Missouri State lands four Top-20 Class of 2012 players
August 16, 2011
Missouri State added to an already impressive Class of 2012 recruiting class on Tuesday, signing two of Prep Baseball Report Missouri’s Top-5 prospects and four players in the Top-20.
1B/3B Spencer Johnson (Parkview HS), ranked as the No. 1 Class of 2012 prospect, will continue his career at Missouri State next season. This past season, Johnson (right) hit .438 with 8 doubles, 13 home runs and 43 RBI on his way to PBR First Team All-State honors. The 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter also scored 30 runs, notched 16 walks and stole 12 bases.
Also committing to Missouri State on Tuesday was OF Tate Matheny (Westminster HS), the No. 3 ranked Class of 2012 player. Son of former St. Louis Cardinal catcher Mike Matheny, Tate had a monster year for Class 3A champion Westminster, as he hit .505 with 53 runs, 8 doubles, 10 triples, 10 home runs and 54 RBI. He was also a perfect 22-for-22 in stolen base attempts and was a PBR First Team All-State selection.
The No. 15 ranked Class of 2012 player, RHP Brain Young (Staley HS), has also committed to Missouri State. A First Team MHSBCA All-State selection this past season, Young was 7-3 with a 1.04 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 12 walks in 47 1/3 innings. At the plate, he batted .383 with 7 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs and 27 RBI in 81 at-bats.
Rounding out Missouri State’s recent recruits is LHP Matt Hall (Lee’s Summit West HS), the No. 20 ranked Class of 2012 player. Hall turned in an impressive junior campaign by going 6-1 with a 1.03 ERA, 77 strikeouts and 13 walks in 52 2/3 innings. Like Young, Hall was a First Team MHSBCA All-State selection.