Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball welcomes four signees
11/22/2017 | 7:39:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Saluki Baseball signed four players to National Letters of Intent during the signing period, head coach Ken Henderson announced. Southern Illinois signed three pitchers and an outfielder, and all four will be freshmen in 2018-19.
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"This incoming freshman class is small in numbers but huge in terms of quality," head coach Ken Henderson said. "All of these young men have the ability to come in and make an immediate impact on the program. In addition to these four, we also plan on announcing two or three additional signees during the regular signing period next spring.
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"I am thankful for all the people on campus that make Southern Illinois University and Saluki Baseball such an easy sell to prospective student-athletes. I also need to give credit to Coach Finigan, Coach LaRue and the rest of our staff for their efforts in recruiting these young men."
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Sam Grace – 6-4 – 200 – R/R – RHP – St. Charles, Mo. – Francis Howell North
Sam Grace is ranked in the top-15 right handed pitchers in Missouri by both Perfect game and Prep Baseball report, with a fastball in the upper-80s. He is a three-year starter at Francis Howell North High School and posted an 0.677 ERA as a junior. He is an honor roll student and attended the same high school as Mark Buerhle.
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Coach Henderson on Sam Grace
"Sam is big, physical pitcher with a good arm and a plus breaking ball. He also possesses the toughness and mental approach that is so important to us. He is a product of the Rawlings Tigers program in St. Louis and knows how to compete at a high level. With his physical presence, there is no limit to what he can accomplish in a Saluki uniform."
Evan Martin – 6-0 – 170 – L/L – OF – Manchester, Mo. – Parkway South HS
Evan Martin is ranked among the top-5 outfielders in the state of Missouri by both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report. He was a two-time Perfect Game preseason underclass All-America honorable mention selection. Nationally, his 60-yard dash time was among the top 5 percent submitted to Perfect Game. Martin is an honor roll student, and his mother also attended SIU.
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Coach Henderson on Evan Martin
"Evan gives us another extremely athletic outfielder, one who also has a very good swing from the left side. We absolutely love his passion for the game; he is the baseball equivalent of a gym rat—someone who never seems to get enough baseball. His personality and mental approach are contagious, and we can't wait to get him in Saluki uniform."
Corey Mitson – 5-10 – 180 – R/R – RHP – Millington, Tenn. – Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Corey Mitson is a top-15 right-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee. He has earned All-Metro (2016 and 2017), All-District (2016 and 2017), All-Region (2016 and 2017) and All-Region Tournament (2017) honors. He was on the TBCA All-Region 8 team in 2017 and is already in the top-10 in school history in stolen bases, batting average, pitching wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and shutouts.
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Coach Henderson on Corey Mitson
"Corey is very similar to current Saluki Ryan Netemeyer. He is blessed with a very quick arm and a great feel for pitching. He is extremely competitive, and his blue collar attitude and toughness are a great fit with us and our vision of Saluki Baseball."
Matthew Steidl – 6-4 – 170 – R/R – RHP – Gallatin, Tenn. – Pope John Paul II HS
Matthew Steidl won 10 games and recorded 135 strikeouts in his sophomore and junior seasons in high school, leading Pope John Paul II High School to two state tournament appearances and a state-record 28 wins in 2017. Steidl is ranked among the top-25 right-handed pitchers in Tennessee by Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game.
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Coach Henderson on Matthew Steidl
"Matt has the prototypical pitchers body. He is long and loose with a quick arm. He plays high school (Pope John Paul II) and summer ball (Nashville Knights) with two outstanding programs; and along with a great feel for pitching, he has a true understanding of what it takes to be successful on the mound."
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"This incoming freshman class is small in numbers but huge in terms of quality," head coach Ken Henderson said. "All of these young men have the ability to come in and make an immediate impact on the program. In addition to these four, we also plan on announcing two or three additional signees during the regular signing period next spring.
Â
"I am thankful for all the people on campus that make Southern Illinois University and Saluki Baseball such an easy sell to prospective student-athletes. I also need to give credit to Coach Finigan, Coach LaRue and the rest of our staff for their efforts in recruiting these young men."
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Sam Grace – 6-4 – 200 – R/R – RHP – St. Charles, Mo. – Francis Howell North
Sam Grace is ranked in the top-15 right handed pitchers in Missouri by both Perfect game and Prep Baseball report, with a fastball in the upper-80s. He is a three-year starter at Francis Howell North High School and posted an 0.677 ERA as a junior. He is an honor roll student and attended the same high school as Mark Buerhle.
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Coach Henderson on Sam Grace
"Sam is big, physical pitcher with a good arm and a plus breaking ball. He also possesses the toughness and mental approach that is so important to us. He is a product of the Rawlings Tigers program in St. Louis and knows how to compete at a high level. With his physical presence, there is no limit to what he can accomplish in a Saluki uniform."
ÂWelcome Sam Grace to the family!
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) November 8, 2017
RHP from St. Charles, Mo., had an 0.67 ERA last year. #Salukis #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/DQWj8AR64O
Evan Martin – 6-0 – 170 – L/L – OF – Manchester, Mo. – Parkway South HS
Evan Martin is ranked among the top-5 outfielders in the state of Missouri by both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report. He was a two-time Perfect Game preseason underclass All-America honorable mention selection. Nationally, his 60-yard dash time was among the top 5 percent submitted to Perfect Game. Martin is an honor roll student, and his mother also attended SIU.
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Coach Henderson on Evan Martin
"Evan gives us another extremely athletic outfielder, one who also has a very good swing from the left side. We absolutely love his passion for the game; he is the baseball equivalent of a gym rat—someone who never seems to get enough baseball. His personality and mental approach are contagious, and we can't wait to get him in Saluki uniform."
ÂEvan Martin is the newest Saluki!
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) November 8, 2017
Evan is a two-time Perfect Game preseason HM underclass All-American. #Salukis #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/3fHNCOlPgK
Corey Mitson – 5-10 – 180 – R/R – RHP – Millington, Tenn. – Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Corey Mitson is a top-15 right-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee. He has earned All-Metro (2016 and 2017), All-District (2016 and 2017), All-Region (2016 and 2017) and All-Region Tournament (2017) honors. He was on the TBCA All-Region 8 team in 2017 and is already in the top-10 in school history in stolen bases, batting average, pitching wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and shutouts.
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Coach Henderson on Corey Mitson
"Corey is very similar to current Saluki Ryan Netemeyer. He is blessed with a very quick arm and a great feel for pitching. He is extremely competitive, and his blue collar attitude and toughness are a great fit with us and our vision of Saluki Baseball."
ÂCorey Mitson is officially a Saluki!
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) November 8, 2017
Millington, Tenn., native is a top-15 RHP in Tennessee by Perfect Game. pic.twitter.com/kXN6wiqJiK
Matthew Steidl – 6-4 – 170 – R/R – RHP – Gallatin, Tenn. – Pope John Paul II HS
Matthew Steidl won 10 games and recorded 135 strikeouts in his sophomore and junior seasons in high school, leading Pope John Paul II High School to two state tournament appearances and a state-record 28 wins in 2017. Steidl is ranked among the top-25 right-handed pitchers in Tennessee by Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game.
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Coach Henderson on Matthew Steidl
"Matt has the prototypical pitchers body. He is long and loose with a quick arm. He plays high school (Pope John Paul II) and summer ball (Nashville Knights) with two outstanding programs; and along with a great feel for pitching, he has a true understanding of what it takes to be successful on the mound."
ÂGreat to welcome Matthew Steidl to the 2018-19 #Salukis!
— Saluki Baseball (@SIU_Baseball) November 9, 2017
6-4 RHP has 135 strikeouts over the last two years for Pope John Paul II High School.#Salukis #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/7gQxrgPpYZ
Players Mentioned
RHP
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