Baseball Recruiting Class Ranked Fifth By Baseball America
Oct. 12, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball 2007 recruiting class grabbed its second top-five ranking of the preseason when it was rated fifth by the staff at Baseball America on Thursday. Collegiate Baseball Magazine ranked the Hurricanes’ 2007 class second in September.
The four schools ranked ahead of Miami were Baylor, South Carolina, Southern California and Clemson.
Miami is returning 21 student-athletes from the 2006 College World Series team that finished 42-24, and will be joined by a group of newcomers that has insiders abuzz.
“It could be as good a recruiting class since I’ve been at Miami,” head coach Jim Morris said.
Earning special mention in Baseball America’s breakdown were freshmen third baseman Mark Sobolewski (Sarasota/Sarasota), left-handed pitcher Eric Erickson (Sarasota/Sarasota), shortstop Ryan Jackson (Miami Springs/Florida Christian), right-handed pitcher Michael Rudman (Miami/Killian), catcher Jason Hagerty (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney) and junior right-handed pitcher Enrique Garcia (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon/Potomac State JC).
They be joined by a talented group of newcomers that include, right-handed pitcher Kyle Bellamy (Davie/Cypress Bay), outfielder Kevin Diego (Miami/Columbus), left-handed pitcher P.J. Fisher (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman/Miami-Dade), right-handed pitchers John Housey (Davie/Nova), Alex Koronis (Miami/Monsignor Pace) and Anthony Nalepa (Miami/Chaminade-Madonna Prep).
The staff did not take into account four-year transfers, which include Dave DiNatale (Parkland/Douglas/Central Florida), Jonathan Weislow (Vienna, Va./Bishop O’Connell/George Mason) and Chris Borgognoni (Miami/Florida Christian/Marshall)
While the consensus is that Miami’s incoming class is talented, that has not been what has impressed Morris in individual workouts this fall.
“So far, watching their work ethic, every player is doing what they can do to get better,” Morris said. “That’s the secret. Not just having talent, but having the work ethic to get better and these guys have it.”
Miami begins its full-squad fall practices on Nov. 2 at Mark Light Field. All practices are open to the pubic.
Baseball America Top 25 Recruiting Classes1. Baylor2. South Carolina3. Southern California4. Clemson5. Miami6. Florida7. Oklahoma State8. North Carolina9. Cal State Fullerton10. Arkansas11. Oklahoma12. Texas13. UCLA14. UC Irvine15. Tennessee16. Texas A&M17. Kent State18. Auburn19. Arizona20. Oregon State21. Evansville22. Missouri23. Kentucky24. Arizona State25. Vanderbilt
