Cougar Baseball Announces 2024 Signing Class

PULLMAN, Wash. (July 17, 2024) – Washington State Baseball will welcome a 30-member 2024 incoming class for the 2025 season, head coach Nathan Choate announced Wednesday.

The 2024 class features four junior college All-Americans, three players of the year, three pitchers of the year, four Division I transfers and 17 players from the Pacific Northwest.

"We are very excited with the new additions to our program," Choate said. "Our coaching staff, spearheaded by recruiting coordinator Joe Perez, Eric Hutting, Brandon Vial, Austin Ames and newly hired Tommy Richards, have spent the last year identifying the right type of people and players that fit our baseball culture at Washington State. We are excited to begin our training next month."


Kyle Becker is a right-handed pitcher who pitched at Nevada the last seasons, appearing in 10 games last season with 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.

COACH CHOATE ON BECKER
"Kyle is an athletic pitcher who has competed within the Mountain West Conference. He is a former two-way player and his focus on pitching will speed up his development."

Brock Blatter is right-handed pitcher who appeared in six games for Alabama in 2023 and nine games out of the bullpen for USC last season where he recorded 15 strikeouts.

COACH CHOATE ON BLATTER
"Brock has pitched in both the SEC and Pac-12. He has a plus breaking ball and the key to his development is improved fastball command. He has a very high ceiling."

Bryce Chambers is a right-handed pitcher out of Dodge City Community College in Kansas who last season was a two-time Jayhawk League Pitcher of the Week and tallied seven wins, two complete games and 53 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

COACH CHOATE ON CHAMBERS
"Bryce is a plus athlete on the mound and will be able to fill up the zone with his fastball and change-up."

Miles Chandler is a right-handed pitcher out of West Seattle High School who was named first-team All-State, first-team All-Metro and is rated the sixth-best righthander in Washington by Perfect Game. Chandler was named the 3A Semifinal Player of the Game after striking out five in five shutout innings to send WSHS to the state title game where they won the 3A State Championship.

COACH CHOATE ON CHANDLER
"Miles, a Washington native, has a prototypical pitchers frame. He had great Spring season culminating in a first-team All-State selection and led his team to a state championship."

Gavin Derr is a left-handed pitcher out of Mountain View High School in Oregon where he earned first-team All-League honors this past season. Derr is rated the eighth-best overall prospect in Oregon and third-best lefthander in the state by Prep Baseball Report.

COACH CHOATE ON DERR
"Gavin is one of the more talented pitchers out of the state of Oregon. He has really good arm strength and is just scratching the surface of his potential."

Nick Fazio is a right-handed pitcher out of Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, Wash. who was named first-team All-South Puget Sound League this past season and is rated as the third-best righthander in Washington by Perfect Game.

COACH CHOATE ON FAZIO
"Nick is a physical, in state kid that has a good arm and a real passion for the Cougs."

Emerson Fleck is an outfielder/right-handed pitcher out of Mead High School in Spokane was a first-team All-State selection, was named the Greater Spokane League Offensive Player of the Year, a first-team All-GSL selection last season and is the ninth-best prospect in the state by Perfect Game.

COACH CHOATE ON FLECK
"Emerson is a skilled two-way talent from Spokane that was named first-team All-State. He is a good athlete with both bat speed and arm speed."

Bryce Hampton is a shortstop out of Gallatin High School in Montana who was a Montana Legion All-Conference selection this past season, was ranked the No. 12 prospect in the Northwest and the second-best prospect in Montana by Perfect Game.

COACH CHOATE ON HAMPTON
"Bryce is a versatile athlete who can really defend in the middle of the field. He has some quick twitch and bat speed."

Andy Higgins is a right-handed pitcher out of Bellarmine Prep in California and is rated among the Top-50 righthanders in the state by Perfect Game.

COACH CHOATE ON HIGGINS
"Andy is a physical kid with a good arm. He has really good feel to spin the breaking ball. We look forward to watching his development."

Ingmar Hutzezon is right-handed pitcher out of Los Medanos College in northern California who was named second-team ABCA/Rawlings All-Region, first-team All-Bay Valley Conference and Bay Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year. Last season, The Netherlands native went 9-1 with two saves, a 2.15 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.

COACH CHOATE ON HUTZEZON
"Another top ranked Juco arm, Ingmar has a very high ceiling. The 2024 Bay Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year is highly competitive and loves to attack with his fastball."

Mason Kelley is a first baseman from Union College in Kentucky who was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year last season after hitting .360 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, 44 runs scored and 33 RBI.

COACH CHOATE ON KELLEY
"Mason is a transfer student from Union College where he won AAC Freshman of the Year. He is a physical player with bat speed that can play multiple positions."
Ricco Longo is a second baseman out of Spokane Falls Community College who was named to the All-NWAC East Region First Team after hitting .280 with 14 doubles, three home runs, 36 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

COACH CHOATE ON LONGO
"Ricco is a blue-collar tough-nosed baseball player. He has the ability to play multiple positions in the infield and is going to compete at a high level at the plate."

Luke Meyers is a right-handed pitcher out of Central Arizona College who was named a NJCAA All-American, NJCAA Region I Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-Region I after recording seven wins with 82 strikeouts, just 29 walks and a 2.20 ERA in 77.2 innings this past season.

COACH CHOATE ON MEYERS
"Luke comes to the Palouse from one of the best junior college programs in the country. A high-level competitor with the ability to throw any pitch in any count."

Kyler Northrop is a third baseman out of Central High School in Billings, Mont. who was a Montana Legion All-Conference selection and was ranked the top prospect in Montana and eighth-best prospect in the Northwest by Perfect Game.

COACH CHOATE ON NORTHROP
"Kyler is the number 1 ranked player in the state of Montana. He is an athletic infielder with a projectable frame and upside."

Ollie Obenour is a shortstop out of Leigh High School in San Jose, Calif. who was the MVP of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, first-team All-Bay Area by the Mercury News and a Cal-hi Sports All-State nominee after hitting .407 at the plate and added a 2.08 ERA and 58 strikeouts on the mound.

COACH CHOATE ON OBENOUR
"Ollie is a late bloomer with his best baseball out in front of him. He had one of the better spring seasons in all of northern California resulting in MVP of the Blossom Valley Athletic League."

Jake Robinson is a lefthanded pitcher from Columbia Basin College in Washington who was named to the All-East NWAC First Team after going 6-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 99 strikeouts and .149 batting average against in 72 innings this past season.

COACH CHOATE ON ROBINSON
"Jake was one of the top left-handed pitchers in the NWAC in 2024. He pitches with confidence and swagger and has really good feel for his slider."

Gavin Roy is a middle infielder out of Cloud County Community College in Kansas who hit .337 with eight doubles, five triples, four home runs, 25 stolen bases and 36 RBI in 2023 before hitting .317 with 13 doubles, 23 stolen bases and 28 RBI this past season. This summer, the Ontario native was named a WCBL All-Star while hitting .379 with eight doubles, two home run, 22 stolen base and 31 RBI in 34 games for the Sylvan Lake Gulls.

COACH CHOATE ON ROY
"One of the top ranked juco prospects by Perfect Game, Gavin plays with a high motor on both sides of the ball. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Gavin plays the game with a lot of passion and energy."

Gabe Schneider is a right-handed pitcher out of Casteel High School in Arizona where he helped CHS to back-to-back 5A State Championships.

COACH CHOATE ON SCHNEIDER
"Gabe is coming to the Palouse from one of the best high school programs in the AZ. He has a good arm and a projectable body highlighted by big sink on the fastball."

Troy Shepard is a lefthanded pitcher out of Spokane Falls Community College in Washington who was named to the All-East NWAC First Team after going 8-2 with 109 strikeouts, just 27 walks and a 2.30 ERA in 82 innings this past season. Shepard was also named to the NWAC All-Tournament Team after striking out five and allowed just one earned run in a complete game effort.

COACH CHOATE ON SHEPARD
"Troy led Spokane Falls to the semi-finals of the NWAC Championships. Troy has a really good feel for pitching and was second in the NWAC for strikeouts."

Jonah Shull is an infielder out of Everett Community College in Washington who was a second-team ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Association All-American and All-NWAC North First Team after hitting .326 with 12 doubles, three triples, 14 stolen bases, 39 runs scored and 27 RBI last season.

COACH CHOATE ON SHULL
"Jonah is a very versatile infielder that can play all four infield spots. He has a knack for hitting and is very competitive in the box."

Ryan Skjonsby is a first baseman out of Cypress College in southern California who was a second-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection last season after hitting .349 with 11 home runs, nine doubles, 37 runs scored and 51 RBI.

COACH CHOATE ON SKJONSBY
"Ryan was one of the premier players in the Orange Empire Conference in Southern California. Offensively his game will fit in well at Bailey-Brayton and will play a good first base."

Griffin Smith is a right-handed pitcher out of Rock Valley College in Illinois. This past season, Smith was a named a NJCAA Division II All-American, the NJCAA Region IV Pitcher of the Year and set Rock Valley single-season records for strikeouts (113), wins (11) and innings (77) while helping Rock Valley to a 42-15 season. Smith also set career marks for strikeouts (202), innings (141) and wins (17) in his two seasons for the Golden Eagles.

COACH CHOATE ON SMITH
"Griffin is a very athletic pitcher coming off an impressive 2024 campaign. He has plus fastball command and the ability to mix speeds in any count. He is a proven winner and led his junior college to a historic season."

Trevor Stowe is a right-handed pitcher out of the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, Calif. who was named an ABCA/Rawlings Junior College All-American and first-team All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference after striking out 105 in 78.2 innings with a 3.78 ERA and six wins this past season.

COACH CHOATE ON STOWE
"Originally from Wyoming, Trevor led all Inland Empire Athletic Conference pitchers in strikeouts. He is a power arm with a plus breaking ball."

Noah Thein is a catcher out of Des Moines Area Community College who hit .295 with 10 doubles, two homers, five stolen bases and 45 runs scored while helping DMACC to the NJCAA Division II World Series.

COACH CHOATE ON THEIN
"Noah is a left handed hitting, tough-nosed catcher that led his team to a junior college world series appearance this past season. Another blue-collar, chip on the shoulder type of player."

Jake Tedesco is a left-handed pitcher who pitched at Dayton the past two seasons, recording 15 strikeouts in 15.1 innings while appearing in 13 games.

COACH CHOATE ON TEDESCO
"Jake is another high upside pitcher with a tall, loose frame and a good fastball."

Luke Thiele is a shortstop out of Central Arizona College who hit .300 with eight doubles and 16 runs scored in 27 games this past season. Thiele was recently ranked the seventh-best junior college shortstop prospect in the country. As a freshman in 2023, Thiele was named to the All-Region Second Team and All-ACCAC First Team after hitting .328 with seven doubles, one home run, 24 runs scored and 17 RBI.

COACH CHOATE ON THIELE
"Thiele is a skilled defender in the middle of the diamond who plays with a high level of confidence. Luke missed part of the season due to injury, excited to see him at full strength."

Julian Villasenor is an outfielder from St. John Bosco High School in southern California who helped SJBHS to the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Championship game, the school's first championship game appearances in it's 84-year history.

COACH CHOATE ON VILLASENOR
"Julian is a hard-nosed left-handed hitting CF that comes to us from one of the best high school leagues in the country (Trinity League) in St John Bosco. We look forward to watching his development."

Cole Watterson is an outfielder out of Edmonds Community College who earned All-NWAC North first-team honors this past season after scoring 33 runs and stealing 46 bases in 40 games.

COACH CHOATE ON WATTERSON
"Cole led the NWAC in stolen bases with 46 and plays a really good centerfield. We look forward to him putting pressure on our opponents from the offensive side of the ball."

Sam Weaver is a left-handed pitcher out of Mead High School in Spokane who was named to the All-Greater Spokane League Second Team and was second in the league in strikeouts.

COACH CHOATE ON WEAVER
"Sam is a local kid from Spokane that will be transitioning to pitching full time. There is a high ceiling if the transition is successful."

Brayden Wells is a lefthanded pitcher out of Pullman, Wash. who is transferring from Chaminade in Hawaii where he made seven starts and struck out 31 in 37 innings before an injury cut his season short.

COACH CHOATE ON WELLS
"Brayden is coming back to Pullman as a converted lefthanded putcher after spending two seasons at Lower Columbia College and last season at Chaminade in Hawaii."

Washington State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos