Nov. 6, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State's baseball recruiting class for the 2015 season has been rated as the 19th- and 25th-best in the nation by Baseball America and Perfect Game respectively. The class includes three athletes selected in the June 2014 Major League draft, three all-state honorees and four al-CIF players.
The list of players drafted last summer includes catcher Tommy Pincin ((Upland, Calif., Upland HS; 26th rd. by Oakland), outfielder Denz'l Chapman (Los Angeles, Calif., Serra HS; 32nd rd. Mets)) and shortstop Brody Westmoreland (Highlands Ranch, Colo., Thunderidge HS; 35th rd. Colorado).
Shortstop/pitcher Alan Trejo (Downey, Calif., Warren HS) and pitcher Tyler Loptien (Highlands Ranch, Colo., Thunderidge HS) both earned first team all-state honors as prep seniors while fellow recruit catcher Hunter Stratton (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) was a third-team honoree.
Among the newcomers who earned all-CIF accolades during their prep careers are pitcher Ryan Mota (Fontana, Calif., Kaiser HS), infielder David Hensley (San Diego, Calif., Patrick Henry HS), pitcher Andrew Eppenbach (Claremont, Calif., Bishop Amat HS) and outfielder Tyler Herburger (San Diego, Calif., St. Augustine HS). In addition, pitcher Brian Heldman received all-district honors in his home state of Texas.
A total of 15 recruits will join 22 returning players from the 2014 Aztec squad that captured its second consecutive Mountain West Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals. Five position starters and two starting pitchers return from that team that finished with a record of 42-21.
SDSU is scheduled to open its 2015 campaign with a three-game home series against Valparaiso that begins with a contest on Friday, Feb. 13, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Here's what Baseball America and Perfect Game had to say about San Diego State's current crop of recruits:
BASEBALL AMERICA (19th)
The Aztecs brought in their third Top 25 class in the last five years--and their ranked classes in 2010 and 2011 helped them make back-to-back regionals for the first time since 1990-91. This year's large group is anchored around a quartet of potential impact position players in Hensley, Pincin, Chapman and Westmoreland. The long, loose Hensley has the most upside of the group, with provocative right-handed power potential as he fills out and a strong arm that can produce 90 mph heat off the mound. The physical Pincin offers above-average power potential, a nice right-handed swing and solid arm strength behind the plate, where he needs refinement. Chapman has top-of-the-scale speed (he has been timed at 6.31 seconds in the 60-yard dash) but is still learning how to use it on the base paths. He shows instincts in center field but needs a lot of work at second base, and his bat should play from the left side if he can learn to hit the ball on the ground and put his speed to work. Westmoreland's athletic 6-foot-3 frame hints at serious upside, and he has the range and arm strength to be a standout shortstop with some pop in his bat if he can refine his approach. Trejo, like Hensley, could make a two-way impact thanks to his competitiveness and feel on the mound, and his sure hands in the infield. Mota should compete for innings right away thanks to an 88-92 fastball and solid breaking ball. Eppenbach works in the upper 80s and has plenty of room for projection, as well as an excellent changeup. Loptien has similar fastball velocity in a smaller package, and his go-to pitch is a swing-and-miss breaking ball. Douty, the top juco transfer in this group, should be a valuable bullpen piece with a fastball that bumps the low 90s and a solid slider that he uses as an out pitch. Athletic outfielders Calabuig (a table-setter) and Tyler Herburger (a physical 6-foot, 205-pound former football player) are the sleepers in this class.
PERFECT GAME (25th)
Even when dealing with the highly unfortunate health issues surrounding former coach Tony Gwynn, the Aztecs coaching staff stayed strong and pieced together an impressive recruiting class. That's a testament to their strength and will to succeed. The Aztecs have a very solid freshman class, which is led by outfielder Denz'l Chapman (183), catcher Tommy Pincin (212), shortstop Brody Westmoreland (54) and third baseman David Hensley (388). Pincin is a 6-foot, 200-pounder, who has quick actions behind the plate with a strong arm, while also having the versatility to play several positions in the field. Westmoreland, a 6-foot-3, 185-pounder, turned down overtures as a Rockies 35th-round pick and Hensley is a lanky 6-foot-5, 180-pounder, who has quick hands and should develop more power as he gets into a Division I strength and conditioning program. Hensley also moves well for his size and could help the Aztecs from a pitching standpoint as well.