Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Baseball Inks 17 Players During National Signing Period
November 19, 2003 | Baseball
Nov. 19, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech Head Baseball Coach Larry Hays announced the 2005 signing class today as 17 student-athletes signed national letters of intent to play for the Red Raiders. The class will consist of eight incoming freshmen and nine junior college transfers.
"This is definitely the best recruiting class we have had here in several years," said Tech head coach Larry Hays. "We got a little bit of everything with this group as we got some quality high school and junior college players. This group of guys pretty much covers us at every position and if everything goes well with the draft (MLB) we should be in good shape next fall."
The following is a complete list of the signees who will enroll at Texas Tech next fall. Each player sketch is followed by a quote form Coach Hays on that player.
Danny Vais, RHP, Seward County Community College (6-2, 225lbs, R/R)
One of the top junior college pitchers in the nation...drafted in the 17th round out of high school by the Minnesota Twins...last season he earned NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America honors, first-team all-region, first-team all-conference (Jayhawk League) and was named the Jayhawk West Freshman-of-the-Year...went 12-3 on the hill with a 2.47 ERA...18 appearances...27 walks and 119 strikeouts.
"Danny is a front of the rotation ability type guy. He is very talented and has had a very successful career."
Matt Smith, Catcher, McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas (5-11, 190lbs, R/R)
One of the top prospects in the state as Texas Baseball News ranked him in its Top 100 list...has earned all-district honors all three years at McKinney High School...as a junior he was a first-team all-district pick and made the Dallas Morning News All-Area Second-Team...tallied a .380 career batting average in 75 games...18 doubles...12 home runs...48 RBI
"Matt (Smith) is a strong kid who can hit and has good skills behind the plate."
Josh Wilson, RHP/INF, Midland High School, Midland, Texas (6-4, 235, R/R)
One of the top prospects in West Texas from perennial power Midland High School...as a junior he was named to the all-district team and was a second-team All-State pick...as a sophomore he earned honorable mention All-State honors...had a .380 batting average as a senior with nine home runs...on the mound he went 9-2 with a 2.50 ERA.
"Josh is a big, strong player and is very athletic. He has a good short swing and has lots of power."
Nick Evans, INF, Saint Mary's High School, Phoenix, Ariz. (6-2, 185lbs, R/R)
Listed as one of the top prep prospects in the State of Arizona...earned all-region honors in 2002 and 2003 including MVP accolades in 2003...last season he had a .538 batting average, seven home runs, 11 doubles and four triples.
"Nick is just an outstanding hitter with excellent power potential and the type of swing to compete well at this level."
Jes Todd, RHP, Kilgore High School, Kilgore, Texas (6-0, 210lbs, R/R)
Listed on the Texas Baseball News Top 100 Prospects list...as a sophomore he was named the District 16-4A Sophomore-of-the-Year and as a junior was named to the District 13-4A first-team...on the hill last season he went 6-3 with one save...tallied a 1.04 ERA in 54 innings of work...struckout 58 batters
"Jes should be an outstanding young arm for us. He is a very hard nosed player with great potential."
Drew Roberts, INF, Mesquite Poteet High School, Mesquite, Texas (5-11, 180lbs, R/R)
Played four years of varsity baseball at Mesquite Poteet High School...named to the all-district team three straight years including being named sophomore-of-the-year...hit .414 last season with three home runs, 16 RBI, eight doubles and three triples.
"Drew is a kid who can really hit and run the bases. He plays extremely hard and has the versatility to play anywhere in the infield or outfield."
Richard Balcazar, INF, Cal-State Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif. (6-1, 185lbs, L/R)
Quality infielder with great range...hit .313 last season at Cal-State Los Angeles with seven home runs, nine doubles, two triples and 10 stolen bases.
"Richard is a left-handed hitting shortstop who can really play defense. He has pro potential and should be an outstanding player for us."
Brian Wyatt, RHP, Vernon College, Vernon, Texas (6-3, 185, R/R)
One of the top junior college prospects in the state as last year he went 7-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 18 appearances...tallied 45 strikeouts...drafted in the 46th round by the Cincinnati Reds in last year's MLB Draft.
"Brian is a guy with a live arm who has a chance to make an impact here at Tech. He has played in solid programs and will help us out with experience."
Miles Morgan, RHP, Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas (6-4, 180lbs, R/R)
Listed as one of the top prep prospects in the state according to Texas Baseball News as he is ranked in the Top 100...also ranked nationally as he listed in the Top 400 national prospects according to Baseball America...had an average year as a junior at Lubbock Coronado but turned around to have a stellar summer as he went 6-1 with two saves on the Lubbock Colts summer league team...been an all-district pitcher and infielder.
"Any time you can get a local guy that has great potential, you really feel good about it and Miles Morgan is that type of player."
Brady Conine, LHP, Midway High School, Waco, Texas (6-4, 175lbs, L/L)
Ranked on Texas Baseball News' Top 100 List...saw limited action as a junior at Waco's Midway High School...was part of Midway's Class 4A State Championship team...went 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 15 innings.
"Brady is another one of the young arms that we are really excited to get. He is a loose armed lefthander who has a chance to be really good at this level."
Joesph Callender, INF, Vernon College, Vernon, Texas (5-10, 160lbs, S/R)
Had an outstanding first season at Vernon College where he hit .331 with five home runs, three doubles and one triple.
"Joey is an outstanding defensive player with a good arm and actions."
Brian Cloud, RHP, Lubbock Cooper High School, Lubbock, Texas (6-4, 190lbs, R/R)
Picked up all-district, all-city and honorable mention All-State honors last season...was also named the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's All-South Plains Pitcher-of-the-Year...has a 2.71 cumulative ERA and a 16-4 overall record...played in 23 games during his career and struckout 115 batters.
"Brian is a guy who has really grown and has started progressing as a pitcher. Like Morgan, Todd and Conine, he has an excellent up side."
Brent Thomas, OF, Bellevue Community College, Bellevue, Wash. (6-0, 160lbs, R/R)
Hit .250 last season at Bellevue Community College...picked up three home runs, five doubles and one triple and had a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000%
"Brent is a player who gives us a lot of speed offensively and defensively. He has excellent bat speed and is solid in the outfield."
Carleton Hargrove, LHP, San Diego City College, San Diego, Calif. (5-11, 205lbs, L/L)
Was named to the Pacific Coast All-Conference Team last year for his efforts on the mound...went 4-1 on the year with five saves...2.41 ERA
"Carleton is a very competitive lefthander with good stuff. He has a reputation in Southern California as a guy who really wants to win and plays well in big games."
Billy Carnline Jr., LHP, Wharton J.C., New Carey High School (6-3, 185lbs, R/R)
Finished his first year at Wharton J.C. with an 8-6 record and a 4.12 ERA in 93 innings of work...tallied 70 strikeouts.
"Billy is a polished guy who is a great competitor. He gives us a great mentality on the mound and has the stuff to go with it."
Travis Young, INF/RHP, North Central Texas College (6-0, 180lbs, R/R)
Was an all-conference selection at North Central Texas where he helped lead his team to a second place finish in the North Texas JC Athletic Conference...hit .434 with six home runs, 52 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 51 runs...been clocked on the mound at over 90 mph.
"Travis is a player who gives us a lot of versatility. He hits, runs and throws well enough to play anywhere and can be a good offensive player at the top or middle of the lineup. On the mound, he has been equally impressive as he has been clocked at over 90 mph."
Adam Lawford, RHP, Grossmont College, San Diego, Calif. (6-2, 175lbs, R/R)
An all-conference selection at Grossmont College in San Diego...went 6-5 last year with a 3.51 ERA...logged 110 innings in 15 appearances...walked just 22 and struckout 82...fastball clocked at over 90 mph.
"Adam is guy a guy with a very powerful arm. His fastball has been clocked at over 90 mph and he throws his off-speed pitches for strikes. We think he can pitch a lot of innings for us."
Complete List Of 2005 Signees In PDF Format
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