University of Houston Athletics
Houston Inks 11 in Baseball Early Signing Period
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOUSTON â€" Highlighted by a talented core of high school student-athletes, along with three junior college signees, Houston Baseball has inked 11 National Letters of Intent during the NCAA Baseball Early Signing Period, announced by seventh-year head coach Todd Whitting on Monday.
All eight high school signees and one junior college signee hail from the state of Texas.
A strong mix of right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers join a couple of infielders and outfielders, which make up this year's early signing class.
All 11 signees are welcomed in by Whitting, recruiting coordinator Trip Couch and assistant coaches Frank Anderson and Caleb Barker.
"Our staff is extremely excited about this outstanding group of student-athletes that will join our program next fall," Whitting said. "Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch is relentless on the road and in my opinion one of the best evaluators of baseball talent in the nation.
"This class is a tremendous complement to the Top 25 class we brought in this fall. This group is extremely talented and will represent at the highest level the culture and expectation we have built here at the University of Houston."
Set to join Houston Baseball for the 2018 season Clayton Aguilar (Deer Park HS/LHP), Ronald Brown Jr. (Bellaire HS/1B), Griffin Hattingh (Clements HS/LHP), Spencer Juergens (Jefferson College/RHP), D'Mond LaFond (Refugio HS/RHP), Kyle Lovelace (Hudson HS/C), Trenton McMeans (Dulles HS/INF), Drew Minter (Clear Springs HS/OF,RHP), Ryan Randel (Orange Coast College/RHP), Tucker Redden (Angelina College/C), Trevis Sundgren (Silsbee HS/RHP).
Clayton Aguilar
LHP | Deer Park HS (Deer Park, Texas)
High School Coach: Chris Rupp
Summer Team: Twelve Baseball
Helped Deer Park High School to a national ranking of 8th
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Aguilar: Clayton is a left-handed pitcher that is still just scratching the surface of what he can become. He has a loose, fast arm with arm strength that will only get better as he gets stronger. He has a very bright future.
Ronald Brown Jr.
1B | Bellaire HS (Houston, Texas)
2016 First Team All-District
High School Coach: Nick Ozuna
Summer Team: Bellaire HS Summer
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Brown: Ron is a corner guy that has big-power potential. As he continues to progress as a hitter, the sky is the limit and he can be a run producer in the middle of the lineup.
Griffin Hattingh
LHP | Clements HS (Sugar Land, Texas)
2016 Second Team All-District
Perfect Game 2016 Underclass Honorable Mention
Ranked 12th best LHP in state of Texas for Class of 2017
High School Coach: Israel De Los Santos
Summer Team: Twelve Baseball
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Hattingh: Griffin is a lefty that has a long history of winning games. He has good feel to pitch and his arm strength keeps improving. He is a great example of a guy that just knows how to pitch.
Spencer Juergens
RHP | Jefferson College / Borgia HS (Washington, Mo.)
JUCO Coach: Pat Evers
Appeared in 12 games with eight starts … was 4-1 with two complete games … tallied a 2.69 ERA and had 40 strikeouts in 63.2 innings
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Juergens: Spencer is a big-bodied right hander that had great success last year. He was a tremendous strike thrower and this fall his velocity has made a big jump to go along with an advanced ability to throw strikes.
D'Mond LaFond
RHP | Refugio HS (Refugio, Texas)
2016 First Team All-State
2016 MaxPreps Small School All-American
Victoria Advocate All-Area MVP
2016 First Team All-District
Ranked 11th overall player in state of Texas for Class of 2017
Ranked 6th best RHP in state of Texas for Class of 2017
High School Coach: Anthony Quintanilla
Summer Team: Texas Fire
Perfect Game (2015, 2016) Underclass Second Team All-American
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on LaFond: D'Mond is a right hander that has a very high ceiling. He is one year out from Tommy John surgery and has come back strong. He is a two sport-athlete (baseball/football) in high school. As he continues to learn to pitch, has a chance to one day be a high-end draft selection.
Kyle Lovelace
C | Hudson HS (Lufkin, Texas)
District's Defensive MVP (2016)
Ranked 16th best catcher in the state of Texas for Class of 2017
High School Coach: Glen Kimble
Summer Team: Twelve Baseball
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Lovelace: Kyle is a high-energy player that has had a passion to catch since he was little. He can really throw and takes great pride in being a high-end catcher. While he has been known for his defense, he had a great summer offensively and we look for him to continue that when he joins our program.
Trenton McMeans
INF | Dulles HS (Sugar Land, Texas)
High School Coach: Mike Weatherly
Summer Team: Twelve Baseball
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on McMeans: Trenton is a strong bodied, high-energy infielder that exemplifies how we like to play. He is always dirty and plays with great passion. Trenton can play all over the infield and can create havoc on the base path.
Drew Minter
OF/RHP | Clear Springs HS (League City, Texas)
2016 Second Team All-District
Ranked 10th best OF in state of Texas for Class of 2017
Perfect Game 2016 Underclass Third Team All-American
Perfect Game 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention All-American
High School Coach: Chris Floyd
Summer Team: Banditos
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Minter: Drew is a physical guy that has a legitimate chance to be a two-way player for us. He is a right-handed power bat that plays on the corner and has a great arm both in the outfield and on the mound. He has played on some big stages at a high level and has been committed here for a while.
Ryan Randel
RHP | Orange Coast College / Aliso Niguel HS (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
JUCO Head Coach: John Altobelli
Appeared in 17 games with three starts … tallied a 3.46 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 39.0 innings at Orange Coast College in 2016
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Randel: Ryan is the next in line of great players we have had from Orange Coast College. He has as good of a right-handed change up as you will see and knows how to pitch. He is a guy that also has a chance to end up throwing really hard at some point.
Tucker Redden
C | Angelina College / Fulton HS (Rockport, Texas)
JUCO Head Coach: Jeff Livin
Hit .313 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 39 games played at Ranger College in 2016
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Redden: Tucker is a veteran catcher that will bring energy and great character to our program. Has really worked to become the player he is. He is a knowledgeable catcher that can really throw.
Trevis Sundgren
RHP | Silsbee HS (Silsbee, Texas)
2016 First Team All-District
2016 Third Team All-State selection
Perfect Game 2016 Underclass High Honorable Mention All-American
Perfect Game 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention All-American
High School Coach: Michael Nelson
Summer Team: Gladiator Baseball
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Sundgren: Trevis has shown an advanced feel to pitch for a young guy. As he continues to get stronger, he has a chance to be a high-level starting pitcher early in his career.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Houston will enter the 2016-17 season with a roster highlighted by 23 newcomers, 16 of which are true freshmen. The Cougars return 12 from the 2016 season, led by All-American and American Rookie of the Year Joe Davis.
Also back for Houston is junior starting pitcher Seth Romero, junior outfielder Corey Julks, junior catcher Connor Wong, junior infielder Connor Hollis and freshman All-American pitchers from a year ago Mitch Ullom and Trey Cumbie.
A year ago, Houston notched its fourth straight 35+ win season under Whitting and advanced to the American Championship final for the third straight year. The Cougars finished with a record of 36-23 overall and a 23-9 mark at home, while also capturing the Silver Glove Series for the third straight year with a 2-1 record over Rice in 2016.
ABOUT THE 2017 SCHEDULE
The Cougars are set to host 29 home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park with Opening Weekend set for Feb 17-19 in a three-team home event featuring Houston, Nicholls State, and Wake Forest.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
1 â€" 2017 will mark the first time competing in the Whataburger Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas
2 â€" Cougars to play two games at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, TX (Rice, Sam Houston State)
3 â€" Houston has won the Silver Glove Series vs. Rice three straight seasons
8 â€" 2017 schedule features eight home midweek games
12 â€" The Cougars will open at home for the 12th consecutive season on Feb. 17-19
14 â€" Houston will play 14 of its first 20 games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
17 â€" Under Todd Whitting, the Cougars are 17-1 during Opening Weekend the last six seasons
29 â€" Houston is set to play 29 home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
121 â€" The Cougars have won 121 home games under Whitting since 2011
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Houston Baseball 2017 season tickets are on sale now for as low as $99, and fans are encouraged to secure their ticket to all 29 home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park this upcoming season by purchasing today.
Season tickets for 29 regular-season home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park are available for $200 for the reserved chairback seating on the lower level of the concourse at the stadium.
For the third straight year, the additional "Reserved 2" seating option for the 2017 season is available as fans can purchase an assigned seat in sections 200, 201 and 202 for $150.
All 2016 season ticket members should have received an email regarding the renewal process for 2017.
General admission seating will run in sections 203-209 and are available for $99 for the entire season.
The 2017 '30 Ticket Flex Plan' provides 30 general admission tickets that you can use in a variety of ways. You can use all 30 tickets for one game, a ticket for each home game of the season or any combination in-between.
General Admission season tickets start for as low as $99 (30 home games/$3.30 per ticket), while Reserved season tickets start at only $150 (30 home games/$5.00 per ticket).
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /HoustonCougarBaseball. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
