Here is the official release from the OSU SID going through the 11 signees. Adley Rutschman is the kicker at Sherwood who made a 63-yard field goal last week against Tigard. If he is able to play both sports, his scholarship would have to come from football, so it may not happen.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State baseball head coach Pat Casey announced Tuesday that 11 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2017 season.
Eight of the 11 hail from the Pacific Northwest, and five of the top seven players in the state of Oregon, per Baseball Northwest, have committed to the program. Signees from the state of Oregon include infielder Andy Armstrong (Salem), infielder George Mendazona (Redmond), utility player Adley Rutschman (Sherwood), right-handed pitcher Mitchell Verburg (Lake Oswego) and Elliot Willy (Bend), a utility player.
The Beavers have also signed the following student-athletes (right-handed pitcher Dakota Donovan (Washington, Utah), right-handed pitcher/infielder Grant Gambrell (Clovis, Calif.), outfielder Preston Jones (Vancouver, Wash.), infielder Tyler Malone (Roseville, Calif.), left-handed pitcher Jake Mulholland (Snohomish, Wash.) and outfielder Taylor Wright (Sammamish, Wash.).
“We have a class who we feel is very athletic,” Casey said. “We have some guys who are very multi-talented; they can play different positions. There is a good balance within the class.
“We have guys in this class who we feel can come in and play right away. It’s a group that will mesh well together; there’s already a lot of familiarity. Most of the time, when you sign your class, you feel like you got the players you wanted to get. We are thrilled about the talent level we have in this class.”
Six of the signees have experience as teammates already, having played for the Royals team at the 2015 Area Code Games. Jones, Mendazona, Mulholland, Rutschman, Verburg and Willy played together on that club in Long Beach, Calif., in August. Gambrell, meanwhile, played for the Athletics squad.
Armstrong comes to the program after three years at West Salem High School. A 5-foot-9 infielder, he earned 6A All-State honors after his junior season, where he batted .411 with nine doubles, 29 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. He was named his conference’s player of the year.
Donovan is a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher from Pine View High School in Utah. Playing at the 3A level, he was named All-State after his junior campaign, one that saw him post an 11-0 record and 1.10 earned run average in 15 games. He struck out 92 in 65 2/3 innings last season.
Gambrell is a pitcher and infielder from Buchanan High School in Clovis. Standing at 6-foot-4, he was named First-Team All-State as a junior after batting .434 with an on-base percentage of .537. He hit one home run and drove in 19 while posting a 4-1 record and 2.02 ERA in 45 innings on the mound.
Jones is coming off an All-State season as well at Mountain View High School in Vancouver. A 5-11 outfielder, he batted .538 last season, collecting six doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI to go along with 19 stolen bases. Jones’ brother, PJ, played collegiately at Washington State and is now in the Seattle Mariners organization.
Malone is a 5-11 infielder from Woodcreek High School in Roseville, Calif. He was named All-City and First-Team All-League his junior year, in which he batted .421 with seven doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI to go along with 14 stolen bases. His father, Todd, played professionally in the New York Yankees organization.
Mendazona will join the Beavers from Ridgeview High School in Redmond. The grandson of OSU great Jim Jarvis, he’s a 6-foot infielder who was named All-State as a junior. He batted .570 last season, tallying 16 doubles, nine triples and three home runs with 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
Mulholland is a 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher from Snohomish High School. He was named All-State and All-Conference after a 9-0 junior season. He posted a 1.15 ERA in 10 games, striking out 84 batters in 61 innings of work. He also batted .409 with 12 RBI.
Rutschman, a 6-foot-2 utility player from Sherwood High School, was an All-State selection after his junior campaign. Last year, he batted .444 with seven doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI. During summer ball, he batted .482 with seven home runs, 29 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Verburg, a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher, will join the program from Lake Oswego High School. Named a top prospect at the Perfect Game National Showcase, he is coming off a 5-3 season on the mound, posting a 2.14 ERA in 18 games. He struck out 95 in 74 innings.
Willy is a 6-foot utility player from Bend High School, where he has lettered for two seasons. As a junior, he was named First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-State after batting .391 with eight doubles, six home runs and 33 RBI.
Wright will join Casey’s program from Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Wash. A 6-foot-3 outfielder, he was named All-Conference his junior year after batting .400 with eight doubles, one home run and 19 RBI to go along with eight stolen bases.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State baseball head coach Pat Casey announced Tuesday that 11 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2017 season.
Eight of the 11 hail from the Pacific Northwest, and five of the top seven players in the state of Oregon, per Baseball Northwest, have committed to the program. Signees from the state of Oregon include infielder Andy Armstrong (Salem), infielder George Mendazona (Redmond), utility player Adley Rutschman (Sherwood), right-handed pitcher Mitchell Verburg (Lake Oswego) and Elliot Willy (Bend), a utility player.
The Beavers have also signed the following student-athletes (right-handed pitcher Dakota Donovan (Washington, Utah), right-handed pitcher/infielder Grant Gambrell (Clovis, Calif.), outfielder Preston Jones (Vancouver, Wash.), infielder Tyler Malone (Roseville, Calif.), left-handed pitcher Jake Mulholland (Snohomish, Wash.) and outfielder Taylor Wright (Sammamish, Wash.).
“We have a class who we feel is very athletic,” Casey said. “We have some guys who are very multi-talented; they can play different positions. There is a good balance within the class.
“We have guys in this class who we feel can come in and play right away. It’s a group that will mesh well together; there’s already a lot of familiarity. Most of the time, when you sign your class, you feel like you got the players you wanted to get. We are thrilled about the talent level we have in this class.”
Six of the signees have experience as teammates already, having played for the Royals team at the 2015 Area Code Games. Jones, Mendazona, Mulholland, Rutschman, Verburg and Willy played together on that club in Long Beach, Calif., in August. Gambrell, meanwhile, played for the Athletics squad.
Armstrong comes to the program after three years at West Salem High School. A 5-foot-9 infielder, he earned 6A All-State honors after his junior season, where he batted .411 with nine doubles, 29 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. He was named his conference’s player of the year.
Donovan is a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher from Pine View High School in Utah. Playing at the 3A level, he was named All-State after his junior campaign, one that saw him post an 11-0 record and 1.10 earned run average in 15 games. He struck out 92 in 65 2/3 innings last season.
Gambrell is a pitcher and infielder from Buchanan High School in Clovis. Standing at 6-foot-4, he was named First-Team All-State as a junior after batting .434 with an on-base percentage of .537. He hit one home run and drove in 19 while posting a 4-1 record and 2.02 ERA in 45 innings on the mound.
Jones is coming off an All-State season as well at Mountain View High School in Vancouver. A 5-11 outfielder, he batted .538 last season, collecting six doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI to go along with 19 stolen bases. Jones’ brother, PJ, played collegiately at Washington State and is now in the Seattle Mariners organization.
Malone is a 5-11 infielder from Woodcreek High School in Roseville, Calif. He was named All-City and First-Team All-League his junior year, in which he batted .421 with seven doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI to go along with 14 stolen bases. His father, Todd, played professionally in the New York Yankees organization.
Mendazona will join the Beavers from Ridgeview High School in Redmond. The grandson of OSU great Jim Jarvis, he’s a 6-foot infielder who was named All-State as a junior. He batted .570 last season, tallying 16 doubles, nine triples and three home runs with 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
Mulholland is a 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher from Snohomish High School. He was named All-State and All-Conference after a 9-0 junior season. He posted a 1.15 ERA in 10 games, striking out 84 batters in 61 innings of work. He also batted .409 with 12 RBI.
Rutschman, a 6-foot-2 utility player from Sherwood High School, was an All-State selection after his junior campaign. Last year, he batted .444 with seven doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI. During summer ball, he batted .482 with seven home runs, 29 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Verburg, a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher, will join the program from Lake Oswego High School. Named a top prospect at the Perfect Game National Showcase, he is coming off a 5-3 season on the mound, posting a 2.14 ERA in 18 games. He struck out 95 in 74 innings.
Willy is a 6-foot utility player from Bend High School, where he has lettered for two seasons. As a junior, he was named First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-State after batting .391 with eight doubles, six home runs and 33 RBI.
Wright will join Casey’s program from Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Wash. A 6-foot-3 outfielder, he was named All-Conference his junior year after batting .400 with eight doubles, one home run and 19 RBI to go along with eight stolen bases.
