Re: Baseball Recruits

[ORUTerry]

I thought I would post this again so people could view the recruits we have coming in for next year:

ORU Web Site Link

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ORU Baseball Adds Arizona Standout

TULSA, Okla. ? Oral Roberts University?s baseball coach Rob Walton has added a tenth player to the 2006 fall recruiting class as Arizona standout Seth Furmanek (Gilbert, Ariz.) signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.

?Seth is a good sign for our baseball program. He is an outstanding two-way player and will see time in the outfield and on the mound for us. He throws hard and has good power from the plate,? Walton said.

Furmanek will be playing this year for Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. He is a 2006 graduate of Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Ariz. He lettered four years at Mesquite and garnered many awards. His senior year he hit .430 with 12 homeruns while also compiling a 9-1 record on the mound. In 2006 he was named Fiesta Region All-Conference Player of the Year, and was named to the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association 5A All-State First Team. Additionally, Furmanek was selected to the Arizona Republic All-Arizona Baseball Team.

Furmanek played for the South Team in the 2006 Arizona Baseball Coaches Association 5A All-Star Game. He entered his senior season among the School Sports Top 50 Pitchers in the Nation list.

Furmanek was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks scout team and the Rocky Mountain Baseball Academy. He garnered all-area code honors in 2006 and also helped his summer league team advance to the Connie Mack World Series in 2004 and led his Arizona Freebirds to the championship in 2006. Seth is also the cousin of Major League pitcher John Smoltz.

?The signing of Seth Furmanek caps another great fall signing class for us,? Walton said. ?We really feel good about the players we have coming in 2007. All of them have a oppurtunity to come right in and have a significant impact on our baseball program,? Walton said.

?Several of the players are either under control or they have a strong chance of being selected in next June?s Major League Baseball Draft,? Walton said, ?If we keep all of them this will be a very good class.?

Complete List of 2006 Fall Signing Class

Leroy Hunt * RHP * 6-7 * 225 * Stockton, Calif. (Linden HS/Sacramento City College)

T.J. Kelly * RHP * 6-2 * 240 * Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty HS/Bakersfield College)

Ryan Groth * OF * 6-1 * 200 * Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne HS/Indian River CC)

Michael Notaro * IF * 6-3 * 200 * Westlake Village, Calif. (Westlake HS/LA Pierce JC)

Juan Martinez * IF * 5-10 * 190 * Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield South HS/Bakersfield College)

Parker Frazier * P * 6-5 * 160 * Tulsa, Okla. (Bishop Kelly HS)

Patrick Murray * IF * 6-2 * 230 * Huntington Beach, Calif. (Marina HS/Golden West College)

Kyle Price * IF * 6-1 * 165 * Buffalo Valley, Okla. (Buffalo Valley HS/Eastern Oklahoma State College)

Ben Petralli * C * 6-2 * 180 * Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford HS/Sacramento City College)

Seth Furmanek * OF/P * 6-0 * 180 * Gilbert, Ariz (Mesquite HS/Chandler-Gilbert Community College)

-ORU-

[Bogus Smith]

....and here is the background on the list at the bottom of Terry's initial post.

ORU Baseball Inks Nine During Fall Signing Period

11/27/2006 -

TULSA, Okla. - Oral Roberts University baseball head coach Rob Walton has announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent during the recently completed Fall Early Signing Period.

Signing with ORU is: RHP Leroy Hunt (Stockton, Calif.), RHP T.J. Kelly (Bakersfield, Calif.), OF Ryan Groth (Melbourne, Fla.), IF Michael Notaro (Westlake Village, Calif.), IF Juan Martinez (Bakersfield, Calif.), RHP Parker Frazier (Tulsa, Okla.), IF Patrick Murray (Huntington Beach, Calif.), IF Kyle Price (Buffalo Valley, Okla.), and C Ben Petralli (Weatherford, Texas).

Below are the capsules of the nine signees.

Leroy Hunt * RHP * 6-7 * 225 * Stockton, Calif. (Linden HS/Sacramento City College)

Currently a sophomore at Sacramento City College ? Appeared in 11 games while starting seven as a freshman ? Had a 3-2 record with a 3.04 ERA and 30 strikeouts ? Prepped at Linden High School ? Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 33rd round in the 2005 MLB Draft ? Choose ORU over Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Miami, San Diego, and UC-Riverside ? says Walton: ?Leroy has a power arm and reminds me of former Major Leaguer Kevin Brown. His fastball has a heavy sink to it and is really coming into his own. He is one of the best arms in Northern California and should make an immediate impact on our staff next year.?

T.J. Kelly * RHP * 6-2 * 240 * Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty HS/Bakersfield College)

Currently a sophomore at Bakersfield College in California ? Broke the single season saves record with 11 saves in his freshman year at Bakersfield ? Earned first team all-conference and first team All-Southern California after posting a 2-1 record and a 3.51 ERA ? Fanned 28 batters in 25.2 innings of work ? Drafted in the 34th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins ? Prepped at Liberty High School ? Chose ORU over Long Beach State and Fresno State ? says Walton: ?T.J. is a right-handed pitcher with a power arm that is highly competitive and has a bulldog attitude on the mound. He should significantly contribute with various roles due to his presence on the mound and attitude.?

Ryan Groth * OF * 6-1 * 200 * Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne HS/Indian River CC)

Currently a sophomore at Indian River Community College in Florida ? Hit .297 in 20 games with Indian River ? Had 19 hits and produced nine RBI ?Earned second team all-conference as a freshman ? Drafted in the 46th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates ? Played high school ball at Melbourne High School ? Earned second team all-conference honors and lettered in football ? choose ORU over Ole Miss, and Liberty? says Walton, ?Ryan is a very athletic ball player and is a left-handed hitter that bats with power. He has flashed some brilliance at the junior college level but needs to develop some consistency. Has a very good chance of being a corner outfielder for us next season and reminds me of Travis Debondt (2006 graduate).?

Michael Notaro * IF * 6-3 * 200 * Westlake Village, Calif. (Westlake HS/LA Pierce JC)

A sophomore at Los Angeles Pierce Junior College ? Hit .325 with a team-leading 10 home runs ? Hit five doubles and showed patience at the plate while walking 22 times ? Knocked in 54 runs ? Garnered All-Southern California honors ? Prepped at Westlake High where he was an all-league selection all four years ? Choose ORU over Oregon State and Oklahoma State ? says Walton, ?Michael is left-handed presence at the plate with a power bat and should come in and start at 1st base for us next year. He should come in and contribute in our lineup.?

Juan Martinez * IF * 5-10 * 190 * Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield South HS/Bakersfield College)

Currently a sophomore at Bakersfield College in Calif. ? Had tremendous success at the plate which earned him all-conference honors, All-Southern California, and California Community College Baseball Coaches Association All-America team ? Hit .389 with nine home runs, 36 RBI., and 10 doubles ? Prepped at South High in Bakersfield ? Also lettered in soccer and football ? Choose ORU over UC-Irvine and Fresno State ? says Walton, ?Juan might play second or shortstop for us because he is a very athletic kid who loves to play the game. Has outstanding tools and will have a very good chance to bat in the two hole next year.?

Parker Frazier * P * 6-5 * 160 * Tulsa, Okla. (Bishop Kelly HS)

Currently a senior at Bishop Kelly High School ? Was all-conference selection as a pitcher last year ? Bishop Kelly won the Oklahoma state championship in 2006 and was ranked No. 3 in the country by USA Today ? Has also lettered three years in basketball ? His father, George Frazier, is a broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies and played nine years in the Major Leagues with five different teams ? Choose ORU over Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma State ? says Walton, ?Parker is a very projectable kid and has yet to fill out his frame. His velocity is improving and has good baseball bloodlines. He continues to improve and has very good upside.?

Patrick Murray * IF * 6-2 * 230 * Huntington Beach, Calif. (Marina HS/Golden West College)

Currently a sophomore at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif. ? Starred last year at Santa Anna Junior College where he hit .330 with three home runs and 22 RBI in only 29 games played ? Prepped at Marina High School where he earned 1st team all-league honors his junior and senior year ? Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 31st round in 2005 and by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 46th round in 2006 ? Choose ORU over UNLV, Cal Poly, and Loyola Marymount ? says Walton, ?Patrick has good size and is a very good hitter who should fill one of the holes in our lineup next year. He has a chance to bat in the middle of the lineup and to drive in runs.?

Kyle Price * IF * 6-1 * 165 * Buffalo Valley, Okla. (Buffalo Valley HS/Eastern Oklahoma State College)

A sophomore at Eastern Oklahoma State College ? Hit .273 with two home runs, 11 doubles, and 27 RBI ? Was a perfect 6-6 in stolen bases ? Prepped at Buffalo Valley High School ? says Walton, ?Kyle is a good defender, and his best days are still in front of him. He needs to get a little stronger and bigger. Kyle should make an immediate impact as a middle infielder next year.?

Ben Petralli * C * 6-2 * 180 * Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford HS/Sacramento City College)

Considered the top junior college catcher in California ? son of former Major League backstop Geno Petralli, a 12-year veteran with the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers ? three-time draftee ? selected in the 17th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2006, 15th round in 2005 by the Detroit Tigers, and taken in the 26th round in 2004 by the Los Angeles Dodgers Only played three games in 2006 before having to sit out the remainder of the year due to injury ? batted .308 with 10 doubles, a triple and 20 RBI in 39 games for Sac City in 2005 ? helped lead the Panthers to the California Community College Baseball Playoffs ?  prepped at Weatherford High ? says Walton, ? Ben used last year to get more physical and has developed some strength. He has turned into a good defensive catcher and is a great player overall.?

[ORUalum]

...sounds like hunt may never wear the vegas gold and blue

LINK

Area athletes may go early in first televised MLB Draft

...

Hunt, a Linden High product, improved his draft position considerably at Sacramento City, flashing a 96 mph fastball while going 9-4 with a 1.91 ERA to earn the Big 7 Conference Pitcher of the Year award. The 6-6 right-hander has signed with Oral Roberts, but he may not pitch for the Golden Eagles if his coach's projection holds up.

"It's virtually impossible to try to pick when, but my best guess would be he'll be drafted in the fourth or fifth rounds," Sacramento City coach Andy McKay said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he went earlier than that, and it wouldn't surprise me if he went later."

The Cincinnati Reds selected Hunt as an outfielder in the 33rd round of the 2005 draft. Hunt elected to attend Sacramento City and seems to have convinced scouts he can pitch at the next level.

"He's very athletic, very competitive, and he throws sinkers in the mid-90s," McKay said. "He can really make a fastball move. That's the gift he has."

[Ting]

hunt was 149th pick