PULLMAN, Wash – Washington State baseball signed eight players to National Letters of Intent to join the program in 2016, first-year head coach Marty Lees announced Thursday.
Lees' first recruiting class at Washington State features Cody Anderson (LHP), A.J. Block (LHP), Peter Hutzal (INF), Cory Meyer (C), Dillon Plew (INF), Joe Rosenstein (RHP), James Rudkin (1B) and Danny Sinatro (INF).
“I would first like to thank our whole staff for their hard work over the past few months. Associate Head Coach, Dan Spencer, Assistant Coaches, Jim Horner and Braden Wells, and Baseball Operations, Kristy Lees,” Lees said. “Dan Spencer and Jim Horner have done a fantastic job in identifying our needs and players in a relatively short amount of time. Dan has built championship rosters for years. He is a tireless worker and knows what type of kid it takes to win a championship. Jim is a COUG for life and knows the type of player fits in the Washington State Baseball Program and we have found good players, who can't wait to wear the jersey with Cougars across it.”
The class features four junior college players and four players who hail from the state of Washington.
“With the players that are currently here and the players that we have signed in this class, we feel we can compete at a very high level,” Lees added. “We will have a balance and depth in all positions. We wanted to add more speed, power, and athleticism. In order to accomplish this we sought out a balance of high school and junior college kids to get us on track and we feel this class will contribute this program right away.”
Cody Anderson is a left-handed pitcher out of Bellevue Community College in Washington and originally out of Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Wash. Anderson (6-6, 200) enters his sophomore season at BCC after going 4-2 with 47 strikeouts and a 2.76 ERA in 52 innings and nine starts in 2015. Anderson also fired two complete games and surrendered just 15 walks. For MPHS, Anderson was a two-time first-team All-Wesco selection, leading the state of Washington in ERA (0.42) as a junior and was named first-team All-State as a senior. Also as a senior, Anderson struck out 101 batters in 60 innings while throwing one perfect game and another no-hitter that featured 17 strikeouts.
“Cody is a big athletic lefty from Bellevue CC who has really emerged the past couple years and made himself a real prospect,” Lees said. “With the ability to throw three-four pitches for strikes Cody will be able to pitch immediately in any role where ever we need him next season.”
A.J. Block is a left-handed pitcher out of Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash. Block (6-5, 190) was an All-KingCo second team pitcher as a junior last season, posting a 7-1 record in 10 starts with 62 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA in 58 innings. He helped NHS to a 23-3 overall record and finished second in the Washington 4A State tournament. After the season, Block was named a 205 Underclass All-American honorable mention by Perfect Game. Block helped his American legion team to a 2015 state title after posting a 5-2 mark with 49 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA in 52 innings in eight starts. Block was also selected to play for the Seattle Mariners 2015 Scout Team and the 2015 WWBA World Championships. As a junior for NHS, Block posted an 8-4 record with 77 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA in 79 innings, earning 2016 Class Pitcher MVP honors at the Baseball Northwest 2014 Senior NW Championships. He was later named a top prospect at Perfect Game NW Showcase.
“A.J. plays for Newport HS in the spring and Lakeside Recovery in the summer and we feel like we got a real good one here!” Lees said. “A.J. is a tremendous athlete. He is 6'5/180 now and can throw 3-4 pitches for strikes and pitches at a very high level. We believe that A.J. is a future weekend starter here at Washington State.”
Peter Hutzal is an infielder out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada who played for the Okotoks Dawgs at Holy Trinity Academy. Hutzal (5-11, 175) has played for the Canadian Junior National Team the past three seasons, producing the second-highest batting average among all players at last summer's Pre-World Exhibition Series against Australia. As a junior in 2014, he was named a Top-5 player at the Tournament 12 in Toronto and was named the Tournament MVP and Top Defensive Player at the 18U Best of Best Tournament in Kamloops, B.C.
“Peter played middle infield for the Canadian National Team and was our first commitment of this class,” Lees said of Hutzal. “We had a chance to see Peter play quite a bit. He shows the ability to be a good defender on either side of the bag, with a chance to be great. His ability to hit was one of the first things that attracted us to him and as we recruited him throughout the summer, he continued to hit and play defense at a high level.”
Cory Meyer is a catcher who attended Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho and will play at Spokane Falls Community College this season. Prior to his junior season, Meyer (5-10, 180) produced a .478 batting average with 27 doubles, one home run and 63 RBI in 47 games for his summer league team, the Pocatello Razorbacks.
“Coach Spencer and Coach Horner evaluated catchers everywhere and believe that Cory is as good as anybody,” Lees said. “Cory is a good defender who can receive, block, and throw accurately. Most important, he is a leader! He will bring good approach at the plate. Cory comes from Spokane Falls CC, which is led by head coach Bobby Lee who runs a great program and he is a coach that will prepare Cory to be ready to compete for a starting job immediately.”
Dillon Plew is an infielder out of Kennewick High School in Kennewick, Wash. who has hit over .400 in the past two seasons earning all-state honorable mention at third base as junior. For his summer league team the past two years, Plew (6-3, 180) hit .376 for the Kennewick Outlaws and .382 for the Senior Bandits.
“Dillon plays shortstop at Kennewick HS and is coached by Andrew Marquart and also plays for the Kennewick Outlaws in the summer coached by Nate Holden,” Lees said of Plew. “Dillon is a very athletic player who already has good size and has shown the ability to be a high end defender anywhere in the infield. With some more strength, we plan on him emerging into being a big part of our success at Washington State.”
Joe Rosenstein is a right-handed pitcher out of Lamar Community College in Colorado and originally out of Arvada High School in Arvada, Colo. As a freshman last season, Rosenstein (6-6, 215) pitched for Siena College (N.Y.) and posted a 3.27 ERA. He will pitch his sophomore season at Lamar CC this spring.
“Joe has really come into his own this past year and will start for his junior college this season,” Lees said. “Joe is 6'6, 215! With his arm strength and the ability to throw his off speed pitches, Joe will be able to service the team in whatever role we need him.”
James Rudkin is a first baseman out of McLennan Junior College in Texas and is originally out of Plano East High School in Plano, Texas. As a freshman at MJC last season, Rudkin (6-0, 200) hit .374 with 15 doubles, three home runs, 30 walks and 44 RBI, helping McLennan to a national championship game at the JUCO World Series where he was named to the All-Tournament team. Rudkin appeared in 59 of the 61 games last season and also earned a spot on the NJCAA All-Academic Team. At Plano East, Rudkin hit .390 with 28 RBI as a senior, led the district with a .413 batting average as junior and was a three-time all-district selection.
“James is a one of the best junior college hitters and defensive first baseman in the country. He will give us a right-handed power bat which is exactly what we are looking for,” Lees said. “James came from a championship program coached by Mitch Thompson and Mitch, in my opinion, is as good as there is when identifying and developing players to succeed at as very high level. We beleive James will be able to come in and help us immediately.”
Danny Sinatro is a middle infielder out of Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash. Sinatro (5-10, 165) will be a three-year letterwinner at SHS and hit .415 for his legion team last summer, helping them to a legion state championship and a was later selected to play in the Area Code games. Sinatro was ab all-conference cornerback as a junior last season. His father, Matt played ten seasons in Major Leagues and later became the bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners under Lou Piniella (1995-2002).
“I really enjoyed watching Danny as much as I have anybody throughout the summer. He plays shortstop at Skyline HS in the spring and Lakeside Recovery who is coached by Rob Reece in the summer,” Lees said of Sinatro. “Danny has speed you can't teach and I think he can play on either side of the bag. We believe he can be a leadoff hitter in our program and his energy, work ethic, enthusiasm, leadership, and overall skill are the things that have us excited about Danny coming to play at Washington State.”
2016 Washington State Baseball Signing Class
NAME POS B/T HT WT HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
Cody Anderson LHP L/L 6-6 200 Marysville, Wash. (Marysville-Pilchuck HS/Bellevue CC)
A.J. Block LHP L/L 6-5 190 Bellevue, Wash. (Newport HS)
Peter Hutzal INF L/R 5-11 175 Calgary, Alberta (Bishop Carroll HS)
Cory Meyer C R/R 5-10 180 Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS/Spokane Falls CC)
Dillon Plew INF L/R 6-3 180 Kennewick, Wash. (Kennewick HS)
Joe Rosenstein RHP R/R 6-6 215 Arvada, Colo. (Arvada HS/Siena/Lamar CC)
James Rudkin 1B R/R 6-0 200 Plano, Texas (Plano East HS/McLennan JC)
James Sinatro INF L/R 5-10 165 Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline HS)