Oct. 15, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State baseball's recruiting class for the upcoming 2011 season has been ranked 17th nationally by Baseball America. That rating is out of 292 Division I teams and is the highest for a Mountain West Conference school. SDSU's group of 22 newcomers includes 20 freshmen and a pair of junior college transfers.
Baseball America noted the Aztec pitching recruits as an area of primary strength. That group is led by freshmen Philip Walby (Scripps Ranch HS, San Diego) and Evan Thomas (Poway HS, Poway, Calif.) along with JC transfer Mike Hachadorian (San Diego Mesa JC).
Walby and Thomas, both of whom were drafted by Major League clubs last June, are competitors who can run their fastballs into the low 90s. Walby has an out pitch in his split-finger while Thomas flashes a promising hard slider. Hachadorian, who was also drafted last summer, is the third key power arm in this class. A former Division III college quarterback at Whittier (Calif.), he features a 90-92 mph fastball and a good curve.
Three other pitchers highlight the recruiting class as well. TJ Kendzora is a 6-4 left-hander from El Toro HS (Lake Forest, Calif.) and he is joined another lefty, Carl Robinson (Valencia HS, Placentia, Calif.), who could be among the team's weekend starters. Local product Cole Swanson out of Torrey Pines High School (San Diego, Calif.) signed with the Aztecs after receiving numerous college offers after his senior season.
Numerous coaches in the West raved about Robinson's advanced feel for pitching; with an 87-90 fastball, excellent changeup and feel for a breaking ball. Swanson is a projection lefty with a surprisingly short arm action for a 6-foot-7 lefty, while Kendzora is a lean, funky strike-throwing righty.
The Aztecs also reeled in some intriguing position players, led by Cody Slader (Bishop O'Dowd HS, Castro Valley, Calif.), an athletic, switch-hitting shortstop in the mold of former Long Beach State star Danny Espinosa. He has a quick bat and could develop some pop as he fills out his skinny frame. Outfielder Dillon Bryant (Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, Calif.), whose best tool is his right-handed bat, was a late addition who will bolster the offensive production as this position.
Also among the new position players are Brad Haynal (Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego) and Tim Zier. Haynal is a physical, athletic catcher who could contribute immediately behind the plate. Zier is a utility infielder and standout athlete who was recruited as a football running back out of Escondido (Calif.) High School.
San Diego State is currently involved in fall practice sessions which will culminate with the annual Red-Black World Series Nov. 4-6 at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs will open their 2011 season against Winthrop at home on Friday, Feb. 18.
BASEBALL AMERICA2010 RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS 1. Stanford 2. Louisiana State 3. UCLA 4. San Diego 5. Oregon 6. Florida 7. Georgia Tech 8. Arkansas 9. Rice10. Cal State Fullerton11. California12. Vanderbilt13. North Carolina14. Oregon State15. Oklahoma State16. Southern California17. San Diego State18. Mississippi19. South Carolina20. Auburn21. Oklahoma22. Mississippi State23. Nebraska24. Louisville25. Maryland
SDSU 2011 RECRUITING CLASSMitch Bluman LHP/1B L-L 6-2 215 Woodland Hills, Calif. (El Camino Real HS)Dillon Bryant OF R-R 5-10 190 Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS)Dylan Garcia INF L-R 5-10 195 El Cajon, Calif. (Granite Hills HS)Mike Hachadorian RHP R-R 6-5 215 San Diego, Calif. (San Diego Mesa JC)Kyle Hayes RHP/INF L-R 6-2 200 Santee, Calif. (Santana HS)Austin Haynal RHP R-R 6-2 200 San Diego, Calif. (College of the Desert)Brad Haynal C R-R 6-3 205 San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo HS)Justin Hepner RHP R-R 6-3 190 Carlsbad, Calif. (Carlsbad HS)Jared Hunt INF L-R 5-8 170 El Cajon, Calif. (Granite Hills HS)TJ Kendzora RHP R-R 6-3 190 Trabuco Canyon, Calif. (El Toro HS)Tom Mancuso INF L-R 5-10 160 Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS)Evan Potter INF R-R 6-0 165 El Cajon, Calif. (Grossmont HS)Carl Robinson LHP L-L 6-2 205 Placentia, Calif. (Valencia HS)Cody Slader INF R-R 6-3 170 Castro Valley, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)Cody Smith OF L-R 5-10 185 San Diego, Calif. (Santana HS)Sean Stepina C L-R 6-2 210 San Diego, Calif. (Pt. Loma HS)Cole Swanson LHP L-L 6-5 195 San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS)Evan Thomas RHP R-R 6-1 195 Poway, Calif. (Poway HS)Ben Vasko C R-R 6-2 200 San Diego, Calif. (Grossmont JC)Denny Vigo C R-R 6-1 220 Simi Valley, Calif. (Simi Valley HS)Philip Walby RHP R-R 6-2 200 San Diego, Calif. (Scripps Ranch HS)Tim Zier INF R-R 5-10 195 Escondido, Calif. (Escondido HS)