After losing eight starters due to graduation, going pro, and transferring elsewhere, the APSU baseball staff has assembled a deep recruiting class with 15 new faces.
In the spring signing period which just recently wrapped up, the Govs added five players — four pitchers and one infielder.
The lone infielder, Alex Robles (Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson, Ariz.), is expected to receive a large portion of playing time as a freshman, and will compete with fellow signee Logan Gray for the starting shortstop spot in the infield. In his senior season, Robles was selected to the Louisville Slugger High School Baseball All-America second team, among other state honors. At the plate, he batted an remarkable .505 with 29 RBI, and can also give the Govs relief help on the mound as he was 9-2 with a 1.36 ERA in his senior season.
Three of the four pitchers signed are transfering to APSU after attending community colleges.
Caleb DeLee (Meridian CC, Miss.) did not take the mound in 2012 due to injury, and will have three years remaining at the college level. In his freshman season, DeLee went 3-1 with a 4.61 ERA and two saves as a relief pitcher. At Collierville High School (Tenn.), was a 2011 Preseason Louisville Slugger High School All-American and two-time All Metro selection by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. It is unclear whether DeLee will be used as a starter or bullpen arm.
Jake Corum (Walters State CC, Tenn.) missed the majority 2012 season, but as a freshman at Walters State 1-0 with a save in nine games and 15 strikeouts. Corum was also named a TCCAA Distinguished Scholar-Athlete as a freshman. At APSU, the plan is to primarity use him as a tail end of the bullpen guy, possibily in the setup role.
Mark Hendrick (Lamar CC, Colo.) racked up a record of 17-6 at Lamar CC, and will provide the Govs added experience of having pitched over 140 innings at the college level. Last season, Hendrick made 16 appearances (11 starts) and finished with a record of 7-4. While his ERA was a bit high at 4.55, he struke out 65 batters in 65.1 innings pitched. Hendrick will have a chance to compete for a place in the rotation, but could also come out of the bullpen as well.
Shane Lantigua (Bartlett High School, Tenn.) went 4-3 in nine appearances and a save as a senior, and received many innings pitched as a sophomore and junior as well. Considering Lantigua is a freshman, he’ll receive limited time out of the bullpen, primarily in spots to get three to six outs.
The Govs signed 10 players in the fall — four infielders, two outfielders, and four pitchers — who will also receive playing time in their first season. They are listed as followed.
OF Cayce Bredlau (Northwest High School, Clarksville, Tenn.)
IF Garrett Copeland (Bolton High School, Bartlett, Tenn.)
1B Dre Gleason (Fort Zumwalt North High School, O’Fallon, Mo.)
IF Logan Gray (Rockhurst High School [Mo.], Leawood, Kan.)
OF Chase Hamilton (Arlington High School, Arlington, Tenn.)
RHP Jordan Harmon (Lindbergh High School, St. Louis, Mo.)
RHP Caleb Powell (Milan High School, Milan, Tenn.)
LHP Levi Primasing (Northeast High School, Clarksville, Tenn.)
IF/C Ridge Smith (Germantown High School, Cordova, Tenn.)
RHP Zach Walton (Walters State CC, Columbia, Tenn.)
Photo by Josh Vaughn (The All State)
