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Baylor Baseball

Thompson Inks 13 to Baylor Baseball’s 2023 Signing Class

November 16, 2022
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WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball inked 13 players to its 2023 signing class, as announced by head coach Mitch Thompson on Wednesday.

Twelve of the incoming Bears hail from Texas, while one player represents The Netherlands. The group is a mix of six position players (one catcher, one first baseman, two infielders, one outfielder and one utility player), five pitchers (four left-handed, one right-handed) and two two-way players. All 13 signees will join the Bears prior to the spring 2024 season.

“We are very excited to announce our early signing class,” said Thompson. “I want to first congratulate each of these young men and thank them for choosing our baseball program and this great University as the place they want to continue their education. I believe Baylor fans are going to truly enjoy watching these guys play over the next several years. We can’t wait to see them all here in the green and gold.

“We feel strongly that we have addressed our needs and bolstered our roster at virtually every position on the field. This is a talented group of players that will have the opportunity to come in and compete early for us. We like the athleticism and versatility of the position players and believe these guys will play the game with great passion and energy. On the mound, we signed a bunch of strike throwers that can spin the baseball with good arm strength. We like their competitiveness and their ability to manipulate the baseball.

“I am so proud of the job our staff has done in putting this class together in such a short period of time. Much of the credit for this class goes to the outstanding work of our entire coaching staff, and in particular our recruiting coordinator, Zach Dillon, as well as our assistant coaches James Leverton and Jim Blair.”



Brayden Buchanan | C | Austin, Texas | Vandegrift HS | R/R | 6-2 | 205
Four-year letterwinner at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas … Hit .361 with two home runs, 34 RBIs, 16 doubles, four triples and five stolen bases … Caught 23 baserunners stealing and picked off another eight … Named a 2022 THSCA All-State Honorable Mention … 2022 First-Team All-District catcher as a junior … 2021 Second-Team All-District catcher as a sophomore … Three-time Academic All-District selection … Voted Vandegrift’s Team MVP in 2022, also a team captain … Three-time Perfect Game Preseason Rawlings Texas Region All-American … Also a three-year varsity letterman football player … Was named the overall All-District MVP as a junior quarterback in 2021 … 2020 All-District Honorable Mention … Currently holds five school passing records … Parents, Merchant and Ann, are both Baylor graduates … Mother, Ann, played softball at Baylor … Intends to major in biology on pre-med track.

 

Jackson Elizondo | LHP | San Antonio, Texas | Smithson Valley HS | L/R | 5-11 | 190

Three-year letterwinner at Smithson Valley High School in San Antonio, Texas … Went 9-1 with a 2.07 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 61 innings as a junior in 2022 … Was named First-Team All-District in 2022 … Helped SVHS to back-to-back district championships in 2021 and 2022, including state semifinal appearance in 2021 … Intends to major in business.


Brayden Evans | 1B | Pearland, Texas | Wharton County JC | L/L | 6-3 | 190

Junior college transfer from Wharton County … Hit .302 with five home runs, 40 RBIs and four stolen bases as a freshman at WCJC … Previously a three-year letterwinner at First Baptist Christian Academy in Pasadena, Texas … Two-time All-State selection … Three-time All-District honoree … Helped FBCA to three consecutive bi-district titles and back-to-back region championships … Member of 2018 state championship squad … Also played basketball in high school and was a two-time All-District performer … Named FBCA Athlete of the Year, two-time baseball Team MVP and two-time basketball Team MVP … Intends to major in health, kinesiology and leisure studies.

Mason Green | LHP | Cypress, Texas | Cypress-Woods HS | L/R | 6-3 | 220

Played at Cy Woods High School in Cypress, Texas … Threw 8.1 innings in 2021 with a 2.52 ERA and 15 strikeouts … Led team with 12.61 strikeouts per seven innings … Helped Cy Woods finish second place in district in 2021 … Intends to major in business.

Michael Herndon | OF/LHP | Houston, Texas | Concordia Lutheran HS | L/L | 6-2 | 175

Three-year letterwinner at Concordia Lutheran High School in Houston, Texas … Hit. 305 with three home runs, 41 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples and eight stolen bases … Also tallied 22 strikeouts across 15 innings pitched … Two-time Second-Team All-District selection … Also named to All-State Team … Helped CLHS to district championship and state semifinals appearance as a junior in 2022 … Mother, Cary, is a Baylor graduate … Father, Adam, and uncle, Allen, both played college baseball at Rice … Intends to major in business.

Ty Johnson | OF | Flower Mound, Texas | McLennan CC | L/R | 5-11 | 185

Junior college transfer from McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas … Hit .333 with five home runs, 34 RBIs and 16 stolen bases as a freshman at MCC … Posted a .448 OBP with 75 hits and 65 runs in first season with the Highlanders … Under Mitch Thompson, won NJCAA Region V title and made JUCO World Series appearance in 2022 … Was named NTJCAC First-Team All-Conference as a center fielder … NJCAA First-Team All-Academic selection … Played prep career at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas … Helped squad to district championship and regional semifinals appearance … Intends to major in business.

Tyriq Kemp | INF | Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Western Oklahoma State College | L/R | 5-8 | 160
Junior college transfer from Western Oklahoma State College … Hit .394 with eight home runs, 51 RBIs and 15 stolen bases … Helped team to state semifinals appearance … Member of 2021 U23 and 2018 U18 European Championship teams … Intends to major in business.

Dillon Lester | C/INF | Baytown, Texas | Deer Park HS | R/R | 5-9 | 170

Three-year letterwinner at Deer Park High School in Baytown, Texas … Helped DPHS to back-to-back district championships in 2021 (co-champs) and 2022 … Reached bi-district final as a sophomore in 2021 … Named 2022 All-District … Major is undecided.

RJ Ruais | LHP | Celina, Texas | Celina HS | L/L | 6-3 | 200

Three-year letterwinner at Celina High School in Celina, Texas … Posted an 11-1 record with a 1.37 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 71.2 innings pitched … Named 2022 District MVP … Named to 2022 All-Area Team by three different publications … First-Team All-State pick by both THSBCA and TSWA/Blue Bell … 2021 District First-Team pitcher … Helped CHS to back-to-back district titles, along with 2021 bi-district championship and 2022 state semifinals appearance … Intends to major in aviation sciences.

Stephen Sepulveda | RHP | El Paso, Texas | Americas HS | R/R | 5-11 | 190

Three-year letterwinner at El Paso Americas High School … Compiled a 9-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched … Helped AHS to back-to-back bi-district championships and area round finals appearances … Named 2022 First-Team All-District pitcher … Two-time All-City First Team member … 2021 Offensive Player of the Year … Intends to major in health, kinesiology and leisure studies.

Jackson Wilkerson | LHP | Montgomery, Texas | Lake Creek HS | L/L | 6-0 | 185

Three-year varsity starter … Spent 2022 season at Lake Creek High School in Montgomery, Texas after previously attending Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colo. … Helped LCHS to district title and state quarterfinals appearance in 2022 … Owns a 3-1 record with a 0.60 ERA and 97 strikeouts across 72 innings pitched … Has collected 24 career Perfect Game awards, including 11 All-Tournament Team and three top-prospect honors … Member of 2022 Texas Twelve 17U national championship squad … Intends to major in business.

Chase Womack | INF | Frisco, Texas | Frisco Lone Star HS | S/R | 6-1 | 195
Two-year letterwinner at Frisco Lone Star High School … Hit .280 with one home run, 23 RBIs and nine stolen bases … Helped squad to district championship and regional finals … Named First-Team All-District … Also has received Second-Team All-District honors in career … Mother, Amanda, is a Baylor graduate … Major is undecided.

John Youens | OF/LHP | Waco, Texas | Bosqueville HS | L/L | 6-3 | 200
Four-year letterwinner at Bosqueville High School in Waco, Texas … Hit .473 with 12 home runs, 79 RBIs, 28 doubles, 14 triples and 58 stolen bases in high school career … Has a career OBP of .714 … Also posted a 25-1 record on the mound with a 0.73 ERA and 229 strikeouts in 129.2 innings pitched … Led the state of Texas in HBP as a batter in 2021 (26) and 2022 (24) … Helped BHS to 2021 state semifinals and 2022 regional finals … Two-time First-Team All-State selection … Two-time First-Team Super Centex … Named 2021 State Player of the Year … 2021 District MVP … 2021 SBLive Texas First-Team All-Central Texas … Also played high school football; was named 2019 District Newcomer of the Year, 2020 First-Team Super Centex and 2021 First-Team All-State … Mother, Jamie, is a Baylor graduate … Intends to major in business.

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Thompson Inks 13 to Baylor Baseball’s 2023 Signing Class

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