CLASS HIGHLIGHTS
Five players ranked in the high school top-50 by Baseball America Two Aflac All-America game participants Two Team USA Junior Olympic Team invitations Three first-team All-Americans Participation in 13 major high school showcases (Perfect Game National, Area Code Games, East Coast Professional Showcase) One high school state player of the year as a junior Six high school all-state honorees
Sean Bouthilette RHP 6-2 190 R/R Elizabethtown, Ky. (Elizabethtown HS)Andy Burns IF 6-2 185 R/R Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain HS)William Campbell 1B 6-5 260 R/R Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue CC)Cory Farris C/OF 6-0 190 L/R Florence, Ky. (Boone Co. HS)Gunner Glad RHP/UT 6-0 180 R/R Pahlequah, Okla. (Eastern Oklahoma State College)Corban Joseph IF 6-0 175 L/R Franklin, Tenn. (Franklin HS)Braden Kapteyn IF/RHP 6-4 200 R/R Lansing, Ill. (Illiana Christian School)Nick Kennedy RHP 6-1 170 R/R Los Angeles, Calif. (East LA College)Matt Little RHP 5-11 180 R/R Virginia Beach, Va. (Louisburg College)Seth Lintz RHP 6-1 165 R/R Lewisburg, Tenn. (Marshall Co. HS)Dustin Leroy IF 5-11 180 R/R Rocklin, Calif. (Sierra College)Alex Meyer RHP 6-7 200 R/R Greensburg, Ind. (Greensburg HS)Robbie Ross LHP 5-10 185 L/L Lexington, Ky. (Lexington Christian Academy)P.J. Sequeira OF 6-3 215 R/R Petaluma, Calif. (Santa Rosa JC)Daniel Webb 1B/RHP 6-3 205 R/R Paducah, Ky. (Heath HS)Chad Wright OF 5-10 180 L/R Paducah, Ky. (Heath HS)
After the most successful two-year run in the 103-year history of the UK baseball program, Kentucky head coach John Cohen has announced the signing of 16 of the top prospects in amateur baseball, including five of the top-50 high school players in the nation.
“This is by far the most talented group we’ve brought in during the early signing period and it might be one of the best in the country,” said Cohen, UK’s fifth-year head coach. “A handful of these kids could have chosen virtually any school in the nation and they chose Kentucky because they are excited about what we are doing here and about the type of people we have in our program.”
“We are losing a significant amount of at-bats and innings after the upcoming 2008 season and it was important to sign a group that could step in immediately and have success in the best conference in college baseball, and we did just that.”
Highlighting the group are five of the top high school players in the nation, as ranked by Baseball America. Alex Meyer, a 6-foot-7 right-hander from Greensburg (Ind.) High School, tops the list, ranking fifth in the listing of the top-100 high school prospects.
Meyer was ranked as the No. 2 prospect by Baseball America at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati. A member of the Indiana Bulls travel team over the summer, Meyer played in the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla. in August, in addition to playing in the Aflac All-America game in San Diego, Calif.
“Alex has tremendous upside – he has a great arm, he’s athletic, and he has a frame that can easily handle another 40 pounds,” Cohen said. “We expect big things from him during his career at Kentucky.”
Lexington Christian product Robbie Ross, widely regarded as one of the top left-handed arms in the country, ranks as the 17th-best prospect in high school baseball. Ross, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder has outstanding mound presence and is a proven winner, having led Keith Galloway’s LCA team to the Kentucky High School State Championship as a freshman in 2005. Along with Meyer, he participated in the East Coast Professional Showcase and Perfect Game National, and Ross also received an invitation to join USA’s Junior Olympic team.
“Robbie is a great athlete with great stuff,” Cohen said. “His arm strength and ability to throw his offspeed pitches for a strike should enable him to pitch early and often.”
Continuing a UK baseball pipeline from Paducah, right-handed pitcher/hitter Daniel Webb ranks as the 26th-best high school prospect in the nation. Webb, a hard-throwing 6-foot-3, 205-pounder, spent last season at Heath High School, pitching 73 1/3 innings and striking out a school-record 116. Webb, who is one of two Heath HS signees in the 2009 class, earned an 8-2 record and a 2.00 ERA as a sophomore in 2007. A definite two-way player, Webb batted .433 as a junior, with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, stealing 12 bags.
“Daniel is a legitimate two-way player,” Cohen detailed. “He has outstanding arm strength and tremendous power. I saw him pitch seven innings on a broken foot so there’s no questioning his toughness.”
Infielder Andy Burns is another of UK’s top-50 recruits, as Baseball America tabbed him the 38th best prospect in high school baseball. Burns, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound middle infielder, played in the Aflac All-American game and the Perfect Game National Showcase, as well as participating in the 2007 Area Code Games for the Cincinnati Reds team. In 2007, Burns was named MVP of the Colorado 5A tournament, after leading Scott Bullock’s Rocky Mountain High School team to the State Championship. Burns batted .546 as a junior, setting school records for runs (41), hits (39), RBI (43), and home runs (13). Burns finished the year with a staggering 1.181 slugging percentage and equally impressive .649 on-base percentage. He was named the Colorado State 5A Player of the Year as a junior, as well as earning conference player of the year honors and first-team All-America honors, as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
“Andy has outstanding baseball skills along with an uncommon feel for the game,” Cohen said. His baseball ability and level of maturity should enable him to contribute early in his career.”
Joining the five signees as top-50 high school prospects is Tennessee infielder Corban Joseph. Joseph, a six-foot, 175-pound product of Brent Alumbaugh’s Franklin High School team, is rated as the No. 48 prospect in all of high school baseball by Baseball America. Joseph played on the New York Yankees team in the East Coast Professional Showcase, held in Lakeland, Fla., in August. A .418 career high school hitter, Joseph has posted 22 home runs, 38 doubles, eight triples, and 139 RBI during his three-year career at Franklin High School.
“Corban has a unique feel to hit – he was one of the best hitters that our staff saw all summer,” Cohen detailed. “We expect him to contribute immediately and develop into an excellent SEC hitter.”
Kentucky high school signees Sean Bouthilette, Cory Farris, and Chad Wright all contribute to a star-studded class. Bouthilette, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right hander, is one of the top arms in the state. As a junior for Don Pitts’s Elizabethtown High School team, Bouthilette had a 0.43 ERA in 65 1/3 innings of action, striking out 111 and notching a 10-2 record. During his junior season, Bouthilette earned all-district, all-region, and second-team All-State honors.
“Sean is a very competitive young man who can already throw three pitches for a strike,” Cohen said. “He has had an outstanding high school career thus far and we expect him to have similar success here at Kentucky.”
Farris is one of the better all-around athletes in the class, having been a multi-sport athlete at Boone County High School. Farris is one of the top prospects in the state of Kentucky, as a catcher and outfielder. During his junior season, Farris posted a .444 average, with 49 runs, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 45 RBI. Farris earned Region Player of the Year honors in 2007 and is already the holder of school career records for runs scored, walks, stolen bases (74), hits (144), doubles (30), triples (8), home runs (25), and RBI (119). He also had a streak of stealing 60 consecutive bases without being caught stealing, ranking as second in Kentucky high school baseball history. A pure athlete, Farris was selected to the Kentucky Tremendous 26 as a football player and currently ranks second in Boone County’s all-time rushing list (5,656 yards) to Shaun Alexander. As a senior, Farris led the state of Kentucky in regular season rushing yards with 288 carries for 2,250 yards.
“Cory is an outstanding competitor with a very good left-handed swing,” Cohen said. “He is a great athlete who we expect to develop into a very good player at Kentucky.”
Chad Wright, brother of UK slugging outfielder Brock Wright, is the second Heath High School commitment for the Wildcats this season, joining teammate Daniel Webb, Wright a 5-foot-10, 180-pound outfielder in the mold of his brother, batted .472 with five doubles, nine home runs, 32 RBI, and a school-record 60 stolen bases. Wright also owns football school records for career rushing yards and single-game rushing yards (357).
“Chad is a very good athlete who can run and has a feel to hit,” Cohen said. “With his athleticism and make-up he will just keep getting better.”
The Wildcats also dipped into both the Chicago area and the state of Tennessee for the third consecutive year to snag top prep players Braden Kapteyn and Seth Lintz.
Kapteyn, a native of Lansing, Ill., has been a three-year member of the Illiana Christian High School baseball team, leading his club to a two-time first place finish in the PSL Conference. Kapteyn, who participated in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Area Code Games for the Chicago White Sox team, totaled a .468 batting average during his junior year in 2007 with 15 doubles, four homeruns, and 35 RBI, stealing 22 bases.
“Braden is very strong and has the potential to develop into a legitimate middle-of-the-order SEC hitter,” Cohen said. “He has tremendous arm strength which will enable him to play on the left side of the infield and also contribute on the mound.
Lintz is a right-hander from Marshall County High School, who stands at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. As a junior in 2007, Lintz earned a school-record 12-1 record on the mound, striking out 116 in 85 innings. Lintz totaled a 1.33 ERA while earning first-team All-State honors and leading his club to a Region Championship finish. An excellent student, Lintz is a four-year member of the honor roll, and currently stands second in his graduating class.
“Seth has a great arm and a very good feel for his curveball,” Cohen said. “He is an outstanding student and has a chance to have three above-average pitches.”
The coaching staff didn’t just recognize exceptional talent in the high school ranks, but also added six outstanding junior college players to add immediate help.
P.J. Sequiera, a right-handed hitting outfielder, comes to UK from Santa Rosa Junior College. As a freshman during the 2007 season, Sequiera batted .383 with four home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases, en route to garnering 1st Team Big-Seven All-Conference honors.
Dustin Leroy is a player capable of playing anywhere in the infield, having seen time in the middle of the infield and at third base over the past two years for Sierra College. While at Sierra, Leroy was named to the 2007 Big-Seven All-Conference Team, batting .371 in 38 games, with 28 RBI, three triples and three home runs.
“Dustin is an outstanding defender and will provide us a tremendous amount of flexibility in the infield because of his ability to defend at all three positions,” Cohen said.
Nick Kennedy is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound right hander who has a submarine delivery. Kennedy spent the past season playing at East Los Angeles College where he led East LA to a 31-13 record. During the 2007 season, Kennedy was 8-1 with 5 saves and a 2.00 ERA. In 85 2/3 innnings he struck out 48 and only walked 18.
“Nick is a true submarine pitcher who throws strikes and has oustanding fastball movement,” Cohen said. “He is very similar to Brock Baber [current UK reliever] and we expect him to fill a similar role here at Kentucky.”
Kentucky has had success in the past with recruits from Washington, particularly with 2006 SEC Player of the Year Ryan Strieby. UK dipped into the Northwest recruiting pool again, landing big-bodied first baseman William Campbell from Bellevue Community College. Campbell, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound slugger, possesses a powerful bat and defends well around the bag.
“William has real power and a very good feel to hit,” Cohen said. “We are excited about having his physical presence in the middle of our order next year.”
Rounding out the class includes Matt Little, a right-hander from North Carolina and two-way player Gunner Glad of Eastern Oklahoma State College.
Little led his Louisburg (N.C.) College squad to a 38-15 record. A 5-foot-11, 180-pounder, Little worked in 56 1/3 innings, allowing only 18 runs, good for a 2.88 ERA, posting a 4-4 record in 11 games. Little struck out 41 and allowed only 45 hits during his freshman season.
“Matt has very good fastball movement and a swing-and-miss slider,” Cohen said. “He just started pitching his senior year of high school so we think he has just scratched the surface of what he can do.”
Glad, a right-handed pitcher and utility infielder, comes to UK after leading Eastern Oklahoma State College to a 30-22 record. During the 2007 season, Glad hit .406 with 19 doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs, driving in 58 runs. Glad spent the 2006 season red-shirting at San Diego State University after undergoing Tommy John surgery. As a prepster, Glad was regarded as the No. 2 high school prospect in Oklahoma and a member of the White Sox Area Code team in 2005.
“Gunner is a legitimate two-way player,” Cohen said. “He is a great athlete who can play most anywhere on the diamond, and we also expect him to have a key role on our pitching staff.”
Signee Bios
Sean Bouthilette, RHP, 6-2, 190 (Elizabethtown, Ky., Elizabethtown High School)
Sean Bouthilette, one of the top right-handed arms in the state, adds to a deep, talented class of pitching. As a junior for Don Pitts’s Elizabethtown High School team, Bouthilette earned a 0.43 ERA in 65 1/3 innings of action, striking out 111 and notching a 10-2 record. During his junior season, Bouthilette earned All-District, All-Region, and second-team All-State honors.
Cohen on Bouthilette …
“Sean is a very competitive young man who can already throw three pitches for a strike. He has had an outstanding high school career thus far and we expect him to have similar success here at Kentucky.”
Andy Burns, SS, 6-2, 185 (Fort Collins, Colo., Rocky Mountain High School)
Andy Burns, rated as the No. 38 prospect in high school by Baseball America, comes to UK as one of the most sought after infield recruits in the nation. This past summer Burns participated in the Aflac All-American game and the Perfect Game National Showcase, as well as participating in the 2007 Area Code Games for the Cincinnati Reds team. In 2007, Burns was named MVP of the Colorado 5A tournament after leading Scott Bullock’s Rocky Mountain High School team to the State Championship. Burns batted .546 as a junior, setting school records for runs (41), hits (39), RBI (43), and home runs (13). Burns finished the year with a staggering 1.181 slugging percentage and an equally impressive .649 on-base percentage. He was named the Colorado State 5A Player of the Year as a junior, as well as earning conference player of the year honors and first-team All-America honors as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Burns is a three-year honor student, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. As a sophomore football player in 2006 he was named first team All-State and the team MVP. At the age of eight, Burns went to the MLB All-Star Game in Boston and competed in the MLB diamond skills championship and won the 7-8 year old level in 1999. Born in Clemson, S.C., Burns lived in Lexington, Ky. for four years before moving to Fort Collins when he was eight.
Cohen on Burns …
“Andy has outstanding baseball skills along with an uncommon feel for the game. His baseball ability and level of maturity should enable him to contribute early in his career.”
William Campbell, 1B, 6-5, 260 (Bellevue, Wash., Bellevue Community College)
Slugging first basemen William Campbell becomes UK’s third recruit in the last three years from the state of Washington, joining 2006 SEC Player of the Year Ryan Strieby and right-hander Dewayne Oxford. Campbell possesses a powerful bat and defends well around the bag. A four-year letterwinner at Blanchet High School, Campbell batted .572 with seven doubles, five triples, and eight home runs, complementing 37 RBI. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder, earned first team All-Metro and All-State honors as a high school senior. In his 2006 season at Bellevue, Campbell had 90 at bats, including seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs while driving in 16 RBI and reaching base at a .417 clip. Campbell redshirted during the 2007 Bellevue season.
Cohen on Campbell …
“William has real power and a very good feel to hit. We are excited about having his physical presence in the middle of our order next year.”
Cory Farris, C/OF, 6-0, 190 (Florence, Ky., Boone Co. High School)
Cory Farris, one of the top prospects in the state of Kentucky, is a catcher and outfielder. During his junior season, Farris posted a .444 average, with 49 runs, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 45 RBI. Farris earned Region All-State honors in 2007 and is already the holder of school career records for runs scored, walks, stolen bases (74), hits (144), doubles (30), triples (8), home runs (25), and RBI (119). He had a streak of stealing 60 consecutive bases without a caught stealing, ranking as second in Kentucky high school baseball history. A pure athlete, Farris was selected to the Kentucky Tremendous 26 as a football player and currently ranks second in Boone County’s all-time rushing list (5,656 yards) to Shaun Alexander. As a senior, Farris led the state of Kentucky in regular season rushing yards with 288 carries for 2,250 yards. This past summer, Farris played for the Midland Redskins, which won the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M. In that tournament, Farris was named to the All-tournament team and was the MVP of the Championship Game.
Cohen on Farris …
“Cory is an outstanding competitor with a very good left-handed swing. He is a great athlete who we expect to develop into a very good player at Kentucky.”
Gunner Glad, RHP/UT, 6-0, 180 (Pahlequah, Okla. Eastern Oklahoma State College)
Gunner Glad, a right-handed pitcher and utility infielder, comes to UK after leading Eastern Oklahoma State College to a 30-22 record. During the 2007 season, Glad hit .406 with 19 doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs, driving in 58 runs. He slugged for a .681 percentage, and reached base at a .430 clip. This past summer Glad played for the Alexandria Beetles in the Northwoods League, earning All-Star honors. Glad spent the 2006 season red-shirting at San Diego State University after undergoing Tommy John surgery. As a prepster, Glad was regarded as the No. 2 high school prospect in Oklahoma and was a member of the White Sox Area Code team in 2005.
Cohen on Glad …
“Gunner is a legitimate two-way player. He is a great athlete who can play most anywhere on the diamond, and we also expect him to have a key role on our pitching staff.”
Corban Joseph, INF, 6-0, 175 (Franklin, Tenn., Franklin High School)
Rated as the No. 48 prospect in all of high school baseball by Baseball America, Corban Joseph comes to UK as one of the top hitters in the Southeast. Joseph played for Team Tennessee in the Jr. Sunbelt Classic held annually in McAlester, Okla., as well playing on the New York Yankees team in the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla. in August. He was also given the Big Stick Award in the 2007 CABA World Series, batting16-for-30 (.533) for the Bergen Beach team. In three years for Brent Alumbaugh’s Franklin High School team, Joseph batted .418 (148-for-354) with 38 doubles, eight triples, and 22 home runs, driving in 139 RBI over 113 games. Over the course of Joseph’s career, Franklin has posted an 86-30 record and has made three consecutive appearances in the TSSAA Class AAA State Tournament. Joseph’s older brother Caleb is a junior catcher at David Lipscomb University.
Cohen on Joseph …
“Corban has a unique feel to hit – he was one of the best hitters that our staff saw all summer. We expect him to contribute immediately and develop into an excellent SEC hitter.”
Braden Kapteyn, INF/RHP, 6-4, 200 (Lansing, Ill., Illiana Christian High School)
Infielder/right-hander Braden Kapteyn, a native of Lansing, Ill., has been a three-year member of the Illiana Christian High School baseball team, leading his sophomore club to a two-time first place finish in the PSL Conference. A dual threat player, Kapetyn, who participated in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Area Code Games for the Chicago White Sox team, totaled a .468 batting average during his junior year in 2007, with 15 doubles, four homeruns, and 35 RBI, stealing 22 bases. As a sophomore, Kapteyn batted .500 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 52 RBI, also earning a 1.43 ERA on the mound, along with a 5-2 record. As a freshman in 2005, Kapteyn batted .429 with 20 doubles, four home runs, and 44 RBI. On the mound in 2005, Kapteyn earned a 6-0 record, striking out 40 in 27 innings. Kapteyn has been a member of the All-Conference team during his three years, as well as earning a spot on the All-Area team in 2006-07.
Cohen on Kapteyn …
“Braden is very strong and has the potential to develop into a legitimate middle-of-the-order SEC hitter. He has tremendous arm strength which will enable him to play on the left side of the infield and also contribute on the mound.”
Nick Kennedy, RHP, 6-1, 170 (Los Angeles, Calif., East Los Angeles College)
Nick Kennedy is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound right hander who has a submarine delivery. Kennedy spent the past season playing at East Los Angeles College where he led them to a 31-13 record. During the 2007 season, Kennedy was 8-1 with five saves and a 2.00 ERA. In 85 2/3 innings Kennedy struck out 48 and only walked 18.
Cohen on Kennedy …
“Nick is a true submarine pitcher who throws strikes and has outstanding fastball movement. He is very similar to Brock Baber [current UK reliever] and we expect him to fill a similar role here at Kentucky.”
Dustin Leroy, INF, 5-11, 180 (Rocklin, Calif., Sierra College)
Infielder Dustin Leroy is a player capable of playing anywhere in the infield, having seen time in the middle of the infield and at third base over the past two years for Sierra College. While at Sierra, Leroy was named to the 2007 Big-Seven All-Conference Team, batting .371 in 38 games, with 28 RBI, three triples and three home runs. He slugged for a .516 percentage and reached base at a .431 clip. Leroy is fleet of foot on the basepaths, stealing a team-high 16 bases in 22 attempts. A three-year lettermen at Woodcreek High School, Leroy was the starting shortstop for the Timberwolves during the 2004 section championship team. During the 2004 season, Leroy batted .494 with 17 steals and nine triples.
Cohen on Leroy …
“Dustin is an outstanding defender and will provide us a tremendous amount of flexibility in the infield because of his ability to defend at all three positions”
Seth Lintz, RHP, 6-1, 165 (Lewisburg, Tenn., Marshall County High School)
Marshall County right-handed pitcher Seth Lintz comes to UK as one of the top arms in the state of Tennessee. As a junior in 2007, Lintz earned a school-record 12-1 record on the mound, striking out 116 in 85 innings. Lintz totaled a 1.33 ERA while earning first-team All-State honors and leading his club to a Region Championship finish. An excellent student, Lintz is a four-year member of the honor roll, and currently stands second in his graduating class.
Cohen on Lintz …
“Seth has a great arm and a very good feel for his curveball. He is an outstanding student and has a chance to have three above-average pitches.”
Matt Little, RHP, 5-11, 180 (Louisburg, N.C., Louisburg College)
Right-handed pitcher Matt Little led his Louisburg College (N.C.) squad to a 38-15 record in 2007. A 5-foot-11, 180-pounder, Little worked in 56 1/3 innings, allowing only 18 runs, good for a 2.88 ERA, while posting a 4-4 record in 11 games. Little struck out 41 and allowed only 45 hits during his freshman season.
Cohen on Little …
“Matt has very good fastball movement and a swing-and-miss slider. He just started pitching his senior year of high school so we think he has just scratched the surface of what he can do.”
Alex Meyer, RHP, 6-7, 200 (Greensburg, Ind., Greensburg High School)
Rated as the No. 5 prospect in all of high school baseball by Baseball America, Meyer is one of the top right-handed arms in all of amateur baseball. Meyer was ranked as the No. 2 prospect by Baseball America at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati. A member of the Indiana Bulls travel team over the summer, Meyer played in the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla., in August, in addition to playing in the Aflac All-America game. As a junior, Meyer went 3-4 with two saves and a 3.45 ERA. In 47 innings, he allowed 28 hits, 27 of which were singles, and held his opponents to a .172 batting average. Of the 206 total batters faced, Meyer struck out 72. In 2006, as a sophomore, Meyer went 6-2 with a 1.92 ERA. An all-conference basketball player, Meyer maintains a 3.0 GPA.
Cohen on Meyer …
“Alex has tremendous upside – he has a great arm, he’s athletic, and he has a frame that can easily handle another 40 pounds. We expect big things from him during his career at Kentucky.”
Robbie Ross, LHP, 5-10, 185 (Lexington, Ky., Lexington Christian Academy)
Robbie Ross, the 17th-best prospect in all of high school baseball per Baseball America, comes to UK as one of the top left-handed prep arms in the country. Ross participated in the East Coast Professional Showcase and Perfect Game’s National Showcase, and also received an invitation to join USA’s Junior Olympic team. An excellent athlete, Ross was a member of the soccer team at LCA for five years, leading Lexington Christian to the state soccer championship as a eighth grader. In soccer, Ross earned team MVP honors as an eighth grader and as a freshman, as well as leading the team in scoring as a sophomore and junior.
Cohen on Ross …
“Robbie is an outstanding athlete with great stuff. His arm strength and ability to throw his offspeed pitches for a strike should enable him to pitch early and often.”
P.J. Sequeira, OF, 6-3, 215 (Petaluma, Calif., Santa Rosa Junior College)
P.J. Sequeira, a right-handed hitting outfielder, comes to UK from Santa Rosa Junior College. As a freshman during the 2007 season, Sequeira batted .383 with four home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases, en route to garnering 1st Team Big-Seven All-Conference honors.
Cohen on Sequeira…
“P.J. is strong and runs well for his size. He has a good feel to hit and we are excited to add his physical presence to our line-up next year.”
Daniel Webb, RHP/1B, 6-3, 205 (Paducah, Ky., Heath High School)
Daniel Webb is the 26th-ranked high school player in the nation per Baseball America. As a sophomore he participated in the East Coast Professional Showcase in August 2006 and after his junior season of high school, was invited to the Team-USA Junior Olympic team. Webb, a hard-throwing 6-foot-3, 205-pound right hander spent last season at Heath High School, pitching in 73 1/3 innings and striking out a school-record 116. Webb earned a 8-2 record and a 2.00 ERA in 2006. A two-way player, Webb batted .433 as a junior, with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, stealing 12 bags.
Cohen on Webb …
“Daniel is a legitimate dual player. He has a ton of arm strength and tremendous power. I saw him pitch seven innings on a broken foot so there’s no questioning his toughness.”
Chad Wright, OF, 5-10, 180 (Paducah, Ky., Heath High School)
Chad Wright, brother of current UK outfielder Brock Wright, is the second Heath High School commitment for the Wildcats this season, joining teammate Daniel Webb, Wright a 5-foot-10, 180 pound outfielder in the mold of his brother, batted .472 with five doubles, nine home runs, 32 RBI, and a school-record 60 stolen bases. A pure athlete, Wright owns football school records for career rushing yards and single-game rushing yards (357). He teamed with Webb to lead Heath to the district, regional, and sectional championships as a junior.
Cohen on Wright …
“Chad is a very good athlete who can run and a great approach at the plate. With his athleticism and make-up he will just keep getting better.”
