With the earling singing period for college baseball beginning the 13th of November, The University of Texas will be welcoming 11 new members to UFCU-Disch Falk Field. This class breaks down with 3 catchers, 4 right handed pitchers, and 4 positional players. Quite a few of these players will end up at different positions at Texas then what they normally play in High School/Select Ball.
Leading this group is a 2 sport star from Corpus Christi by the name of Michael Cantu. Cantu started off his playing days at Corpus Christi Carroll and for Head Baseball Coach Lee Yager. After Cantu’s sophomore year his dad(Coach Mike Cantu) was named the head football coach at Moody High School and Michael followed his dad where he has been the starting quarterback and a catcher and starting pitcher for Moody High School the last two seasons. Cantu is all of 6’4 220 and is consider by many to be an elite catcher and will be playing next 3-4 years at that position for Texas.
My Take: I have been able to see Michael Cantu on the diamond on 3 separate occasions over the span of the last 12 months. Every time I have seen him play he comes across as a leader on the field and in the dugout. Cantu comes from a very Christian based family that is well grounded in their beliefs and abilities.
The next player is also a starting quarterback and a catcher. But this one comes from the central Texas where he has been on Varsity for the Cedar Ridge Raiders. Mike McCann also plays for the Austin Banditos and for former Longhorn Pitcher, Calvin Schiraldi. I have been able to see McCann play on several occasions over the last 4-5 months and he is a very heady ball player that is a leader on the field and in the dugout.
My Take: Mike will arrive on campus where he will be able to play 1st or 3rd and make contributions with his bat and glove.
Next is a player that you should be able to recognize the last name, Kaleb Denny. Denny comes to Texas from Mt. Belvieu, Texas where he is also a 2-sport star at Barbers Hill High School where he has been the starting quarterback and SS for the last 3 years.
During the Summer Denny also plays for the Columbia Angels and for Ronnie Thames(Brother to Charlie Thames).
My Take: Denny tore his knee in a football game this past October and will most likely miss all of his Sr. year in Baseball. This will give him the time to strengthen that knee and be ready to compete the moment he steps on campus next fall. Denny will move to the outfield and compete for a starting job.
How about another Columbia Angel player that will sign with Texas? Travis Jones, Jones is also a 2 sport star where he was a starting wide receiver for Atascocita High School, where he played football through his junior year and a 3 year starter at Shortstop. Had a current Longhorn Player tell me that he was the best baseball player that he has ever seen.
My Take: Was able to see Travis Jones this past September and I knew he was tall but at 6-5 190 he came across much bigger and thicker. I see him pushing for starting time exither in the outfield or at 3rd base.
How about a player from a 3A classification high school? That is where this young man hails from, Patrick Mathis can do it on the mound or in the outfield. Mathis spent 2 years at Moody High School(One near Waco) then his family moved to the DFW area for his Junior year at Venus. Mathis plays for the Waco Storm, coach by Todd Haney(Former Longhorn). Mathis has played in some elite tournament this past summer, including being named to the Texas Rangers Area Code, the WWBA World Championship, just to name a few.
My Take: He will also come in and make an impact either with his bat or closing out games on the mound for the University of Texas.
The Next player comes from McKinney, Texas, McKinney High School. Joe Baker has been on varsity for the last 3 years and it was his glove that grabbed recruiting coordinator Tommy Nicholson attention first. It is Baker’s bat that has made the biggest progress the last 5-6 months. He can play MIF and is quite comfortable in both. He played for Frozen Ropes during the summer and Fall.
My Take: I might be sounding like a broken record; Baker will come in and push for playing time with his elite glove.
Don’t sleep on this next recruit. Noah Lee hails from Cedar Hill High School and some serious offers from other D1 schools, but to be able to out on the burnt orange was too much for him to pass up on. Lee can play catcher, Starting Catcher for Cedar Hill, but he can also play 3rd base.
Noah is a vocal leader. He will get in a teammate’s face and let them know when they are not working hard. That said, he handles his business making certain he is in an elevated position to lead in that manner. Noah’s grades are in order that he has multiple Ivy League offers. Noah’s two dream schools have always been Texas and Stanford.
My Take: Sounds like a player that by the time that his playing days are over with on the 40 Acres, he will be able to look back and say that his decision was the right one.
How about some pitchers. There are 4 Right Handed Pitcher in the ‘14-15 class. Two of them from California and two of them from Texas.
One of them plays for former Longhorn and current Head Coach of Flower Mound, Danny Wallace. Kyle Johnston also plays for one of the better Select Teams in the DFW area in the Dallas Mustangs. He had a good outing his last time out during the WWBA World Championship.
My Take: Johnston will compete to be one of those 1st off the bench to eat some of those middle innings.
The next one is RHP Parker Joe Robinson is from JSerra Catholic High School, which is in San Juan Capistrano, CA… He is a Big Kid 6-5 230lbs, throws from the right side… His Dad, Jeff Robinson pitched for Augie when they were at Cal-State Fullerton from ’80-’83…
He has 4 pitches in his repertoire 2-Seam Fastball, Slider, Splitter, and a Changeup..
My Take: Will be competing for the starting job on day 1.
Next 2 I have seen pitch..
RHP Tyler Schimpf is from California but was here this past summer pitching for the Austin Wings. Schimpf has an older sister that lives out here and came out here to stay with them while he played for the Austin Wings.
My Take: Was able to see him this past summer, Big, Strong young man, Again also will be competing for the starting rotation on day one.
RHP Connor Mayes hails from right here in the Central Texas area and plays for Lake Travis High School. He also plays for the Austin Wings and saw him pitch this past summer at a tournament and was very impress with his arsenal.
My Take: How many Starting pitchers can you have? Well here is one more.
The 2014 – 2015 Longhorns Baseball Class
SS/OF Kaleb Denny
C Michael Cantu
RHP Parker Joe Robinson
RHP Connor Mayes
RHP Tyler Schimpf
RHP Kyle Johnston
3rd/SS Travis Jones
MIF Joe Baker
C/3rd Michael McCann
OF/LHP Patrick Mathis
C/3rd Noah Lee
