Oct. 24, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State baseball's recruiting class for the upcoming 2012 season has been ranked 25th nationally by Baseball America. SDSU's group of 23 newcomers includes 18 freshmen and five junior college transfers.
The class begins with a pair of right-handed pitchers who were selected in last June's Major League draft. The first is a local product in Michael Cederoth (Steele Canyon HS; Spring Valley, CA). Drafted by Arizona in the 41st round, he is a potential front-line starter who throws in the 94-96 mph range.
The second hurler, Travis Pitcher, come to the Aztecs via Cypress Junior College. As a sophomore last season, he had a 5.45 earned run average with 37 strikeouts in 36.1 innings over six starts and eight relief appearances. He was selected in the 50th round by the Oakland Athletics.
The Aztecs also added a pair of local pitchers in left-hander Kendall Lindley (Francis Parker HS) and Michael Robards (Oceanside HS). Lindley was a three-time all-league selection and was honored as the Division 4 Pitcher of the year as a senior after going 9-1 with a 1.52 ERA. Robards was a second-team all-league selection and Oceanside's Pitcher of The year in 2011 when he compiled a 6-2 mark and a 3.11 earned run average.
Other top new pitchers include freshmen right-handers Steven Pallares (Santiago HS; Corona, CA) and Ryan Doran (Orange Coast JC) plus lefty Brandon Thomas (Knight HS; Palmdale, CA).
Pallares was a first-team all-Riverside County and second-team all-CIF honoree as a senior after going 6-1 with a 3.32 earned run average while also hitting .451 as an infielder. Doran 6-4 with a 4.58 ERA last season after a freshman campaign that saw him earn all-conference honors with a 6-1 record and 2.98 ERA. Thomas throws a variety of pitches and used them to compile a 5-4 record and 3.33 ERA in 2011 while striking out 63 in just 42 innings.
Among the top position players are catcher Jacob Romanski and third baseman Ryan Muno, both of whom are expected to have an immediate impact. Romanski was at Chaffey JC last spring where he hit .376 with eight doubles, earning all-Foothill Conference recognition and winning a Gold Glove award. Muno, a third baseman from Mission Viejo HS, was an all-Orange County and all-CIF honoree after batting .379 with four home runs as a prep senior.
Other incoming freshman projected to see playing time include infielder Matt Munoz (San Dimas (CA) HS) and outfielder Spencer Thornton (Los Osos HS; Rancho Cucamonga, CA). Munoz was a first-team all-area and all-league selection when he hit .423 with a .554 slugging percentage and .667 on-base average. Thornton, meanwhile, batted .390 over 24 games with five doubles and 26 runs scored to earn all-Baseline League and all-Inland Valley recognition.
Two other frosh of note are infielder Greg Allen (Hilltop HS; Chula Vista, CA) and outfielder Avondre Bollar (Thousand Oaks (CA) HS). Allen earned all-league and all-CIF accolades and was the Mesa League Player of the Year after hitting .464 with eight doubles, three home runs and 11 stolen bases last season. Bollar was a first-team all-county, all-CIF and all-league honoree as a prep senior when he batted .402 with 18 RBI and 10 steals.
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 2012 season against Washington at home on Friday, Feb. 17.
BASEBALL AMERICA2012 RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS 1. Vanderbilt 2. Texas 3. Southern Mississippi 4. North Carolina State 5. Mississippi 6. South Carolina 7. Oregon State 8. Virginia 9. Oregon10. TCU11. Southern California12. Louisville13. Oklahoma14. Mississippi State15. Florida16. Pepperdine17. Central Florida18. Arizona19. Fresno State20. North Carolina21. Georgia22. Arkansas23. Loyola Marymount24. Alabama25. San Diego State