Baseball Hauls In Nation's No. 6 Recruiting Class

Oct. 6, 1999

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 2000 University of Miami baseball recruiting class,consisting of five freshman signees, has been ranked sixth nationally, byCollegiate Baseball Newspaper.

1999 National Champion Miami placed sixth in the nation with the followingfreshmen: pitcher Enrique “Kiki” Bengochea (Miami, FL/Columbus), outfielderJim Burt, Jr. (Allendale, NJ/Bergen Catholic), infielder Kevin Howard(Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake), infielder Kevin Mannix (Syosset, NY/Syosset)and catcher Danny Matienzo (Miami, FL/Columbus).

Of the five signees, three were drafted during the 1999 Major LeagueBaseball Amateur Draft. Bengochea became the highest drafted player toforego professional baseball and sign with his top college choice after theKansas City Royals selected him in the third round. Howard was a 22nd roundpick of the San Diego Padres, while the Minnesota Twins selected Matienzo inthe 24th round.

Burt, a highly regarded outfield prospect, is the son of former Hurricaneand New York Giant football great Jim Burt.

The University of Southern California was ranked No. 1 with a signing classof eight freshmen and two Division I transfer students.

UM earned a No. 6 ranking in the Top 30 poll with just five freshmen, whilethe average size class among the top 10 schools was 12. The average sizeclass among the entire top 30 poll was 14 per school.

During Head Baseball Coach Jim Morris’ tenure at Miami (1994-present), theHurricane recruiting classes have finished among the top 10 nationally,highlighted by 1994’s No. 1-rated class. Last season, UM received a No. 2ranking.