UCLA's Recruit Class Ranked No. 6 Nationally, Best in the West
September 12, 2018 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA baseball's incoming recruiting class has been ranked No. 6 six in the country and best in the west by Baseball America, it was announced by the publication on Wednesday. The Bruins have now been ranked inside the top-25 for five consecutive years, while this year's ranking is the highest for the program since 2015.
"We are very excited about this class and the future they have in our program," said UCLA head coach John Savage. "It's a group of players that have the skill to have a major impact right away. Coach Bryant Ward and our entire staff have done an outstanding job of getting these players to Westwood."
The Bruins are the top ranked team in not only the Pac-12, but of any team west of Baton Rouge, La. UCLA is one of just three Pac-12 schools to make the cut, joining Arizona (No. 13) and USC (No. 14). Big West-member Cal State Fullerton (No. 16) was the only other California school to make the cut.
The newest group of Bruins is headlined by 2018 first round MLB draft pick Matt McLain, who opted to enroll at UCLA in lieu of signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The infielder from Tustin, Calif. followed up his standout high school career at Beckman HS with a breakout debut in the West Coast League this summer, where he slashed .291/.370/.442 while driving in over a run per game for the Bellingham Bells. He earned the WCL's inaugural Top Prospect Award and was just this week named the top prospect in the league by Perfect Game.
Matt McLain from the @bhambells was selected for the WCL's newest honor. McLain, who is entering his freshman year with @UCLABaseball, earned the Top Prospect Award. The 25th overall pick from this year's MLB Draft got his first taste of college baseball in the WCL this summer. pic.twitter.com/HzUMYac8EQ
— West Coast League (@WCLBaseball) August 22, 2018
Two-way player Jake Moberg and right-handed pitcher Sean Mullen were also drafted – both by the Colorado Rockies – but opted to head to Westwood. Moberg was the No. 20 prospect of his class out of California, and was a WCL All-Star this past summer with the Yakima Valley Pippins. Mullen meanwhile was a Perfect-Game All-American and an All-California First Team selection out of Stockdale HS in Bakersfield, Calif.
Bruins are all over the @WCLBaseball top prospect list, with Matt McLain at No. 1, RHP Nick Nastrini at No. 4, and RHP Chase Farrell at No. 13!
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) September 11, 2018
McLain and Nastrini are the two highest-ranked collegiate players on the list. #GoBruins https://t.co/wlEnBq6rQ8
Besides the drafted trio, a host of incoming Bruins made names for themselves this summer playing in the West Coast League.
Right-handed pitcher Nick Nastrini was an All-WCL First Teamer and was the No. 2 collegiate prospect in the WCL behind McLain after posting ace-like numbers (4-2, 1.88 ERA) for Bellingham. Catcher Noah Cardenas and shortstop Mikey Perez, son of UCLA head softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, both earned All-WCL nods as well. Infielder JT Schwartz had a gaudy .320/.395/.560 slash line for Wenatchee in 20 games.
The Bruins' 2019 recruiting class is rounded out by Perfect Game All-American right-handed pitchers Dennis Boatman and Jesse Bergin.
Stay up-to-date on all things UCLA Baseball by following @UCLABaseball on Twitter.
The results are in, and UCLA's incoming recruit class has been ranked No. 6?? in the country and best in the West by ?@BaseballAmerica?!
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) September 12, 2018
READ >>> https://t.co/odc51z61O6#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/4TOeEHwEGz
