TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil Baseball program and Head Coach Tracy Smith have announced its 14-member 2016 signing class.
“We are certainly proud of our 2016 recruiting class, which was recently tabbed as the fourth-best recruiting class in the country,” Coach Smith said. “However, national ratings have never been the standard by which we judge our recruiting classes. It is much more in-depth than that for us at Arizona State University. The measure of a top recruiting class is not simply about physical talent and draft status, but rather it is making sure we have bonded with kids (and families) who share our vision for success: an emphasis on attending a world-class institution and competing for National Championships. Yes, this class is full of highly rated and talented baseball players from around the country, but we also feel this class represents a group of young men with an intense desire to be a part of everything that is ASU."
The class is ranked fourth in the nation, according to Perfect Game, with six signees ranked in the top 100, tied for the most of any school. It features eight signees who participated in the 2015 Area Code Baseball Games, an invitation-only elite baseball event held annually, four who played in the Tournament of the Stars, a showcase hosted by USA Baseball, two who competed in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park, two who played in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field, and two who were a part of the 40-man provisional roster for the 18U National Team Trials.
The class features athletes from nine different states, including three from Arizona, two from California, Texas and Wisconsin, and one each from Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada and Utah.
Carter Aldrete – INF, Monterey, Calif./Monterey HS
“Carter is an extremely athletic infielder with good actions and good feet. He is an instinctual player and a tremendous competitor. His athleticism is off the charts. You take Carter's physical tools and couple them with the baseball background he is coming from and we think we have a special player.”
Family ties: His father, Rich, played six seasons in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, his uncle, Mike, played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues and was a member of the 1996 World Series Champion New York Yankees, and was recently named the first-base coach for the Oakland A’s, and his sister, Annie, was an All-America softball player at Tennessee and currently plays for Cal.
Rankings: Perfect Game - #3 shortstop and #12 overall player in California, #23 overall shortstop and #93 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: 2015 Area Code Baseball Games, USA Baseball Tournament of the Stars, Under Armour All-America Game, 18U National Team Trials
Bo Bichette - INF, Tierra Verde, Fla./Lakewood HS
“Bo is one of the top rated right-handed hitters in the nation in the 2016 class. He consistently hits the baseball hard to all fields and is a versatile defender capable of playing multiple infield spots. Bo should make an immediate impact in the middle of our line-up”
Family ties: His father, Dante, was a four-time All Star and won the 1995 Silver Slugger Award during 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, and his brother, Dante Jr., is set to enter his sixth season in the Yankees organization.
Rankings: Prep Baseball Report - #5 player in Florida, #1 overall third baseman and #15 overall player in PBR coverage area; Perfect Game - #2 shortstop and #4 overall player in Florida, #5 overall shortstop and #26 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: Under Armour All-America Game, 2015 Area Code Baseball Games
Nick Cheema – C, Weatherford, Texas/Aledo HS
“We are excited to add a physical catcher, who happens to pitch. Nick has power potential in his bat and an above average throwing arm. His fastball has been up to 91 mph. He is a proven defensive catcher who has caught some of the best arms in the state of Texas. We love the toughness he brings to the field and look forward to seeing how his bat projects in our program.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - Top 500 overall player in the nation
Myles Denson – OF, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS
“Myles is an athletic outfielder who brings speed and defense to our team right away. We love his baseball skill set and his projectable body. With added strength and experience, we feel he has a chance to develop into an everyday player during his career at ASU.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - Top 500 overall player in the nation
Sam Ferri - C/RHP, Norridge, Ill./Notre Dame College Prep
“Sam is a two-way player at catcher and right-handed pitcher - a rare combination where he was one of the best in the country. He has an impressive fastball-slider combination, but primarily we see him behind the plate as we think he is one of the most advanced defensive catchers in the country. He plays with energy and has an ability to shut down the running game. This guy is the type of player and personality you feel good building a program around."
Rankings: Prep Baseball Report - #8 player in Illinois, #9 overall catcher and #80 overall in PBR coverage area; Perfect Game - #2 catcher and #7 overall player in Illinois, #16 overall catcher and #134 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: 2015 Area Code Baseball Games
Sean Keating – LHP, South Jordan, Utah/Bingham HS
“Sean is a guy who excites us. He is a tall, lanky left-handed pitcher. Hailing from Utah, Sean is already touching 90 mph and has a good feel for both a breaking ball and a change-up. One of the better left-handed pitchers in the Four Corners area, Sean is also a wonderful young man from a great family and should he should compete for innings immediately.
Rankings: Perfect Game - #3 overall player in Utah, #38 overall left-handed pitcher and #326 overall player in the nation
Reggie Lawson - RHP, Adelento, Calif./Victor Valley HS
“We think we have one of the most accomplished and celebrated right-handed pitchers in the country in Reggie. The list of accomplishments for him up to this point in his career is staggering: He was on the mound for the USA 18U National Team when they won the gold medal in Japan this past summer, he started the Perfect Game All-America Game at Petco Park in San Diego, and he threw in the Area Code Games in California. Even better than that, Reggie is one of the nicest and most humble young men you will ever meet. We feel he has a chance to be one of the best to ever come out of Arizona State.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - #1 right-handed pitcher and #4 overall player in California, #4 overall right-handed pitcher and #9 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: 18U National Team, 18U National Team Trials, Tournament of the Stars, 2015 Area Code Baseball Games, 2015 Perfect Game All-American Classic
Gavin Lux – INF, Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail Academy
“Gavin is a slick-fielding, left-handed hitting infielder with a 6'2" frame. He exploded on the national scene this summer. He has an advanced understanding of the game and, like other players in this class, he comes from a baseball family. His baseball tools are exceptional, but they are secondary to the qualities he possesses as a person.”
Family ties: His uncle, Augie Schmidt, was second overall pick in the 1982 MLB Draft after he won the Golden Spikes Award at the University of New Orleans.
Rankings: Prep Baseball Report - #2 player in Wisconsin, and #2 shortstop and #14 overall player in PBR coverage area; Perfect Game - #2 player in Wisconsin, #7 overall shortstop and #29 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: Tournament of the Stars, 2015 Area Code Baseball Games, 2015 Perfect Game All-American Classic
Alec Marsh – RHP, Milwaukee, Wis./Reagan College Preparatory
“Alec, in our minds, is a hidden jewel. Hidden, however, only because the weather in Wisconsin has limited his exposure. Not only will we benefit with his addition to our team, but we can't wait to hear the reaction from scouts when they see him on a consistent basis at ASU. He is a talented right-hander who currently pitches 88-91 mph. He has a good feel for three pitches, is an ultra competitive and a gifted athlete. He also intrigues us with his ability to swing the bat. ”
Rankings: Prep Baseball Report - #7 player in Wisconsin, and #43 overall right-handed pitcher in region and #108 overall player in PBR coverage area; Perfect Game - #5 overall player in Wisconsin, #87 overall right-handed pitcher and #273 overall player in the nation
Chad McClanahan – INF, Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Preparatory
“Chad is one of the best hitters in Arizona. We saw Chad when we first arrived in Tempe and liked him. When we saw him again in the latter part of the summer, it was clear to us that he has an above average left-handed swing that is going to develop into one of the best in the country over the next couple years. What sold us on Chad beyond his baseball skills was his passion for ASU.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - #1 third baseman and #1 overall player in Arizona, #15 overall third baseman and #188 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: 2015 Area Code Baseball Games
Chaz Montoya – LHP, Glendale, Ariz./Centennial HS
“Chaz is a local left-hander from Centennial High School in Glendale, Ariz., and is one of the best pitchers in the state. What we love about Chaz is his will to win. It is rare and it is special. He throws three pitches for strikes, and has the potential to be a starter, closer or main guy out of the pen right away. When people see this guy compete, he will be a fan-favorite.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - #1 left-handed pitcher and #8 overall player in Arizona, #51 overall left-handed pitcher and #446 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: 2015 Area Code Baseball Games
Jordan Roberts – LHP, Euless, Texas/Trinity HS
“Jordan is a big-bodied, left-handed pitcher out of Texas whose current stuff is good enough for him to be a potential weekend starter in the Pac-12 his first year on campus. He commands a fastball that reaches 93-94 mph that is complemented with a power breaking ball. He broke onto the national scene late in the summer and continued to impress us each time we saw him. He is a wonderful young man and we are excited about his ability to be an immediate impact arm for us.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - #1 left-handed pitcher and #7 overall player in Texas, #14 overall left-handed pitcher and #95 overall player in the nation
Zane Strand – RHP, Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS
“Zane is a right-handed pitcher from Chandler Hamilton. We’re excited about Zane because he was a little bit of a late bloomer; he’s always had an ability to pitch, but his velocity has continued to climb over the spring and summer to become the most dominant right-handed pitcher in the state. Zane should make an immediate impact on our program from the day he steps on campus, and we think he will be one of the top arms in the country down the road."
Rankings: Perfect Game - #1 right-handed pitcher and #2 overall player in Arizona, #83 overall right-handed pitcher and #264 overall player in the nation
Spencer Van Scoyoc - LHP/OF, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Thomas Jefferson HS
“Spencer is one of the top two-way players in the nation. He has proven to be one of the best left-handed pitchers in the Midwest who we believe has the potential to be a middle of the order bat in the Pac-12. He already commands one of the most advanced left-handed breaking balls in the 2016 class in the country. He has the potential to become a front-line pitcher and hitter in the Pac-12.
Family ties: His grandfather, Jim, is one of the most successful high school baseball coaches in Iowa, his father, Aaron, played minor league baseball for the Yankees, and his uncle, Mike Boddiker, is a 14-year MLB veteran who was the 1983 ALCS MVP and World Series champion with the Baltimore Orioles.
Rankings: Prep Baseball Report - #1 player in Iowa, #5 overall left-handed pitcher and #31 overall player in PBR coverage area; Perfect Game - #1 left-handed pitcher and #1 overall player in Iowa, #7 overall left-handed pitcher and #60 overall player in the nation
Tournaments/showcases: Tournament of the Stars, 2015 Area Code Baseball Games
2016 Season Tickets
To reserve your spot in line for new Sun Devil Baseball season tickets, fans can place a $100 deposit by calling 480-965-5812 or clicking here. The deposit will go towards your total ticket purchase once new season tickets are available. Fans who place a deposit will get to pick their seats prior to the general public.
Transitioning The Legacy Campaign
Season ticket holders also have an opportunity to make a capital campaign commitment towards the Phoenix Muni renovations. All gifts, no matter the size, are important and appreciated, and can be a one-time gift or a five-year pledge. Fans interested in naming opportunities at Phoenix Muni can contact the Sun Devil Club at 480-727-7700. All commitments are tax-deductible through the Sun Devil Club. Join our community and own a piece of our hometown team.
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