University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: University of Richmond Athletics
Baseball Adds 11 for the 2023 Class
03/26/2019 | Baseball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Head coach Tracy Woodson and his staff have announced the addition of 11 players for next year's incoming class. The Spiders will add seven position players and four arms to the Spider pitching staff in the 2023 class. This class features players from seven states, and two from Virginia.
"This freshmen class is one of the most talented classes I've had the opportunity to recruit here to the University of Richmond." Head coach Tracy Woodson said, "This class is very talented and they have the potential to make an immediate impact on our program. These are kids that are highly ranked in several different publications. The toughness and baseball IQ could set this class apart. Our coaching staff is very excited to have these student-athletes on campus next season and we're looking forward to the opportunity to work with them."
Drew Beno is an infielder from Loxahatchee, Fla., competing at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach. The right-handed hitter ranks as the 18th best third base prospect in the state of Florida, as well as 111th nationally according to Perfect Game. Beno was named a 2017 and 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American by Perfect Game. He was twice named to an all-tournament team, once at the 2015 WWBA Labor Day Classic at Lake Point, an underclassman tournament, and to the 2017 16U BCS National Championship all-tournament team.
Theo Farynick, a New York-native, will join the Spiders next season. A right-handed pitcher at Cold Spring Harbor High, Farynick is ranked as the 23rd-best right-handed hurler in the state according to Perfect Game. His fastball complements his two off-speed pitches of a curveball and a slider.
Ricky Jones will join the Spiders from nearby Hopewell High, in Hopewell, Virginia. The outfielder ranks as the fifth-best outfielder in the state, and 51st overall prospect according to Perfect Game. Jones has been a three-time Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention and was named to the 2016 Perfect Game Super25 16U Fall Richmond Super Qualifier All-Tournament team. In 2018, he was named the 3A Virginia State Player of the Year.
Eli Larson will make the trek across the country to Richmond. Larson is a middle infielder at Marin Catholic from Mill Valley, California. The right-handed hitter is ranked as the 74th best shortstop in California by Perfect Game. Larson has been consistent defensively at the shortstop position, and his offense works all areas of the field.
Zach Lass will join the Spiders from nearby Mechanicsville. Lass is a catcher at Lee Davis High and ranks as the fifth-best catcher in the state by Perfect Game. He was a Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention a season ago and was twice named to an all-tournament team while playing for the Evoshield Seminoles.
Dallas Lind is a southpaw hurler from Brooklyn, New York that will be headed to RVA next fall. Lind's fastball works around the 81-85 mph range, to go with a strong curveball. Lind is the 82nd best prospect out of the state of New York, and the 12th ranked left-handed pitcher.
Alden Mathes out of Broomall, Pennsylvania is a left-handed outfielder and pitcher. Mathes is ranked as the 14th-best outfielder in the state and the 70th-best overall prospect according to Perfect Game. Mathes was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention and was named to the all-tournament team after competing with the Blackhawks National team in the 2017 PGBA 17U WWBA Northeast Qualifier.
The Spiders signed the brothers of Jeremy and Jason Neff from West Palm Beach, Florida for next year's class. Jason Neff is a utility player, playing all over the diamond as well as pitching. He's ranked as the 20th-best catcher in the state of Florida according to Perfect Game and has a top fastball velocity of 86 mph. Included in Jason's toolbelt is a curveball and a slider. He was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American High-Honorable Mention and was named to an all-tournament team on four occasions. His teams went on to win two WWBA Tournaments and a 2018 17U BCS National Championship with the Elite Squad 17U American team.
Jeremy Neff is a left-handed pitcher, ranking as the 14th-best pitcher in the state according to Perfect Game. The 6-3 175 pounder uses a three-pitch repertoire on the hill. He was twice named a Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention, a five-time All-Tournament Team honoree and was named the Tournament MVP at the 2015 WWBA Labor Day Classic where his team won the tournament.
Texas-native Peyton Sanderson will be joining the Spiders in 2019. Sanderson is an infielder from Austin and ranks as the 34th-best shortstop in the state according to Perfect Game. The left-handed hitter was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American, and earned three All-Tournament Team honors, including two this past summer. He plays for JT Blair at Westlake High, and for Keith Jackson at Action baseball during the summer.
James Valdivia, from Elkhorn, Nebraska, is ranked as the top catcher in the Cornhusker State and the third overall prospect in the state according to Perfect Game. The right-handed bat was twice named a Preseason Underclass All-American High-Honorable Mention and was named to the all-tournament team at the 2018 WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship.
-- UR --
"This freshmen class is one of the most talented classes I've had the opportunity to recruit here to the University of Richmond." Head coach Tracy Woodson said, "This class is very talented and they have the potential to make an immediate impact on our program. These are kids that are highly ranked in several different publications. The toughness and baseball IQ could set this class apart. Our coaching staff is very excited to have these student-athletes on campus next season and we're looking forward to the opportunity to work with them."
Drew Beno is an infielder from Loxahatchee, Fla., competing at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach. The right-handed hitter ranks as the 18th best third base prospect in the state of Florida, as well as 111th nationally according to Perfect Game. Beno was named a 2017 and 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American by Perfect Game. He was twice named to an all-tournament team, once at the 2015 WWBA Labor Day Classic at Lake Point, an underclassman tournament, and to the 2017 16U BCS National Championship all-tournament team.
Theo Farynick, a New York-native, will join the Spiders next season. A right-handed pitcher at Cold Spring Harbor High, Farynick is ranked as the 23rd-best right-handed hurler in the state according to Perfect Game. His fastball complements his two off-speed pitches of a curveball and a slider.
Ricky Jones will join the Spiders from nearby Hopewell High, in Hopewell, Virginia. The outfielder ranks as the fifth-best outfielder in the state, and 51st overall prospect according to Perfect Game. Jones has been a three-time Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention and was named to the 2016 Perfect Game Super25 16U Fall Richmond Super Qualifier All-Tournament team. In 2018, he was named the 3A Virginia State Player of the Year.
Eli Larson will make the trek across the country to Richmond. Larson is a middle infielder at Marin Catholic from Mill Valley, California. The right-handed hitter is ranked as the 74th best shortstop in California by Perfect Game. Larson has been consistent defensively at the shortstop position, and his offense works all areas of the field.
Zach Lass will join the Spiders from nearby Mechanicsville. Lass is a catcher at Lee Davis High and ranks as the fifth-best catcher in the state by Perfect Game. He was a Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention a season ago and was twice named to an all-tournament team while playing for the Evoshield Seminoles.
Dallas Lind is a southpaw hurler from Brooklyn, New York that will be headed to RVA next fall. Lind's fastball works around the 81-85 mph range, to go with a strong curveball. Lind is the 82nd best prospect out of the state of New York, and the 12th ranked left-handed pitcher.
Alden Mathes out of Broomall, Pennsylvania is a left-handed outfielder and pitcher. Mathes is ranked as the 14th-best outfielder in the state and the 70th-best overall prospect according to Perfect Game. Mathes was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention and was named to the all-tournament team after competing with the Blackhawks National team in the 2017 PGBA 17U WWBA Northeast Qualifier.
The Spiders signed the brothers of Jeremy and Jason Neff from West Palm Beach, Florida for next year's class. Jason Neff is a utility player, playing all over the diamond as well as pitching. He's ranked as the 20th-best catcher in the state of Florida according to Perfect Game and has a top fastball velocity of 86 mph. Included in Jason's toolbelt is a curveball and a slider. He was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American High-Honorable Mention and was named to an all-tournament team on four occasions. His teams went on to win two WWBA Tournaments and a 2018 17U BCS National Championship with the Elite Squad 17U American team.
Jeremy Neff is a left-handed pitcher, ranking as the 14th-best pitcher in the state according to Perfect Game. The 6-3 175 pounder uses a three-pitch repertoire on the hill. He was twice named a Preseason Underclass All-American Honorable Mention, a five-time All-Tournament Team honoree and was named the Tournament MVP at the 2015 WWBA Labor Day Classic where his team won the tournament.
Texas-native Peyton Sanderson will be joining the Spiders in 2019. Sanderson is an infielder from Austin and ranks as the 34th-best shortstop in the state according to Perfect Game. The left-handed hitter was a 2018 Preseason Underclass All-American, and earned three All-Tournament Team honors, including two this past summer. He plays for JT Blair at Westlake High, and for Keith Jackson at Action baseball during the summer.
James Valdivia, from Elkhorn, Nebraska, is ranked as the top catcher in the Cornhusker State and the third overall prospect in the state according to Perfect Game. The right-handed bat was twice named a Preseason Underclass All-American High-Honorable Mention and was named to the all-tournament team at the 2018 WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship.
-- UR --
Baseball Highlights vs. VCU
Sunday, April 26
Baseball Highlights vs. VCU
Sunday, April 26
Baseball Postgame - VCU
Sunday, April 26
Baseball Prepares for A-10 Conference Play
Thursday, March 12