Baseball America Ranks Recruiting Class No. 6
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami baseball recruiting class was ranked sixth in the nation by Baseball America Tuesday, marking the program’s highest ranking from the publication since 2006.
It was the second straight year Miami’s incoming group, comprised of 14 freshmen and two junior college transfers, was ranked among the top 10 by Baseball America. Miami’s 2012 recruiting class was rated tenth by the publication, while its 2006 class was ranked fifth.
Baseball America became the second publication to recognize Miami’s incoming group this fall. Collegiate Baseball newspaper rated the Hurricanes’ class the fourth-best in the nation in its annual rankings released in late September.
Four of Miami’s newcomers were selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft: outfielder Willie Abreu (Cincinnati Reds), first baseman/right-handed pitcher Derik Beauprez (Boston Red Sox), catcher Zack Collins (Cincinnati) and outfielder Jacob Heyward (Atlanta Braves).
The newcomers will be joining a strong nucleus of returners that guided Miami to its college baseball- record 41st consecutive postseason appearance in 2013.
“I think offensively we’re making the right adjustments to get the guys who can hit with authority in here,” recruiting coordinator Gino DiMare said in an interview with Baseball America. “This is a deep group, a physical group—a lot of big, strong kids. No excuses; we’ve just got to develop them.”
Miami’s incoming class was rated the highest among all ACC schools, joining Virginia (No. 14), Clemson (No. 16) and Florida State (No. 18) in the top 25.
To view Baseball America’s recruiting class rankings, click HERE.
The team opened fall practice Monday at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. Held every Monday through Saturday until Nov. 22, practices are set to begin each weekday at 2:30 p.m., while Saturday practices will commence at 10 a.m. All practices are open to the public.
