PEORIA, Ill. – Though the start of the 2013 season is still more than two months away, the Bradley Baseball program turned its attention to the 2014 campaign with the announcement of its 7-man recruiting class of players who will join the Braves next fall.
“We are really excited to have this talented group of student-athletes join our baseball program here at Bradley University,” said fifth-year Braves head coach Elvis Dominguez. “Our last four classes have received national recognition and we feel this class will rank right up there with those groups. A lot of credit goes to assistant coaches John Corbin and Sean Lyons, who worked extremely hard in assembling this class of future Braves to fill our needs for next year.
The seven newcomers will join a program that has improved its record in each of the last three seasons. The 2013 Braves return 22 lettermen, including six starting position players and seven pitchers, from last year's squad that finished 27-27-1 overall and produced a pair of freshmen All-Americans – second baseman Chris Godinez and centerfielder Max Murphy.
DREW CARLILE | Jr. | C | Fort Collins, Colo. | Poudre H.S. | Missouri/Kellogg C.C.
Carlile began his college career at Missouri, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2011 and appeared in two games last season, when the Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tucson Regional. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound catcher transferred to Kellogg Community College and is preparing for his sophomore season with the Bruins.
As a prepster at Fort Collins Poudre High School, Carlile earned Front Range League all-conference honors as a senior in 2010, when he hit .451 with three home runs and 26 RBI's. Selected for the All-State Game by the Colorado Dugout Club, Carlile also was an academic all-state selection in both baseball and football.
“Catching is such a premium in baseball and we wanted to make sure that we were being as proactive as we could be in finding a premium 'catch-and-throw' catcher with experience,” said Dominguez. “Drew is a big-bodied, arm-strength catcher who has the ability to make an impact right away. He hit very well in the Prospect Summer League this past summer with the Quincy Gems and proved that he can compete in the Missouri Valley Conference.”
ZACH FAIRCHILD | Fr. | C | Sun Prairie, Wis. | Sun Prairie H.S.
As Fairchild prepares for his senior season at Sun Prairie High School, he has been the varsity's starting catcher for every game he has played the last three years. He already owns the school career records for runs batted in and walks and is a three-time all-conference honoree, earning first-team notice in 2011 and 2012 after being named second-team as a freshman in 2010.
As a junior, Fairchild hit .418 with two home runs and 27 RBI's, leading the Cardinals to a 31-1 record, a state championship and the #47 national ranking by ESPN. He will enter his senior season with a .377 career average with four home runs, 18 doubles and 79 RBI's.
“Zach is a switch-hitter who can play multiple positions with his greatest asset currently being his bat,” said Dominguez. “He is primarily a catcher by trade and will continue to develop over time, but he is a great offensive player. It's really a treat to have such a good athlete who can make an impact at first base, catcher or in the outfield. I can see Zach wearing out the gaps at O'Brien Field from both sides of the plate for years to come. “
SPENCER GAA | Fr. | IF | Metamora, Ill. | Metamora H.S.
Already a three-year varsity letterman, Gaa is preparing for his senior season at Metamora High School. Having helped the Redbirds to the 2010 regional crown, Gaa hit .417 with 53 hits and 42 runs scored during his junior season in 2012. He was named a McDonald's All-Star and participated in the Crossroads All-Star Game, before being selected for Team Illinois during the Midwest Futures Games, as well as the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team this past summer.
“Spencer is a very gifted athlete who ran a 6.53 60 this summer at the Plainfield Showcase,” said Dominguez. “We've watched him develop over the past two years into a better baseball player, especially during his time this past fall with the Reds Scout Team.
“Spencer is from Metamora High School, just outside of Peoria, which makes for a great fit on both sides,” added Dominguez. “Spencer has the opportunity to play close to home and Bradley gets a talented, homegrown player.”
EVAN GRUENER | FR. | OF | Rogersville, Mo. | Logan-Rogersville H.S.
Gruener is a two-sport star at Logan-Rogersville High School, where he was named the 2012 Central Ozark Conference Small Division Player of the Year after quarterbacking the Wildcats to the 2011 Missouri Class 3 state championship. A first-team all-state pick in both football and baseball during his junior season, he showed off his power and speed on the diamond by batting .469 with eight home runs and 29 stolen bases last spring.
“Evan is a special, multi-sport athlete with irreplaceable leadership skills,” said Dominguez. “He led his high school football team to a state championship as a junior.
“Coach (Sean) Lyons took a unique interest in Evan and we believe that he compares well to Mike Tauchman, who has been a mainstay in our program during the past four years,” Dominguez added. “Evan should be able to compete for a starting role right away and, in time, develop into one of the MVC's best hitters.”
DAN HERRMANN | Fr. | RHP | Creve Coeur, Mo. | Christian Brothers College High School
A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Herrmann has earned preseason All-America honors from Perfect Game each of the last two years, gaining honorable mention notice in 2011 and third-team recognition in 2012. After going 1-0 as a sophomore while helping CBC to the 2011 district title, he was 5-3 with 3.53 earned run average last season, leading the Cadets to the Metro Catholic Conference crown.
“When recruiting pitchers, we look for special athletes who have only scratched the surface of their abilities,” said Dominguez. “Dan is a player who fits that profile. The more we watched him pitch, the more we saw his value and the strengths that he can bring to our program in the future.
“Dan's fastball has been up to 92 and with his frame and work ethic, he has the potential to throw even harder,” added Dominguez. “Dan had one of the most electric arms that we had a chance to see this past year and we are looking forward to watching him develop during his time as a Brave.”
ROBBIE MOUTON | Fr. | LHP | Woodbury, Minn. | Cretin-Derham Hall High School
In his first two years as a varsity pitcher, Mouton boasts a 7-1 record with three saves and a 1.66 earned run average. As a junior in 2012, the 6-foot-4 lefthander made 11 appearances with a 5-0 record and two saves, striking out 35 in 36 innings to aid his 1.56 ERA, helping the Raiders to the Suburban East Conference championship. An honorable mention all-conference pick in 2012, Mouton twirled a no-hitter in Iowa at the Perfect Game Kernels Tournament to earn a spot on the all-tourney team.
“Robbie is everything Coach (John) Corbin looks for when it comes to a pitcher,” said Dominguez. “He is a very intelligent young man with a great frame – 6-foot-4, 190 pounds – who knows how to throw strikes.
“Currently, Robbie is in the mid-80's with his fastball, but has quality off-speed pitches, as well,” Dominguez added. “He threw a no-hitter this fall at a Perfect Game tournament in Iowa, where he really showcased his ability to use his off-speed pitches.”
CARSON WEBER | Fr. | Utility | Watertown, Wis. | Watertown High School
A two-time Wisconsin Little Ten all-conference selection, Weber earned first-team all-league honors in 2012 after batting .388 with eight doubles, four triples and 21 runs batted, while also going 6-0 on the mound with a 0.62 earned run average and 52 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. The 6-foot-3 left-hander was selected as team captain last spring and earned a spot on Team Wisconsin.
“Early in the recruiting process we were looking for left-handed hitting,” said Dominguez. “We were fortunate that Carson had come to our campus during his high school career, which allowed us to follow him closely. Not only has he developed since the first time we saw him at one of our camps, but over the summer and fall as well.
“He is a thin-bodied kid now, but will develop into a powerful hitter here as a Brave,” Dominguez added. “We believe that Carson will be a great fit for the Bradley Baseball program.”
