Collegiate Baseball newspaper's 24th annual rundown of NCAA Division I baseball recruiting classes was released Friday, with Tennessee's crop of newcomers rated as the 17th-best in America. The Volunteers' 12 newcomers include five players who were previously drafted, including a pair of freshmen left-handed pitchers - Bryan Morgado and Nick Hernandez - who turned down third-round money and opted instead to attend UT.
Our group of new guys who arrived this fall has a chance to be really special," UT head coach Rod Delmonico said. "We have a solid core of returning players, and I believe the newcomers really fill all the voids. We've got right- and left-handed pitching, we've got a lot of speed, we've got guys who can hit well and guys who are going to be solid in the field. Most importantly, the early indication is that we have good character guys who are all about the team."
In June's MLB draft, Morgado was selected in the 34th round by the Boston Red Sox, and Hernandez was taken in the 32nd round by the Oakland Athletics. Other previously drafted members of the Vols' recruiting class include freshman right-handed pitcher Ryan Butner (38th round, San Francisco Giants), sophomore left-hander Lance McClain (24th round, Texas Rangers) and sophomore infielder Danny Lima (38th round in 2005, Cleveland Indians).
McClain is one of three newcomers who played on the 2006 Walters State team that won the NJCAA national championship. Outfielder Chad Maddox led the NJCAA with 25 home runs, and right-hander Zane Stone served as the Senators closer, logging nine saves. Stone and Maddox will both be juniors for the Vols this spring.
Other newcomers of note include junior third baseman Andy Simunic (52 stolen bases for Chattanooga State in 2006 to lead the NJCAA), freshman catcher/infielder Yan Gomes (rated by Baseball America as the 143rd-best high school senior in the nation in 2006) and freshman first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Lockwood (first-team All-State and All-Region in 2006 out of Halls High School in Knoxville).
Delmonico recently added the title of recruiting coordinator to third-year pitching coach Mike Bell.
"Mike has worked extremely hard to recruit some of country's most talented players, and it has really paid off for our program," Delmonico said. "He's already hard at work putting together an impressive recruiting class for next year, and I'm very pleased with the job he's done since joining our staff."
A total of six Southeastern Conference recruiting classes were ranked in the top 25 Friday, with South Carolina atop the list. For the complete rundown of Collegiate Baseball's top 40, visit www.baseballnews.com.
Tennessee begins fall practice October 2 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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