Baseball Adds Seven Signees To 2010 Class
7/15/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 15, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head baseball coach Erik Bakich and his staff have added seven student-athletes to the 2010 class, including six pitchers and a catcher, to bring the number of 2010 incoming players to 22.
The Terps signed four junior-college standouts in right-handed pitchers Chuck Ghysels and Mike Boyden and lefty Korey Wacker, along with catcher Aaron Etchison. Three prep players also join the 2010 class with the addition of right-handed pitchers Brady Kirkpatrick and Matt Lynch, as well as left-handed pitcher Ben Brewster.
Maryland has a total of 26 players signed for 2010, but four accepted professional contracts (Chris Culver, Tyler Vail, Patrick Leyland, JaDamion Williams) after being selected in last month's MLB Draft, choosing to forego their collegiate eligibility.
The latest installment in a recruiting effort that has spanned the entire first year of Erik Bakich's stint as head coach is deep in pitching talent, addressing a major need for Maryland.
Despite losing the aforementioned signees to the draft - all were taken in the first 10 rounds, a sign of their high talent level - the 2010 class looks to be one of the deepest and most talented in school history.
"Our coaching staff has done a great job in putting together a recruiting class that will help catapult our program into an ACC championship contender," said Bakich. "Pitching and defense are the keys to championships in college baseball, and that's what this group of signees addresses. These incoming players, along with the key returnees from last year's club, will have Maryland baseball competing for an ACC Tournament and postseason berth.
"Last year's team did a great job of creating a culture of energy and enthusiasm in our style of play. This year will be the start of a culture of winning."
The Terps are likely to add one to two additional players late this summer. To view Maryland's fall signees, click here. To view the spring signees, click here.
Mike Boyden | RHP | Northwest-Shoals Community College (Ala.) | La Plata, Md.
Originally from La Plata High School in Maryland, Boyden spent a year at George Washington University before spending his sophomore season at Northwest-Shoals Community College. Boyden was a member of a 3-A state championship team as a senior at La Plata, finishing the year with a 0.95 ERA and earning second team All-Met honors. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Ben Brewster | LHP | Park School | Baltimore, Md.
A four-year starter at Park School, Brewster is a 6-foot-3 lefty who was named all-conference in 2008 and 2010. As a senior, he led his team to league championship, pitching a complete game while striking out 16 and not issuing a single walk in the title game. Brewster finished the year with an 8-0 record, pitching 42.2 innings while striking out 88 and walking 11. He allowed just three earned runs all season and gave up only 13 hits. Brewster also carried a 4.0 grade-point average.
Aaron Etchison | C | Chipola CC (Fla.) | Pendleton, Ind.
Etchison spent two seasons at Ball State - one as a redshirt - before transferring to Chipola for his sophomore season. He played in 20 career games at Ball State, including 11 starts, while seeing time at catcher and designated hitter. At Chipola, Etchison hit .284 with 26 runs and 26 RBI in 44 games. He is currently playing summer ball with the Richmond RiverRats of the Prospect League and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Chuck Ghysels (Pronunciation: Guy-suls) | RHP | Lincoln Trail College (Ill.) | Springboro, Ohio
Ghysels is coming off a dominant season at Lincoln Trail in which he posted a 9-1 record with a 1.36 ERA, the third-best in the NJCAA Division I. He also recorded 117 strikeouts, allowed just 12 earned runs in 79 innings and was selected to the NJCAA USA Baseball All-Star team. Prior to Lincoln Trail, Ghysels spent his freshman season at the University of Dayton, where he went 3-2 with 54 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched. Ghysels, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, also had a stellar prep career, earning first team all-state honors as a junior and senior at Springboro High School.
Brady Kirkpatrick | RHP | Marist High School | Eugene, Ore.
Kirkpatrick starred in baseball and football at Marist, pitching for the baseball team and playing wide receiver and defensive back for the football team. The right-hander was named Player of the Year in 2009 by the Oregonian and was first team all-state as a senior.
Matt Lynch | RHP | St. Ignatius | Chicago, Ill.
Lynch recently finished his senior season at St. Ignatius, where he went 7-3 with a sub-3.00 ERA. He was named second team all-conference as a junior and is currently playing summer ball with the Downers Grove Longshots. Standing 6-foot-1, Lynch has a fastball that ranges from 87-90 mph, a good change-up and an above-average slider.
Korey Wacker | LHP/OF | Temple College (Texas) | Harker Heights, Texas
Wacker had a strong sophomore campaign at Temple College, finishing his sophomore season as the team leader in batting average (.385), hits (72), stolen bases (18) and triples (4). He was also vital in helping Temple reach the Junior College World Series, pitching the final two innings of a 6-5, 13-inning win in the NJCAA Region V Tournament title game. At Harker Heights, Wacker was the team's ace, finishing his prep career with a 20-6 record in three years.
