APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – A 16-man recruiting class will join Austin Peay State University’s baseball team for the 2017 season, the team announced in conjunction with the opening day of classes, Monday.
The Governors incoming class will be its largest in program history – topping the 14 added to the roster for the 2014 season.
Austin Peay’s coaching staff went on a signing spree during the spring, bringing 12 newcomers on board to join the four-man fall signing class.
Austin Peay’s incoming class is balanced with eight freshmen and eight junior college transfers in the mix. Five pitchers highlight the group along with four infielders, a pair of two-way players (pitcher/defense), two catchers and two outfielders.
“I felt it was important to maintain balance on our roster, both positionally and within the individual classes,” said head coach Travis Janssen. “We leaned towards the junior college ranks in the spring because we lost a lot of experience during the offseason. I believe we have done a good job adding talented players that will help us challenge for OVC Championships.”
Austin Peay saw 14 letterwinners depart after a 2016 season that saw it finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season race. Three of those departures were juniors – and members of the 2014 freshman class – who were drafted in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.
However, the Governors return 19 players, including 15 letterwinners, from that team. Austin Peay will see its entire weekend starting rotation return – Alex Robles, Michael Costanzo and Caleb Powell – a trio that combined to post a 24-12 record last season and tossed 247.0 of the team’s 506.2 innings pitched.
The Governors 16-man recruiting class is as follows. Complete bios of each of the signees will be presented at www.LetsGoPeay.com on the baseball home page during the upcoming week.
| Full Name | Position | Ht. | Wt. | Year | Hometown | High School | Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Signing Class | |||||||
| Landon Kelly | 3B/RHP | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | Southaven, Miss. | Christian Brothers HS | |
| Ryan Selner | RHP | 6-5 | 200 | Fr. | Milwaukee, Wis. | Milwaukee Lutheran HS | |
| Tyler Thompson | RHP | 6-6 | 190 | Fr. | Knoxville, Tenn. | Hardin Valley Academy | |
| Will Wacaser | RHP | 6-1 | 170 | Fr. | Hendersonville, Tenn. | Hendersonville HS | |
| Spring Signing Class | |||||||
| Andrew Flaherty | 1B/OF | 6-2 | 185 | Fr. | Conifer, Colo. | IMG Academy (Fla.) | |
| Garrett Giovannelli | IF | 6-0 | 170 | R-Jr. | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | San Luis Obispo HS | Cuesta CC |
| Tyler Hubbard | OF | 6-2 | 168 | Fr. | Arlington, Tenn. | Arlington HS | |
| Brandon Kelley | OF | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | Eagleville, Tenn. | Eagleville HS | |
| Garrett Kueber | IF | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. | Chatsworth, Calif. | Chatsworth HS | Moorpark College |
| David Martinez | C | 5-11 | 195 | Jr. | Port St. Lucie, Fla. | Treasure Coast HS | Broward CC |
| Jacques Pucheu | LHP | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | Gulfport, Miss. | West Harrison HS | East Mississippi CC |
| Josh Shrouder | IF | 5-9 | 165 | Fr. | Coconut Creek, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons HS | |
| Nick Walker | OF | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | Spring Hill, Tenn. | Summit HS | Columbia State CC |
| Ross Walker | RHP | 6-0 | 172 | Jr. | McMinnville, Tenn. | Homeschooled | Park University/Kansas City Kansas CC |
| Kyle Wilson | IF | 6-1 | 170 | Jr. | Johnson City, Tenn. | Science Hill HS | Walters State CC |
| Cody Young | C | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. | Collierville, Tenn. | Collierville HS | Itawamba CC/Walters State CC |
