UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State baseball received National Letters of Intent from 11 signees, head coach Rob Cooper announced Thursday. The class, which will begin participation in the 2015-16 academic year, includes five pitchers, three infielders, two outfielders and a catcher. The class is ranked No. 44 nationally by Perfect Game.
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WILLIE BURGERHeight/Weight: 6-0/195Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: 3B/2BHometown/High School: Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic Achievements:Hit .405 with six homeruns and 31 RBIs as a junior ... 2012 and 2013 Second Team Underclass All-American by Perfect Game ... 2014 Perfect Game All-American ... Selected to play in the 2014 Area Code Games ... Ranked the No. 72 player nationally and No. 4 in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game ... Plays high school baseball for head coach Chris Kiehl and travel baseball (Tri-State Arsenal) for Jeff Mazzola and Bobby Barth. Coach Cooper: "Willie is a tough, blue-collar player with tremendous offensive upside. He has the ability to play third base and catcher, while possibly being a middle of the order type hitter." |
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| BRIAN GEORGEHeight/Weight: 6-3/195Bat/Throw: R/LPosition: LHPHometown/High School: Petersburg, W. Va./Petersburg
Achievements: Went 4-2 as a junior ... Led the team with a 1.85 ERA ... Selected to the 2014 West Virginia All-Star Team ... Currently the No. 1 ranked left-handed pitcher in the state of West Virginia according to Prep Baseball Report ... Coached in high school by Mike Landis and travel baseball (Allegheny Pirates) by Fred Albert. Coach Cooper: "Brian is a young man with a bright future ahead of him. He has great feel for three pitches and a tremendous competitive spirit. He has desire to learn and become great." |
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| JUSTIN HAGENMANHeight/Weight: 6-3/ 180Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: RHP Hometown/High School: Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace
Achievements:Named to the 2014 All-Olympic Conference team ... Named an Underclass Honorable Mention All-American by Perfect Game ... Carpenter Cup All-Star as well as 2013 and 2014 Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament Team selection ... South Jersey Underclass All-Star ... Is ranked in the Top 1000 by Perfect Game ... High school coach is Sam Tropiano and is coached in travel baseball (Evoshield Canes Central) by Sebastian Nazabal. Coach Cooper: "Justin has the chance to make an immediate impact in our program. We feel he has the desire and tools to become a frontline starter for us." |
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| BLAKE HODGENSHeight/Weight: 6-1/180Bat/Throw: L/LPosition: LHPHometown/High School: Tampa, Fla./Gaither
Achievements:Compiled a 1.94 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched as a junior ... Named 2014 All-Western Conference ... Recognized as the 2014 Gaiter High School Pitcher of the Year ... Selected to the Perfect Game BCS Finals All-Tournament Team and the WWBA Championships All-Tournament Team ... High school coach is Nelson North and travel team (SCORE International) coaches are Sam Morsonek and Myron Leslie. Coach Cooper: "Blake is another LHP who has the ability to make an immediate impact in our program. His ability to pound the strike zone will allow him to pitch in numerous roles for us." |
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| CONLIN HUGHESHeight/Weight: 5-10/175Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: MIF Hometown/High School: Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs
Achievements:Earned all-conference recognition as a sophomore and junior ... Made Central Carolina Scholastic Summer All-Star Game in 2013 and 2014 ... Played in the 2014 Powerade State Game for North Carolina ... Hit .364 at the 2014 WWBA Championship in Jupiter, Florida ... Ranked in the Top 1000 Perfect Game ... High school coach is Rod Whitesell and travel team (Evoshield Canes) coach is Sebastian Nazabal. Coach Cooper: "Conlin is an extremely athletic infielder who loves to play. He has the ability to hit at the top of our lineup and cause problems on the bases for opposing teams. We love his hardnosed mindset."
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| CONNOR KLEMANNHeight/Weight: 5-10/185Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: MIFHometown/High School: Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford
Achievements:Hit .443 as a junior with two home runs ... Selected as first team all-conference ... Ranked in Top 500 players in the country by Perfect Game ... Head coach in high school is Bruce Bobst and is coached by Greg Kinneman in travel baseball (Chandler World). Coach Cooper: "Definition of a baseball player. Connor loves to play, compete and is an extremely smart player. He is an advanced hitter and we believe he can be an impact guy as a freshman."
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| KEITH LEAVITTHeight/Weight: 6-0/195Bat/Throw: L/RPosition: OutfieldHometown/High School: Manchester, Mass./St. John's Prep
Achievements:Hit six home runs with 25 RBIs as a junior ... Lead the team with a 1.000 fielding percentage ... USA Today First Team All-Massachusetts ... Ranked as the fourth-best outfielder in Massachusetts by Perfect Game ... Ranked in the Top 1000 by Perfect Game ... High school coach is Dan Letarte and travel team (Show Baseball) coach is Steve Lomasney. Coach Cooper: "Keith is considered one of the best high school hitters in the New England area. He plays extremely hard and has above average skills in the outfield. We feel he can make an immediate impact as a freshman." |
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ERIC MOCKHeight/Weight: 6-2/195Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: RHPHometown/High School: Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin Achievements: Recorded a 1.42 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched in 2014 ... 2014 East Coast Pro Selection ... Ranked in the Top 500 nationally and the No. 3 right-handed pitcher in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game ... Coached in high school by Chris Hole and in travel baseball (USA Elite Baseball) by Doug Strange. Coach Cooper: "Eric is a young man who we feel can be a weekend type starter for us. He is super competitive and has the ability to repeat numerous pitches for strikes. We are excited to see this young man develop." |
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| ELI NABHOLZHeight/Weight: 6-6/230Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: RHPHometown/High School: Pottsville, Pennsylvania/Pottsville
Achievements:Held a 5-3 record with 62 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA in 2014 ... Helped Pottsville to the Schuylkill League Championship ... Selected 2014 first team all-area ... 2013 Schuylkill League Pitcher of the year ... Ranked in the Top 500 nationally and No. 18 in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game ... High school coach is Mike Welsh and travel team (Chandler World) coach is Greg Kinneman. Coach Cooper: ""Eli is a quality young man, who happens to be a really good pitcher. He is extremely competitive and hard working. We believe he can make an immediate impact as a true freshman." |
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| AUSTIN RIGGINSHeight/Weight: 6-0/170Bat/Throw: R/RPosition: OutfieldHometown/High School: Greer, S.C./Riverside
Achievements:Named a 2014 Underclass All-American by Perfect Game ... Recognized as an Under Armour Preseason All-American ... Named a 2014 all-region outfielder ... Ranked as a top-five outfielder in South Carolina by Perfect Game and a Top 1000 player overall ... Coached in high school by Travis Pittman and in travel baseball (Evoshield Canes South) by Daniel Coles and Ken Daniels. Coach Cooper: "Austin is a young man who can make an immediate impact in our outfield as a true freshman. He has great offensive upside and the ability to help us win games defensively as well." |
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| RYAN SLONIGERHeight/Weight: 5-11/187Bat/Throw: L/RPosition: CatcherHometown/High School: Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney
Achievements:Batted .524 with 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored as a junior ... Named a 2014 first team all-state selection ... Two-time Northern Allegheny League Big School Player of the Year ... 2014 Perfect Game High Honorable Mention All-American selection .... Ranked No. 251 nationally and No. 9 in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game ... High school coach is Mike Dickey and Greg Kinneman coaches his travel baseball team (Chandler World). Coach Cooper: "Ryan plays the game with great toughness and passion. He is a great defensive player and is an advanced offensive player. He plays the game with a "throwback" mentality. He has a chance to be an impact guy immediately." |