Big 12 Recruiting Classes
January 3, 2019
Baylor
Total Commits: 15
National Top 500: 4
Immediate Impact Player: Will Rigney
Class Sleeper: Cody Freeman
OVERVIEW:
Coach Steve Rodriguez and staff put together a very strong, first full class in Waco. The premier, frontline talent is well-balanced with impressive depth. In the Big 12, which is crowded with powerful, Texan-arms, the Bears are bringing in a solid crop of pitching along with some athletic position players, some with power potential.
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William Rigney RHP / Midway, TX / 2019Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 16 / POS: 10 PBR Draft BoardRank: 51 / POS: 18 HS Draft 100Rank: 16 / POS: 10
RHP Will Rigney is the key to the entire class as he is one of the premier arms on the state level and nationally. The 54th overall prospect in the PBR Draft rankings, Rigney has a broad-shouldered, 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame with a powerful, downhill, 94 mph fastball. Equipped with feel for two breaking balls and a changeup that all show the capability of being above average pitches, Rigney will receive close attention from MLB scouts throughout the spring. If he ultimately chooses to head to campus, the Bears could be getting a Friday Night starter. |
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Jared McKenzie OF / Round Rock, TX / 2019OF Jared McKenzie had a strong summer on the national circuit, and has played his way into draft consideration. The wiry-athletic, 6-foot, 160-pound outfielder plays with gritty-toughness, and combines that with a fluid stroke from the left side. His continued physical maturation may allow his gap to gap power to evolve even greater while on campus, and he could develop into a top of the order bat in Waco. |
GUT FEEL:
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Cody Freeman SS / Etiwanda, CA / 2019The Bears were able to pry one of the better shortstops in California’s 2019 class away from the west coast when they committed SS Cody Freeman. Freeman is a natural winner whose energy and athleticism will give him a chance to play immediately at Baylor. He exhibits strong signs of sticking at shortstop at the next level, and his speed combined with the ability to spray line drives to all fields could ultimately push him into a leadoff role at some point. |
FINAL THOUGHT:
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Nicolas Balsano C / Colleyville Heritage, TX / 2019C Nicolas Balsano will reach campus after playing in one of the better high school programs in the state at Colleyville Heritage. The experience that he gains from playing in big games in high school should help him to adjust to the loud atmospheres of the Big 12. His powerful bat will certainly find its way into the order, likely in a run-producing role, at some point while on campus. |
COMMITS:
| Nicolas Balsano | TX | Colleyville Heritage | 2019 | C | #346 |
| Theron Brown | TX | Lindale | 2019 | RHP | |
| Cade Currington | TX | Kaufman | 2019 | C | |
| Cody Freeman | CA | Etiwanda | 2019 | SS | #185 |
| Evan Godwin | TX | John Cooper | 2019 | LHP | |
| Ben Greer | TX | Shadow Creek | 2019 | SS | |
| Jack Hattrup | TX | Plano West | 2019 | LHP | |
| Caleb Hollis | TX | McAllen Memorial | 2019 | 3B | |
| Jared McKenzie | TX | Round Rock | 2019 | OF | #135 |
| Kyle Nevin | CA | Poway | 2019 | OF | |
| Hambleton Oliver | TX | Calallen | 2019 | RHP | |
| William Rigney | TX | Midway | 2019 | RHP | #16 |
| Nolan Rodriguez | TX | Midway | 2019 | LHP | |
| Rance Rosas | TX | San Angelo Central | 2019 | OF | |
| Kyle Storemski | TX | Stratford | 2019 | RHP | #462 |
PLUS MUCH MORE BELOW>>>