP 6-3 180 Morse HS (San Diego)John Peabody OF/RHP 6-3 205 Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego)Brandon Rauch OF 6-2 215 El Capitan HS (Lakeside)Eddie Solis 3B/SS 5-11 190 Eastlake HS (Chula Vista, CA)Ryan Sweeney OF/LHP 6-4 210 Xavier HS (Cedar Rapids, IA)Brock Ungricht C 5-10 180 Mission Bay HS (San Diego)