University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Spiders Athletics
Baseball Adds Six to Its Incoming Class
12/21/2020 | Baseball
RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond baseball head coach Tracy Woodson has announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2022 season. The Spiders are bringing in four to bolster the pitching staff and two position players. This year's class comes from four states, two from Florida, two from Massachusetts one from Maryland and another from New York.
"We are very excited about these talented young men in the class of 2021." Head coach Tracy Woodson said, "We feel that we have filled the positions needed for this recruiting class. They are well thought of by the baseball publications as seen by their individual rankings. This has been a very difficult time with the pandemic and not being able to go on the road to recruit. Assistant coach Nate Mulberg did a great job with this class and deserves a lot of credit. We look forward to getting these student-athletes on campus next fall."
Matthew Anderson – RHP – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – 6-5, 190 – R/R
Anderson competed for the Bolles School in Florida … Ranked in the Top 1000 nationally by Perfect Game … 385th best prospect overall in Florida and was the 115th ranked RHP in the Sunshine State … Anderson's tall frame projects to high velocity on the mound, and he's shown ability to utilize a curveball and a changeup.
Jake Elbeery – INF – North Andover, Mass. – 6-3, 200 – L/R
Elbeery competed with Austin Preparatory during his high school career where he earned several national rankings as an infielder … Ranked in the Top 500 nationally and was the 64th ranked third baseman nationally … He was the 10th ranked overall player in the state of Massachusetts … According to Prep Baseball Report he's ranked as the 50th-best overall prospect in the New England Region … Elbeery sports quick hands in his swing with a short and direct path to the ball … Defensively, he has good balance and soft hands as his throws carry across the diamond.
Jake Michel – RHP – Joppa, Md. – 6-5, 220 – R/R
Michel, a letterwinner at Archbishop Curley HS, will come to Richmond as the 389th ranked player nationally by Perfect Game … He is the second-ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of Maryland and is the seventh-best prospect coming out of the Old Line State, and is the 135th ranked RHP nationally … Prep Baseball Report issued him similar rankings at seventh overall and the third-ranked RHP in the state … Michel is a physical player with a big frame … He's shown a four-pitch mix, using a curveball, slider and a changeup … His fastball velocity clocked at 93 ranks upwards of the 98th percentile for his class.
DJ Pacheco – INF/OF – Danvers, Mass. – 6-0, 185 – R/R
Pacheco is the second member from The Bay State to join the squad in this class … After competing at St. John's Preparatory, Pacheco earned a Top 500 national ranking by Perfect Game … He earned the 181st ranking at the shortstop position nationally and the second-best shortstop in Massachusetts … Prep Baseball Report ranks him as the 20th best player overall and the fifth-best shortstop in the New England Region … Pacheco is an athletic infielder that has good speed, running a 7.0 60-yard dash … Defensive footwork and glove are smooth … Offensively has shown good power with ability to add.
Brian Reinke – LHP – Honeoye Falls, N.Y. – 6-1, 195 – L/L
Reinke earned his rankings after a prep career at Honeoye Falls Lima High in New York … According to Perfect Game, He is a Top 500 overall player and is the 157th ranked left-handed pitcher nationally … In the state of New York, Reinke earned a 38th-best ranking by Perfect Game and is the fourth-ranked southpaw in the state … Reinke earned the tenth-best overall ranking in the state of New York, along with being the second-best left-hander in the Empire State according to Prep Baseball Report … Reinke features a three-quarters slot in his delivery, while showing ability on a curveball and a changeup
Esteban Rodriguez – RHP – Doral, Fla. – 6-0, 210 – R/R
Rodriguez is another from the Sunshine state that will join a roster that has four from Florida as well as fellow signee Anderson … He competed at Belen Jesuit Prep where he earned a Top 500 ranking from Perfect Game and was the 439th ranked right-handed pitcher nationally … In the state of Florida, he's ranked as the 164th best player and was the 48th ranked right-handed pitcher in the state … Rodriguez has shined in the Perfect Game circuit, winning 15 awards and competing in 13 events … His fastball velocity reaches 87 with good control and works a curveball as his secondary pitch.
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"We are very excited about these talented young men in the class of 2021." Head coach Tracy Woodson said, "We feel that we have filled the positions needed for this recruiting class. They are well thought of by the baseball publications as seen by their individual rankings. This has been a very difficult time with the pandemic and not being able to go on the road to recruit. Assistant coach Nate Mulberg did a great job with this class and deserves a lot of credit. We look forward to getting these student-athletes on campus next fall."
Matthew Anderson – RHP – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – 6-5, 190 – R/R
Anderson competed for the Bolles School in Florida … Ranked in the Top 1000 nationally by Perfect Game … 385th best prospect overall in Florida and was the 115th ranked RHP in the Sunshine State … Anderson's tall frame projects to high velocity on the mound, and he's shown ability to utilize a curveball and a changeup.
Jake Elbeery – INF – North Andover, Mass. – 6-3, 200 – L/R
Elbeery competed with Austin Preparatory during his high school career where he earned several national rankings as an infielder … Ranked in the Top 500 nationally and was the 64th ranked third baseman nationally … He was the 10th ranked overall player in the state of Massachusetts … According to Prep Baseball Report he's ranked as the 50th-best overall prospect in the New England Region … Elbeery sports quick hands in his swing with a short and direct path to the ball … Defensively, he has good balance and soft hands as his throws carry across the diamond.
Jake Michel – RHP – Joppa, Md. – 6-5, 220 – R/R
Michel, a letterwinner at Archbishop Curley HS, will come to Richmond as the 389th ranked player nationally by Perfect Game … He is the second-ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of Maryland and is the seventh-best prospect coming out of the Old Line State, and is the 135th ranked RHP nationally … Prep Baseball Report issued him similar rankings at seventh overall and the third-ranked RHP in the state … Michel is a physical player with a big frame … He's shown a four-pitch mix, using a curveball, slider and a changeup … His fastball velocity clocked at 93 ranks upwards of the 98th percentile for his class.
DJ Pacheco – INF/OF – Danvers, Mass. – 6-0, 185 – R/R
Pacheco is the second member from The Bay State to join the squad in this class … After competing at St. John's Preparatory, Pacheco earned a Top 500 national ranking by Perfect Game … He earned the 181st ranking at the shortstop position nationally and the second-best shortstop in Massachusetts … Prep Baseball Report ranks him as the 20th best player overall and the fifth-best shortstop in the New England Region … Pacheco is an athletic infielder that has good speed, running a 7.0 60-yard dash … Defensive footwork and glove are smooth … Offensively has shown good power with ability to add.
Brian Reinke – LHP – Honeoye Falls, N.Y. – 6-1, 195 – L/L
Reinke earned his rankings after a prep career at Honeoye Falls Lima High in New York … According to Perfect Game, He is a Top 500 overall player and is the 157th ranked left-handed pitcher nationally … In the state of New York, Reinke earned a 38th-best ranking by Perfect Game and is the fourth-ranked southpaw in the state … Reinke earned the tenth-best overall ranking in the state of New York, along with being the second-best left-hander in the Empire State according to Prep Baseball Report … Reinke features a three-quarters slot in his delivery, while showing ability on a curveball and a changeup
Esteban Rodriguez – RHP – Doral, Fla. – 6-0, 210 – R/R
Rodriguez is another from the Sunshine state that will join a roster that has four from Florida as well as fellow signee Anderson … He competed at Belen Jesuit Prep where he earned a Top 500 ranking from Perfect Game and was the 439th ranked right-handed pitcher nationally … In the state of Florida, he's ranked as the 164th best player and was the 48th ranked right-handed pitcher in the state … Rodriguez has shined in the Perfect Game circuit, winning 15 awards and competing in 13 events … His fastball velocity reaches 87 with good control and works a curveball as his secondary pitch.
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