UCLA Baseball Signs 10 Players to NLIs
November 14, 2016 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA Baseball has officially signed 10 players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. The 2017 class includes six pitchers, three infielders and one outfielder.
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Of the 10 signees, all 10 hail from the state of California, including two who competed for the U.S. 18U National Team that won Gold at the Pan-American Games in October. Four players are ranked within the top 10 players in the state of California, with seven total players from the class ranking within the top 50 in the state, as ranked by Perfect Game USA. Overall, nine of the 10 players earned Perfect Game USA Underclass All-American selections in 2016.
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"We are very excited about this class," said UCLA head baseball coach John Savage. "Bryant Ward has done an outstanding job of the recruitment of these players along with the entire staff. We feel like we have the best pitchers from the state of California along with some high profile position players that will add immediate impact to our roster of 2018. It is a deep of a pitching class as you will see in the country."
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The Bruins recruiting class includes infielder/right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene (Notre Dame HS), right-handed pitcher/catcher Hagen Danner (Huntington Beach HS), right-handed pitchers Jeremiah Estrada (Palm Desert HS), Chase Farrell (Valencia HS), Zachary Pettway (Long Beach Wilson HS) and Holden Powell (Mt. Whitney HS), left-handed pitcher Sam Glick (El Toro HS), infielders Kevin Kendall (La Mirada HS) and RJ Teijeiro (St. Francis HS) and outfielder Garrett Mitchell (Orange Lutheran HS).
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Hagen Danner
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Huntington Beach HS)
RHP/C โ 6-2, 195 โ R/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Huntington Beach High School (Huntington Beach, Calif.) under head coach Benji Medure โฆ ranked No. 10 in the 2016 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 42 in the 2016 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ ranked No. 1 on MaxPreps list of Top 50 High School juniors โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings first team Underclass All-American โฆ played in 2016 Under Armour All-America Game โฆ led the U.S. 18U National Team to the gold medal at the Pan-American Games in 2016โฆ 2016 MaxPreps All-State first team โฆ 2016 All-CIF SS Division I first team selection โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ Orange County Register All-County Team in 2016 โฆ 2016 WWBA World Championship All-Tournament Team selection โฆ played on U.S. 18U National Team that won gold medal at the World Cup in Japan in 2015 โฆ 2015 Perfect Game Rawlings first team Underclass All-American โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2015 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ named Most Valuable Player in 2014 16U WWBA National Championship โฆ 2014 PG/Evoshield National Championship Underclass All-Tournament Team โฆ as a junior helped lead team to a CIF-SS Division Championship and named first-team All-Sunset Leagueโฆ helped lead Little League Team to a 2011 Little League World Series title.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Hagen is one of the highest-profile players in the country, as a Team USA playe, and an Under Armour All-American. He and Hunter Green are the two best two-way guys in the country. He can pitch and catch in the Pac-12, and he is a potential high-end two-way guy that will meet a lot of needs when he comes into UCLA."
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Jeremiah Estrada
La Quinta, Calif. (Palm Desert HS)
RHP โ 6-1, 182 โ S/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Palm Desert High School (La Quinta, Calif.) under head coach Darol Salazar โฆ ranked No. 7 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 21 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ ranked No. 42 on MaxPreps list of Top 50 High School juniors โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings first team Underclass All-American โฆ 2016 All-CIF SS Division III first team selection โฆ competed in the 2016 Perfect Game All-American Classic โฆ named to the Rawlings Top Prospect list at the 2016 National Showcase โฆ played in the 2016 USA Baseball Tournament of the Stars โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ 2016 Desert Sun Player of the Year โฆ 2016 17U Perfect Game World Series All-Tournament Team โฆ 2016 17U WWBA National Championship All-Tournament Team โฆ 2015 Perfect Game Rawlings High Honorable Mention Underclass All-American โฆ2015 17U Perfect Game World Series All-Tournament Team โฆ 2013 14U WWBA West Memorial Day All-Tournament Team โฆ as a junior at Palm Desert HS, finished with a 10-3 record and a 1.00 ERA in 77.0 innings and tallied 112 strikeouts โฆ as a sophomore finished with a 10-3 record and a 0.69 ERA in 70.2 innings and tallied 79 strikeouts.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Jeremiah throws 90-93 with an advanced change-up and a very athletic delivery. He is another Perfect Game All-American, who has led his Palm Desert Team the past several years. We like his stuff and he is a guy that we really feel will come out very advanced and very polished."
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Chase Farrell
Valencia, Calif. (Valencia HS)
RHP โ 6-3, 178 โ L/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Valencia High School (Valencia, Calif.) under head coach Mike Killinger โฆ ranked No. 59 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 417 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ as a junior at Valencia HS, tallied a 5-3 record with a 2.39 ERA in 55.2 innings and 30 strikeouts โฆ as a sophomore tossed 4.0 innings and compiled a 1-0 record.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Chase had one of the bigger summers in southern California last year. He was a guy that really created a lot of excitement over the summer. We got him right before the Area Code Games in Long Beach. He has a fastball that is 87-90 with an above average slider. He looks to be a two-pitch guy right now that has tremendous projection and tremendous upside."
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Sam Glick
Lake Forest, Calif. (El Toro HS)
LHP โ 6-1, 170 โ L/L
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at El Toro High School (Lake Forest, Calif.) under head coach Mike Gonzales โฆ ranked No. 28 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 165 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings third team Underclass All-American โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ as a junior helped team to a league championship and threw a complete game shut out to advance to the CIF-SS Division I quarterfinals โฆ as a sophomore had a 1-0 record with a 2.85 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched โฆ as a freshman totaled a 1-1 record with a 2.51 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Sam is a very athletic left-handed pitcher that has three pitches, 88-90, with a good curve ball and a good feel for his change. We really felt he was the most athletic left-handed pitcher in this class that can repeat his delivery. He is very competitive and has had success at El Toro. He plays for a very good program, and he is a guy that we think will be an immediate help as a left-handed pitcher."
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Hunter Greene
Stevenson Ranch, Calif. (Notre Dame HS)
INF/RHP โ 6-4, 205 โ R/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Notre Dame High School (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) under head coach Tom Dill โฆ ranked No. 1 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 1 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ ranked No. 5 on MaxPreps list of Top 50 High School juniors โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings first team Underclass All-American โฆ played in 2016 Under Armour All-America Game ย โฆ led the U.S. 18U National Team to the gold medal at the Pan-American Games in 2016 โฆ 2016 MaxPreps Underclass first team All-Americanโฆ2016 MaxPreps All-State first team โฆ 2016 All-CIF SS Division I first team selection โฆ 2016 Los Angeles Times All-Area Teamย โฆ competed in the 2016 Perfect Game All-American Classic โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ named to the Baseball America 2016 All-Area Code Team โฆ 2015 Perfect Game Rawlings High Honorable Mention Underclass All-American โฆ played on U.S. 18U National Team that won gold medal at the World Cup in Japan in 2015 โฆ 2015 All-CIF SS Division ย ย ย ย ย ย first team selection โฆ named Mission League MVP in 2015 โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2015 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ as a junior at Notre Dame HS, hit .419 with 20 runs, 20 RBIs and five home runs along with a 1.63 ERA and a 5-3 record on the mound in 55.2 innings pitched โฆ as a sophomore hit .390 with 22 RBIs, 17 runs scored and nine doubles, while also throwing 27.2 innings on the mound with a 1.77 ERA and 3-2 record.
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Head Coach John Savage: "He is the number one rated player in the country. He is a two-way guy that is 96-98 on the mound with a good slider and can play a legitimate shortstop. He is very advanced on the mound. He showed over the summer that he can hit and play the infield, on a standard of USA baseball. We think he is one of the best two-way guys in the country, along with Hagen Danner."
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Kevin Kendall
La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS)
INF โ 5-11, 165 โ L/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at La Mirada High School (La Mirada, Calif.) under head coach Jimmy Zurn โฆ ranked No. 42 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 275 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings third team Underclass All-American โฆ named to the 2016 PG/Evoshield National Championship All-Tournament Team โฆ 2016 All-CIF SS Division II first team selection โฆ named Whittier Daily News All-Area first team selection in 2016 โฆ selected to 2016 Press Telegram Dream Team first team โฆ as a junior at La Mirada HS, led team to league title as he hit .453 with 28 runs, 30 RBIs and a .616 slugging percentage, while only striking out five times in 31 games โฆ as a sophomore played in seven games hitting .500 with one double and two RBIs.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Kevin is a very athletic, middle infielder with tremendous hands and feet and a good arm. He is another guy that is left-handed who we think is going to be very good offensively along with the middle infielders that we have in our program today. Kevin is a guy who is an acrobatic infielder who we think is going to be a really good player."
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Garrett Mitchell
Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS)
OF โ 6-2, 200 โ L/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.) under head coach Eric Borba โฆ ranked No. 8 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 23 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ ranked No. 37 on MaxPreps list of Top 50 High School juniors โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings first team Underclass All-American โฆ played in 2016 Under Armour All-America Game โฆ competed in the 2016 Perfect Game All-American Classic โฆ named to the Rawlings Top Prospect list at the 2016 National Showcase โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ named to the Baseball America 2016 All-Area Code Team โฆ 2015 Perfect Game Rawlings High Honorable Mention Underclass All-American โฆ named All-Trinity League first team in 2015 โฆ selected to 2015 17U WWBA National Championship All-Tournament Team โฆ 2015 PG/Evoshield National Championship WWBA Champion โฆ 2015 WWBA 17U National Champion โฆ 2014 California World Series Champion โฆ as a junior at Orange Lutheran HS, hit .299 with 19 runs and 11 RBIs in 29 gamesโฆas a sophomore hit .373 with 23 runs and 17 RBIs including five doubles and 21 walks โฆ as a freshman hit .250 in 10 games with six runs.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Garrett is the best athlete, possibly in the country in his class. He has five tools. He can run, hit, hit with power, throw and field. He is a true center fielder with tremendous upside potential projection that is going to allow him to make a major impact in our program. Mitchell is a very good defender and is another guy that has left-handed power."
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Zachary Pettway
Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Wilson HS)
RHP โ 6-1, 195 โ R/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Long Beach Wilson High School (Long Beach, Calif.) under head coach Andy Hall โฆ ranked No. 30 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 172 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings third team Underclass All-American โฆ played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ 2016 PG/Evoshield National Championship All-Tournament Team selection โฆ 2016 17U PG World Series All-Tournament Team โฆ 2016 WWBA World Championship All-Tournament Team selection โฆ played for Milwaukee Brewers at the 2015 Area Code Underclass Games โฆ 2015 PGCWS โ Pacific All-Tournament Team โฆย 2014 PG/Evoshield National Championship All-Tournament Team โฆ as a junior at Long Beach Wilson HS, recorded a 3.89 ERA in only nine innings with nine strikeouts โฆ as a sophomore compiled a 6-3 record and a 1.15 ERA in 79 innings with 56 strikeouts.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Zach is a three-pitch guy, 88-90, with an advanced change-up and good curve ball. He did not pitch last year as a junior, but he is completely healthy. He is very competitive, and we think he is a potential starter in our program. He has a lot of deception from his delivery and is pitch-ready. He is very competitive and is able to repeat his delivery."
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Holden Powell
Visalia, Calif. (Mt. Whitney HS)
RHP โ 6-0, 175 โ R/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Mt. Whitney High School (Visalia, Calif.) under head coach Nick Yockey โฆ ranked No. 80 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 500 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings Underclass High Honorable Mention All-American โฆ selected to 2016 17U U.S. National Team Developmental Program โฆ played for the Oakland Athletics at the 2016 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. โฆ 2016 All-Tulare County Player of the Year โฆ 2016 All-Tulare County first team selection โฆ as a junior at Mt. Whitney High School, finished with a 9-2 record and a 0.42 ERA in 66.2 innings and collected 81 strikeouts, while also hitting .344 with 10 RBIs to lead team to a league title โฆ as a sophomore threw 9.0 innings with nine strikeouts โฆ as a freshman tossed 12.2 innings with nine strikeouts.
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Head Coach John Savage: "Holden is a two-sport guy who is both an athletic right-handed pitcher and a really good basketball player. He has a power fastball, 90-93, and a hard slider. He led his Mt. Whitney team to a CIF Championship. Holden was one of the best guys in central California and is a guy that we think will be an impact as a freshman."
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RJ Teijeiro
Foster City, Calif. (St. Francis HS)
INF โ 6-1, 175 โ L/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at St. Francis High School (Foster City, Calif.) under head coach Mike Oakland โฆ ranked No. 48 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top High School Prospects in the state of California โฆ ranked No. 320 in the 2017 Perfect Game USA Top 500 High School Prospects โฆ 2016 Perfect Game Rawlings second team Underclass All-American โฆ played in the 2016 USA Baseball Tournament of the Stars hitting .300 with two RBIs โฆ named 2016 Mercury News Honorable Mention โฆ 2015 Perfect Game Rawlings Honorable Mention Underclass All American โฆ competed in the 2015 Perfect Game Underclass All-American Games โฆ named to the Rawlings Top Prospect list at the 2015 Perfect Game Underclass Games โฆ named to the 2015 PGCWS โ Pacific All-Tournament Team โฆ as a junior at St. Francis HS, hit .368 with 11 runs and 20 RBIs to help lead team to Central Coast Section title โฆ as a sophomore hit .403 with 16 runs and 12 RBIs.
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Head Coach John Savage: "RJ is a guy that can really hit. He is a true hitter in the sense that he sprays the ball from pole-to-pole. He is very versatile as he can play third and all over the field. We look at RJ as an advanced hitter with a disciplined eye, with great plate discipline that we think is going to be able to hit."
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