Head Coach Turtle Thomas- Florida International
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
On Friday, FIU baseball head coach Turtle Thomas announced the signing of eight recruits. The class includes four players from Florida, three JUCO transfers, a former MLB Draft pick and the top-ranked high school first baseman from Texas.
“When recruiting, it’s all about getting athletic players and good pitchers to fill the holes you have in your program,” said Thomas. “We feel like we absolutely filled most of the holes we had.”
Three of the five high school signees are in the top-200 of Perfect Game’s national rankings. “We’re very pleased, very happy and looking forward to these young men joining our program and contributing in the spring of 2010,” added Thomas.
Full List of Signings:
Rudy Flores
6-3 205 L/R
1B
Moody HS
Moody, Texas
Perfect Game’s top-ranked 1B in the state of Texas…13th ranked player in Texas…85th ranked player in the nation….443rd ranked player for the 2009 MLB Draft…projected to be picked in rounds 11 through 25.
2007: Named District 30-4A Newcomer of the Year. Hit .390 with 12 doubles, 10 homeruns and 44 RBIs.
2008: Named 1st team All-State after hitting .470 with 14 doubles, nine homeruns and 47 RBIs.
Jabari Henry
6-1 190 R/R
OF
Olympia HS
Orlando, Fla.
Perfect Game’s 23rd ranked player in the state of Florida…124th ranked player in the nation…projected as a top-10 round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.
Albert Cardenas
5-10 190
RHP/OF
Palmeto Ridge HS
Naples, Fla.
Perfect Game’s 57th ranked player in Florida…175th ranked player in the nation…projected as an 11th to 25th round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.
2008: 2nd team All-State selection…allowed just 15 hits in 27 innings of work, while striking out 49.
Dillon Vitale
6-1 205 L/R
3B/C/RHP
Charlotte HS
Punta Gorda, Fla.
Perfect Game’s 151st ranked player in Florida…Ranked 1024 nationally.
2008: Hit .329 with 13 doubles and 25 RBIs…recorded a 4-2 record in 41 innings, while striking out 42 and walking just 11…posted a 1.86 ERA.
TJ Shantz
6-0 190 R/R
Util.
Cherry Creek HS
Greenwood Village, Colo.
First-team all-state selection in 2008.
Josh Garton
6-2 210 L/R
OF/IF
Volunteer State CC
Gallatin, Tenn.
2008: Hit .375 with 13 homeruns, 15 doubles and 48 runs batted in.
Jeremy Patton
L/R
INF
Jefferson County CC
St. Louis, Mo.
2007(HS): Conference Player of the Year…Daily Dunklin Democrat Player of the Year…2nd team all-state.
2008: Hit .435 with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 games this fall.
Yoandy Barroso
6-2 210 R/R
OF
Miami Dade College
Miami, Fla.
Drafted out of high school in the 46th round by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 MLB Draft
