Photo by: Rick Yeatts
Aggies Ink 13 Signees for 2017 Campaign
Nov 13, 2015 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Baseball received certification on National Letters of Intent and appropriate paperwork for 13 newcomers for the 2017 season, including 12 of the top high school student-athletes in the nation, head coach Rob Childress announced on Friday.
"We're really excited about the talent, athleticism and versatility this class has up-and-down," Childress said. "Coach (Justin) Seely, our recruiting coordinator, continues to do an incredible job and I feel this is among the best we've ever signed. These 13 guys include special arms and some really skilled hitters as we continue to add the kind of talent we need to compete in the SEC. As always, we've been very selective so we can add players with great character. These young men will make a difference off the field during their time at Texas A&M."
Ten of the 13 players hail from the state of Texas, including OF Cameron Blake (Round Rock/Round Rock HS); RHP Mason Cole (Round Rock/Round Rock HS); C Hunter Coleman (Midland/Lee HS); LHP John Doxakis (Houston/Lamar HS); C/INF Jorge Gutierrez (Sugar Land/Kempner HS); 1B Tanner James (Lorena/Robinson HS); RHP Landon Miner (Bryan/Bryan HS); LHP Kyle Richardson (College Station/College Station HS); INF Hudson Sanchez (Southlake/Carroll HS) and INF Braden Shewmake (Wylie/Wylie East).
The Aggies also secured Arkansas native RHP Dillon Drabble (Genoa Central HS), a junior college transfer who played one season at Central Arkansas and is playing at Seminole State College in 2016; Nebraska prep standout OF Logan Foster (Lincoln/Southwest High School); and Colorado high school star INF Tommy Gillman (Littleton/Columbine HS).
"When you look at this class you see talent, versatility and balance," Childress said. "We have five great arms – three right-handers, two lefties - two catchers skilled catchers, two outfielders and four infielders. Justin and Will (Bolt) have done a great job of seeing what our needs will be in the next few years and this group has the talent to address those needs."
Texas A&M opens its 2015 season on Feb. 19-21 when the Aggies host Hofstra at Blue Bell Park for a three-game series.
2015-16 Texas A&M University Baseball signing class (as of November 13, 2014)
Cameron Blake – OF – 6-1, 190, L/L – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Mason Cole – RHP – 6-5, 180, R/R – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Hunter Coleman – C – 5-11, 200, R/R – Midland, Texas (Lee HS)
John Doxakis – LHP – 6-4, 200, B/L – Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
Dillon Drabble – RHP – 6-2, 180, R/R – Texarkana, Arkansas (Genoa Central HS/Central Arkansas/Seminole State)
Logan Foster – OF – 5-9, 170, R/R – Lincoln, Nebraska (Southwest HS)
Tommy Gillman – INF – 5-9, 170, B/R – Littleton, Colorado (Columbine HS)
Jorge Gutierrez – C/INF – 6-2, 195, B/R – Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
Tanner James – 1B – 6-2, 200, L/L – Lorena, Texas (Robinson HS)
Landon Miner – RHP – 6-1, 180, R/R – Bryan, Texas (Bryan HS)
Kyle Richardson – LHP – 6-1, 190, L/L – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
Hudson Sanchez – INF – 6-3, 190, R/R – Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
Braden Shewmake – INF - 6-4, 175, L/R – Wylie, Texas (Wylie East HS)
Cameron Blake – OF – 6-1, 190, L/L – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Cameron is guy that can play in the middle of the field. He's a solid left-handed batter and a very, very good athlete. He's one of the first guys we committed in the class. A guy we can build around. He's a fantastic teammate and a fantastic leader.
Mason Cole – RHP – 6-5, 180, R/R – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Mason is a big, long, projectable right-handed pitcher. He's a very good athlete and comes from an athletic family. Mason's a guy that's 87-90. We feel with extra added strength he's going to be able to throw really, really hard. He already has command of three pitches.
Hunter Coleman – C – 5-11, 200, R/R – Midland, Texas (Lee HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Hunter's a skilled catcher. He's the son of a coach who has a really good feel to play the game. He has power right-handed bat. He's a good catch-and-throw guy. We're very fortunate to have him.
John Doxakis – LHP – 6-4, 200, B/L – Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: John's a 6-3, 185 pounds, projectable, left-handed pitcher. He has a great feel to pitch and can use three to four pitches at any one time. John has excellent command and is a guy that can fill multiple roles early on in his career.
Dillon Drabble – RHP – 6-2, 180, R/R – Texarkana, Arkansas (Genoa Central HS/Central Arkansas/Seminole State)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Dillon is a guy that a started his career at Central Arkansas and then moved to Seminole JC. We were fortunate enough to see him very, very early. He's got a really good arm. He's going to be a low-to-mid 90's right-hander with a couple really good pitches. He's very, very athletic. He's another guy we'll be fortunate to get here.
Logan Foster – OF – 5-9, 185, R/R – Lincoln, Nebraska (Southwest HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Logan is a guy with lots of tools and a guy that we can put in multiple positions. He is an outfielder. He is also a catcher. He's a really good runner and a really strong kid. We're very fortunate to get him. We beat some pretty good people [for] him.
Tommy Gillman – INF – 5-9, 170, B/R – Littleton, Colorado (Columbine HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Tommy is a real versatile guy. He's a switch hitter and middle infielder. He's an athletic guy who's also a football player. He brings it every day –a real dirt-bag type. He's guy that we've known for a while. He's been in our camps. We really like what we're going to be able do with him, putting him in multiple positions on the field.
Jorge Gutierrez – C/INF – 6-2, 195, B/R – Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Tanner is a first baseman with left-handed power. It was something we felt we needed in the class, and Tanner is definitely going to be able to bring that.
Landon Miner – RHP – 6-1, 180, R/R – Bryan, Texas (Bryan HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Landon is a pitchability, right-hander. He's really young for his grade. I think with the extra added strength and conditioning that Jeremy McMillan can help him with he's going to really develop. His stuff is already outstanding. He can already pitch at this level, but it's only going to get bigger.
Kyle Richardson – LHP – 6-1, 190, L/L – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Kyle is a guy with power stuff. He is upper 80's, lower 90's right now with a really good breaking ball. He's coming off of a Tommy John's surgery. He is a guy we can see using out of the pen early on in his career and moving into a starting role as he gets comfortable.
Hudson Sanchez – INF – 6-3, 190, R/R – Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Hudson is one of the first guys committed in the class. He's a middle-of-the-diamond type of player. He's a big guy – 6-3, 190 pounds. He's a guy with real strength in the bat and he has a very advanced feel for playing the game.
Braden Shewmake – INF - 6-4, 175, L/R – Wylie, Texas (Wylie East HS)
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Braden is left-handed hitter, infielder. He's the son of a coach with great make-up. He's a guy who has a chance to hit right away. He's a leader. He also plays quarterback for his football team.
"We're really excited about the talent, athleticism and versatility this class has up-and-down," Childress said. "Coach (Justin) Seely, our recruiting coordinator, continues to do an incredible job and I feel this is among the best we've ever signed. These 13 guys include special arms and some really skilled hitters as we continue to add the kind of talent we need to compete in the SEC. As always, we've been very selective so we can add players with great character. These young men will make a difference off the field during their time at Texas A&M."
Ten of the 13 players hail from the state of Texas, including OF Cameron Blake (Round Rock/Round Rock HS); RHP Mason Cole (Round Rock/Round Rock HS); C Hunter Coleman (Midland/Lee HS); LHP John Doxakis (Houston/Lamar HS); C/INF Jorge Gutierrez (Sugar Land/Kempner HS); 1B Tanner James (Lorena/Robinson HS); RHP Landon Miner (Bryan/Bryan HS); LHP Kyle Richardson (College Station/College Station HS); INF Hudson Sanchez (Southlake/Carroll HS) and INF Braden Shewmake (Wylie/Wylie East).
The Aggies also secured Arkansas native RHP Dillon Drabble (Genoa Central HS), a junior college transfer who played one season at Central Arkansas and is playing at Seminole State College in 2016; Nebraska prep standout OF Logan Foster (Lincoln/Southwest High School); and Colorado high school star INF Tommy Gillman (Littleton/Columbine HS).
"When you look at this class you see talent, versatility and balance," Childress said. "We have five great arms – three right-handers, two lefties - two catchers skilled catchers, two outfielders and four infielders. Justin and Will (Bolt) have done a great job of seeing what our needs will be in the next few years and this group has the talent to address those needs."
Texas A&M opens its 2015 season on Feb. 19-21 when the Aggies host Hofstra at Blue Bell Park for a three-game series.
2015-16 Texas A&M University Baseball signing class (as of November 13, 2014)
Cameron Blake – OF – 6-1, 190, L/L – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Mason Cole – RHP – 6-5, 180, R/R – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Hunter Coleman – C – 5-11, 200, R/R – Midland, Texas (Lee HS)
John Doxakis – LHP – 6-4, 200, B/L – Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
Dillon Drabble – RHP – 6-2, 180, R/R – Texarkana, Arkansas (Genoa Central HS/Central Arkansas/Seminole State)
Logan Foster – OF – 5-9, 170, R/R – Lincoln, Nebraska (Southwest HS)
Tommy Gillman – INF – 5-9, 170, B/R – Littleton, Colorado (Columbine HS)
Jorge Gutierrez – C/INF – 6-2, 195, B/R – Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
Tanner James – 1B – 6-2, 200, L/L – Lorena, Texas (Robinson HS)
Landon Miner – RHP – 6-1, 180, R/R – Bryan, Texas (Bryan HS)
Kyle Richardson – LHP – 6-1, 190, L/L – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
Hudson Sanchez – INF – 6-3, 190, R/R – Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
Braden Shewmake – INF - 6-4, 175, L/R – Wylie, Texas (Wylie East HS)
Cameron Blake – OF – 6-1, 190, L/L – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
- Earned spot on a USA Baseball U18 National Team Trials Roster
- Tabbed District 16-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2013
- Named 2014 and 2015 District 13-6A First Team
- 2015 Texas Rangers Area Code Games participant
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America First Team
- 2014 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America Honorable Mention
- Selected for the USA Baseball 17 National Team Development Program in 2014
- Named to the USA Baseball National Team Trials roster in 2015
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Cameron is guy that can play in the middle of the field. He's a solid left-handed batter and a very, very good athlete. He's one of the first guys we committed in the class. A guy we can build around. He's a fantastic teammate and a fantastic leader.
Mason Cole – RHP – 6-5, 180, R/R – Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
- Unanimous selection on the All-District 13-6 First Team in 2015
- Led Round Rock to the 13-6A title in 2015 with a perfect 14-0 mark
- Posted a 0.83 ERA as a junior
- Also a standout on the Round Rock football team
- Participated in the Sun Belt series as a member of team Texas
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Mason is a big, long, projectable right-handed pitcher. He's a very good athlete and comes from an athletic family. Mason's a guy that's 87-90. We feel with extra added strength he's going to be able to throw really, really hard. He already has command of three pitches.
Hunter Coleman – C – 5-11, 200, R/R – Midland, Texas (Lee HS)
- Led District 3-6A in batting average as a junior in 2015
- Tabbed an All-District 3-6A First Team catcher in 2015
- 2014 All-District 2-5A First Team from Midland Reporter-Telegram and Amarillo Globe-News
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America First Team
- 2014 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America Honorable Mention
- Father is the head baseball coach at Midland College
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Hunter's a skilled catcher. He's the son of a coach who has a really good feel to play the game. He has power right-handed bat. He's a good catch-and-throw guy. We're very fortunate to have him.
John Doxakis – LHP – 6-4, 200, B/L – Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America Honorable Mention
- Played for Southwest team that claimed the 2014 Senior League World Series title in Bangor, Maine, pitching a two-hitter in the semifinal
- Tabbed All-District 20-6A as a junior and All-District 20-5A as a sophomore
- Selected to play in the Juniors Game of the 2015 Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Games
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: John's a 6-3, 185 pounds, projectable, left-handed pitcher. He has a great feel to pitch and can use three to four pitches at any one time. John has excellent command and is a guy that can fill multiple roles early on in his career.
Dillon Drabble – RHP – 6-2, 180, R/R – Texarkana, Arkansas (Genoa Central HS/Central Arkansas/Seminole State)
- Pitched for the University of Central Arkansas as a freshman, posting a 0-1 record with a 1.42 ERA over 6.1 innings in 2015
- 2013 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Helped squad to a high school state title as a sophomore in 2012 and 2014
- Earned State Tournament MVP recognition winning two games in the tournament, including a shutout in the final
- Ranked as the No. 5 player in Arkansas coming out of high school in 2014
- Registered an 8-0 record with a 1.58 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 53.1 innings as a junior
- Garnered All-Arkansas Class 3A recognition in 2014
- Earned a spot on the West squad for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Dillon is a guy that a started his career at Central Arkansas and then moved to Seminole JC. We were fortunate enough to see him very, very early. He's got a really good arm. He's going to be a low-to-mid 90's right-hander with a couple really good pitches. He's very, very athletic. He's another guy we'll be fortunate to get here.
Logan Foster – OF – 5-9, 185, R/R – Lincoln, Nebraska (Southwest HS)
- Ranked as the No. 3 junior in the state by MaxPreps following the 2015 campaign
- Played for the Reds Midwest Scout Team at the 2015 WWBA World Championship
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Ranked as top outfielder in the state of Nebraska by Perfect Game
- Earned All-Nebraska First Team and All-Class A recognition from the Omaha World Herald as a junior, hitting .422 and posting a 6-2 record with a 2.37 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 2015
- Hit .391 as a sophomore to earn All-Nebraska Second Team credit in 2014
- Earned Lincoln Journal-Star Super State Second Team recognition in 2014
- Garnered Lincoln Journal-Star Super State Honorable Mention in 2013
- Selected for the USA Baseball 17 National Team Development Program in 2014
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Logan is a guy with lots of tools and a guy that we can put in multiple positions. He is an outfielder. He is also a catcher. He's a really good runner and a really strong kid. We're very fortunate to get him. We beat some pretty good people [for] him.
Tommy Gillman – INF – 5-9, 170, B/R – Littleton, Colorado (Columbine HS)
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Selected to play in the Colorado Rockies Future Game in 2014 and 2015, going 1-for-3 with one triple and two RBI in 2015
- Named Denver Student-Athlete of the Week on April 26, 2015
- 2014 Rocky Mountain Showcase Team
- 2015 All-Colorado selection by the Denver Post
- Also a standout on the Columbine football squad
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Tommy is a real versatile guy. He's a switch hitter and middle infielder. He's an athletic guy who's also a football player. He brings it every day –a real dirt-bag type. He's guy that we've known for a while. He's been in our camps. We really like what we're going to be able do with him, putting him in multiple positions on the field.
Jorge Gutierrez – C/INF – 6-2, 195, B/R – Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
- 2015 Texas SportsWriters Association Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention
- Named District 23-6A MVP by the Fort Bend News as a junior in 2015
- Garnered All-Greater Houston Class 6A recognition in 2015, hitting .378 with 19 runs, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 39 RBI
- Led team to 2015 23-6A District and Bi-District titles
- Spent first three seasons at Clements High School
- <>Garnered Third Team All-State 3A by the Texas Sportswriters Association in 2014
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Earned and District 17-3A Offensive MVP and All-Super CenTex accolades in 2015
- Tabbed District 17-3A First Team by the Waco Tribune in 2015
- Named an All-Super CenTex First Team first baseman in 2014
- Selected District 17-3A Newcomer of the Year in 2013
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Tanner is a first baseman with left-handed power. It was something we felt we needed in the class, and Tanner is definitely going to be able to bring that.
Landon Miner – RHP – 6-1, 180, R/R – Bryan, Texas (Bryan HS)
- Selected to play in the Juniors Game of the 2015 Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Games
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- 2014 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Most Valuable Pitcher at the Perfect Game 14U World Series
- Three-time all-district performer
- Owns a 1.79 ERA and 212 strikeouts for his career, needing 33 strikeouts to become the Vikings' all-time leader
- Tallied a 1.54 ERA as a sophomore
- Selected All-District 18-5A as a sophomore in 2014
- Earned District 14-5A Newcomer of the Year recognition as a freshman in 2013
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Landon is a pitchability, right-hander. He's really young for his grade. I think with the extra added strength and conditioning that Jeremy McMillan can help him with he's going to really develop. His stuff is already outstanding. He can already pitch at this level, but it's only going to get bigger.
Kyle Richardson – LHP – 6-1, 190, L/L – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
- Owns a career record of 26-5 with a 1.87 ERA
- Registered a 10-1 record with a 1.89 ERA and 87 strikeouts as a junior in 2015
- Selected to play in the Juniors Game of the 2015 Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Games
- Garnered All-Texas Class 3A Second Team by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association as a sophomore in 2014
- Three-time first-team all-district pitcher
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Kyle is a guy with power stuff. He is upper 80's, lower 90's right now with a really good breaking ball. He's coming off of a Tommy John's surgery. He is a guy we can see using out of the pen early on in his career and moving into a starting role as he gets comfortable.
Hudson Sanchez – INF – 6-3, 190, R/R – Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America First Team
- 2014 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Helped lead Southlake Carroll to a 31-6 mark and a Class 5A Region I semifinal appearance in 2014
- Played for Texas Rangers Area Code Team
- Batted .303 with two home runs and 18 RBI as a junior in 2015
- Helped lead D-BAT Bonesio to the AABC Mickey Mantle World Series crown in 2014
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Hudson is one of the first guys committed in the class. He's a middle-of-the-diamond type of player. He's a big guy – 6-3, 190 pounds. He's a guy with real strength in the bat and he has a very advanced feel for playing the game.
Braden Shewmake – INF - 6-4, 175, L/R – Wylie, Texas (Wylie East HS)
- Selected the District 13-4A Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2014 with a .457 batting average, 11 doubles and 29 RBI
- Named to the Texas SportsWriters Association All-State Class 4A Team in 2014
- Selected All-DFW Third Team by Sports Day in 2014
- Named All-District 10-4A at shortstop as a junior in 2015
- 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman Preseason All-America High Honorable Mention
- Three-sport standout at Wylie East, playing football and basketball
Quote from recruiting coordinator Justin Seely: Braden is left-handed hitter, infielder. He's the son of a coach with great make-up. He's a guy who has a chance to hit right away. He's a leader. He also plays quarterback for his football team.
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