Nov. 12, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas Baseball received National Letters of Intent from seven of the top high school student-athletes in the nation on the first day of the early signing period head coach Augie Garrido announced on Wednesday.
“Coach (Tommy) Harmon year-in and year-out proves he can bring in the top recruits in the country,” Garrido said. “This class falls in line with that history. He has brought in players that will make us a national contender in 2010. Coach Harmon always anticipates where we will need talent in the future and fills in that talent.”
The group, which was secured by UT’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Tommy Harmon, includes three of the top 75 high school prospects in America according to Baseball America. The Longhorns’ recruits ranked among the top 75 include C Jonathan Walsh (No. 34) from Coppell (Texas) HS, LHP/1B Colton Cain (No. 44) from Waxahachie (Texas) HS and RHP Keifer Nuncio (No. 75) from Katy (Texas) HS.
The Horns also added local products Josh Urban, a right-handed pitcher from Dripping Springs HS, and Cohl Walla, a right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Austin Lake Travis HS.
The list of signees is rounded out by Hoby Milner, a left-handed pitcher from Fort Worth Paschal HS and Jordan Weymouth, a middle infielder from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral HS.
The Longhorns are expected to finalize the paperwork on more recruits before the early signing period ends on Nov. 19.
In terms of positions included in the signing class for the 2009-10 season, there are three pitchers, two position players and two two-way performers. A brief look at Texas’ entire first day signings is listed below.
2008-09 University of Texas Baseball signing class (as of Nov. 14, 2008)
Colton Cain – LHP/1B – Waxahachie, Texas (Waxahachie HS)
Hoby Milner – LHP – Crowley, Texas (Paschal HS)
Keifer Nuncio – RHP – Katy, Texas (Katy HS)
Josh Urban – RHP – Dripping Springs, Texas (Dripping Springs HS)
Cohl Walla – RHP/OF – Austin, Texas (Lake Travis HS)
Jonathan Walsh – C – Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Jordan Weymouth – IF – Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Chaparral HS)
Colton Cain – LHP/1B – Waxahachie, Texas (Waxahachie HS)
• Named the No. 44 High School Prospect by Baseball America in October 2008
• Named the No. 81 Overall Prospect by Baseball America in November 2008
• Named the No. 41 Draft Prospect by ESPN.com’s Keith Law in September 2008
• Pitched for the 2008 USA Baseball 18U National Team, earning a Silver Medal at the IBAF World AAA Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada
• Won his two starts for Team USA in 2008 with victories over Chinese Taipei and Korea
• Pitched five innings of no-hit ball, striking out nine in a 6-0 win over Chinese Taipei
• Pitched for the 2007 USA Baseball Youth National Team, earning a gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela
• Went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two relief appearances for Team USA in 2007
• Named to the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2008
• Named one of the top 10 hitting prospects at the Area Code Games by Baseball America
• Logged a 12-1 record with a 0.76 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 81 innings and batted .486 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBI as a junior at Waxahachie (Texas) High School
• Named District 15-4A Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-Texas 4A and first-team all-state tournament as a junior
• Tabbed district pitcher of the year as a sophomore and a first-team all-district pitcher as a freshman
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Colton Cain is a two-way player from Waxahachie and is considered one of the best hitters as well as one of the best pitchers in the state. He had a very successful summer with the USA Junior Team and should be able to come in and play a position and/or DH, plus pitch.
Hoby Milner – LHP – Crowley, Texas (Paschal HS)
• Named to the 2008 Louisville Slugger High School All-American team as selected by Collegiate Baseball
• Named All-Texas Class 5A honorable mention by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association as a junior
• Went 6-1 with an 0.77 ERA and 97 strikeouts as a junior in 2008
• Named District 4-5A Co-MVP in 2008
• Tabbed District 4-5A Sophomore of the Year in 2007
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Hoby Milner is a left-hander from Fort Worth Paschal. He is probably the top left-hander in the state. He is already in the high 80s, low 90s with very good control and is very poised. He should pitch real quickly and be a force his freshman year.
Keifer Nuncio – RHP – Katy, Texas (Katy HS)
• Named the No. 75 High School Prospect by Baseball America in October 2008
• Owns a 20-4 mark with eight saves for his high school career heading into his senior season
• Tabbed first team All-District 18-5A as a junior with a 6-3 record, three saves and a 1.47 ERA in 2008
• Earned first-team All-District 18-5A as a sophomore with a 7-1 record, two saves and a 1.28 ERA in 2007
• Named all-district honorable mention as a freshman with a 7-0 record, three saves and a 2.13 ERA in 2006
• Tabbed Houston 5A Co-Newcomer of the Year in 2006
• Played for Team Texas in the Sun Belt Classic Games in 2006 and 2007
• Selected by Baseball America as one of the top 10 pitchers at the Perfect Game National Showcase in June 2008
• Played for the Texas Rangers Area Code Games team in 2007 and 2008
• Played for the Texas Scouts Association team at the World Wood Bat Championship in 2008
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Keifer Nuncio is a right-handed pitcher from Katy who is one of the top right-handers in the state. He has been very successful. He pitches in the high 80s, low 90s with a very good breaking ball.
Josh Urban – RHP – Dripping Springs, Texas (Dripping Springs HS)
• Logged a 6-4 record with one save, a 1.40 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 60 innings as a junior at Dripping Springs (Texas) High School in 2008
• Hit .363 with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 20 RBI in 28 games for Dripping Springs as a junior
• Garnered first-team All-District 25-4A accolades as a first baseman in 2008
• Participated in the 12th annual Texas Scouts Association Invitational
• Invited to Perfect Game WWBA World Championship
• Helped lead the Austin Wings to a Premier Junior national title in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2006
• Earned All-District 10-5A first-team honors from the Dallas Morning News as a junior in 2007
• Earned all-district honorable mention as a freshman
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Josh Urban is from Dripping Springs. He is a real big kid, 6-foot-5, with a great pitcher’s body. He’s someone that’s going to develop along the way and should be a power pitcher.
Cohl Walla – RHP/OF – Austin, Texas (Lake Travis HS)
• Named the No. 45 Draft Prospect by ESPN.com’s Keith Law in September 2008
• Named to the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2008
• Named one of the top 10 hitting prospects at the Area Code Games by Baseball America
• Selected first-team All-District 25-4A as an outfielder in 2008
• Hit .369 with four home runs and 27 RBI as a junior in 2008
• Caught 65 passes for 1,009 yards and 12 TD as a junior in 2007
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Cohl Walla is an outfielder and right-handed pitcher from Lake Travis who was one of the better hitters at the Area Code games. He hit with power, has great speed, and is a great athlete as he exhibited last year as a wide receiver on their state championship team. He also has a chance to be a great pitcher along with playing a position. He’s an outfielder first with the possibility of pitching second.
Jonathan Walsh – C – Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
• Named the No. 34 High School Prospect by Baseball America in October 2008
• Named the No. 66 Overall Prospect by Baseball America in November 2008
• Named the No. 25 Draft Prospect by ESPN.com’s Keith Law in September 2008
• Went 1-for-3 with one walk and one hit-by-pitch at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field in August 2008
• Played in the AFLAC All-America Game at Dodgers Stadium in August 2008
• Played for the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2007 and 2008
• Batted .398 with four home runs and 39 RBI as a junior at Coppell (Texas) High School
• Named All-District 6-5A as a junior
• Hit .390 with three home runs and 30 RBI as a sophomore
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Jonathan Walsh is a switch hitting catcher from Coppell. He is very advanced defensively and has power from both sides of the plate. He’ll be ready to play pretty early too.
Jordan Weymouth – IF – Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Scottsdale Chaparral HS)
• Hit .397 with 32 runs, one home run, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases as a junior in 2008
• Led Scottsdale Chaparral to a Class 4A Division I title in 2008, hitting .700 with six runs and seven RBI in four games
• Named Defensive Player of the Game for the 2008 Class 4A Division I title game
• Selected second-team Desert Sky All-Region as a junior in 2008
• Selected Desert Sky All-Region honorable mention as a sophomore in 2007
Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon: Jordan Weymouth is from Chaparral in Scottsdale. He is a very good athlete. He plays shortstop and centerfield on his high school and summer league teams. He has plus speed and is a great offensive player. He is a leadoff type hitter who is probably going to be looked at as more of an infielder, but can play in the outfield as well.
