Sun Devils sign seven baseball recruits
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University baseball program has signed seven student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2013-14 school year. The signing class is comprised of six high school students and one junior college transfer, including five from Arizona and two from California. Five are infielders, one is a pitcher, and one is a catcher.
"We valued quality over quantity for this year's class, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out," Esmay said. "We addressed our needs and added value across the diamond - from the middle infield to behind the plate to on the mound, as well as in the batter's box."
The program has commitments from three additional players that are signing in the spring.
Associated head coach and recruiting coordinator Ken Knutson had this evaluation of the seven signees:
RHP Seth Martinez from Peoria, Ariz. (Sunrise Mountain High School): "For me, he was the top arm in the state. I felt like he has a projectable body and he's been a really premium strike thrower who has a chance to be a harder thrower as he matures. We just feel like he's one of those guys who really blossomed late in the summer after we already had a commitment from him. We think he can come in and make an impact right away and compete for a lot of opportunities as a freshman."
C Brian Serven from Palm Desert, Calif. (Palm Desert High School):
"He's just a super athletic kid. He hasn't caught for a really long time, but he's a basketball player and an athlete. His coach told me he's the best clutch hitter that he's ever coached. I saw him earlier in the summer and was really impressed with his mobility and the way he moved. He has the versatility to hit anywhere in the lineup and has those types of athletic skills that will really make him special behind the plate. We think he's advanced defensively and he's going to come in and help us right away."
INF Joey Bielek from Phoenix, Ariz. (Paradise Valley Community College):
"He was an All-Conference player at Cincinnati as a freshman and just a premium hitter. We think he has middle of the lineup types of capabilities. He's a third baseman and just a really good player. He really wanted to be here and it was a goal for him to get here. He took a little bit of a roundabout way, but we all got together and made it happen. We're all excited about him and he will hit the ground running when he gets here."
INF Kevin Franklin from Cerritos, Calif. (Gahr High School):
"He's an athlete - a big, strong, fast guy. He plays really hard. He caught our attention in Future's Camp as a junior. He hustled all over the place and has really good tools. He showed well during the summer, and was a national recruit and national showcase guy. I can see him at any of the corner positions. His bat and his power are things that really stick out to you, and just the way he attacks the baseball."
INF Dustin Peterson from Gilbert, Ariz. (Gilbert High School):
"We thought he was the best-kept secret in Arizona. I thought he was one of the top hitters in the state as a junior, and I don't think he did anything but hit balls hard in probably the first 30 at bats I saw out of him. He's just a premium hitter and he has great bloodlines -- his older brother, DJ, plays for New Mexico and hit in the middle of the lineup on the US National Team. He's also the cousin of Nate Causey, so it seems like the whole family can really hit. Dustin is a middle infielder, shortstop and second baseman type. His bat is enough to play him anywhere in the field. We're really excited about him."
INF David Greer from Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain High School): "Every time we talk about recruiting and our team in the future - and you have to look ahead two years - Greer fixes all of our problems on where we're short of players. We feel like he can play just about anywhere on the field - third base, second base, left field - and he has center field skills. He has good tools and plays hard, plus he' a right-handed hitter, which we need in our program. He's going to be our fix-all and we expect him to come in and compete right away, and be the answer to any problems that we might have. He's a good player and plays hard, and we're looking forward to getting him here."
INF Colby Woodmansee from Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista High School):
"He's a big kid that is going to put on weight and get stronger, but he's a premium defender who stuck out to me. I know I talked to him late in the summer and he said he made his first error in three months. He's going to be that guy who's really going to catch the ball. He'll to be on the left side of the infield - he's a shortstop right now - and we'll just make him stay there and compete right away as a freshman."