Houston Announces 22 Additions to Program
8/19/2019 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars welcome 12 transfers, 10 prep stars
HOUSTON -- Head Coach Todd Whitting welcomed 22 additions to the University of Houston Baseball program with the start of fall classes Monday.
"We are excited about the group of guys we've added to the Houston Baseball family," Whitting said. "They are a balance between junior college and high school players, who we feel, with the group we return, will help us be successful this season."
The 22-member 2019 recruiting class features 12 junior college transfers and 10 prep stars from the high school ranks.
The Cougars open fall team practice on Monday, Sept. 16.
• Luke Almendarez | INF | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Fr.-HS | Round Rock, Texas-Round Rock
• Isaiah Blaylock | RHP | L/R | 6-5 | 210 | Jr.-TR | Las Vegas, Nev.-Shadow Ridge (Southern Nevada)
• Brett Cain | UTL | L/R | 6-5 | 240 | So.-TR | China Spring, Texas-China Spring (Howard)
• Dax Dathe | INF/RHP | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Fr.-HS | Round Rock, Texas-Stony Point
• Cole Ferguson | RHP/UTL | R-R | 6-5 | 220 | Fr.-HS | Shelbyville, Texas-Shelbyville
• Randy Garza | LHP/1B | L/L | 6-1 | 180 | Fr.-HS | Alice, Texas-Agua Dulce
• Robert Gasser | LHP | L/L | 6-1 | 180 | Jr.-TR | El Dorado Hills, Calif.-Oakridge (New Mexico/Delta College)
• Luke Haas | C/OF | R/R | 6-3 | 215 | Fr.-HS | Pearland, Texas-Glenda Dawson
• Luke Hammond | OF/1B | R/L | 6-3 | 195 | Fr.-HS | The Woodlands, Texas-The Woodlands
• Nate Hardcastle | RHP/1B | R/R | 6-2 | 195 | Fr.-HS | Bear, Del.-Red Lion Christian Academy
• Ryan Hernandez | 1B | R/R | 6-4 | 245 | Jr.-TR | Brookline, Mass.-Dexter Southfield (Albany/San Jac)
• Bryson Hill | INF | L/R | 6-1 | 195 | So.-TR | Fort Worth, Texas-Saginaw (Cisco)
• Layne Looney | RHP | R/R | 5-10 | 210 | GS-TR | Dallas, Texas-Highland Park (Richmond)
• Reggie McCalister | OF | L/R | 5-10 | 180 | Jr.-TR | League City, Texas-Clear Brook (Blinn)
• Cam McMillan | INF | 6-5 | 200 | Fr.-TR | Kansas City, Mo.-St. Thomas Aquinas (Vanderbilt)
• Rey Mendoza | LHP/OF | L/L | 6-4 | 180 | Fr.-HS | Eagle Pass, Texas-Eagle Pass
• Reed Osborn | RHP | R/R | 6-5 | 210 | Jr.-TR | Lewisville, Texas-Marcus (Howard)
• Andrew Papantonis | INF | R/R | 6-2 | 190 | Jr.-TR | Lebanon Township, N.J.-Delbarton (Virginia/San Jac)
• Dylan Post | C/1B | L/R | 6-2 | 200 | Fr.-HS | New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central
• Steven Rivas | OF | L/L | 6-1 | 195 | Jr.-TR | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-Etiwanda (Long Beach State/Southern Nevada)
• Nick Rupp | LHP | L/L | 5-9 | 175 | Jr.-TR | Las Vegas, Nev.-Spring Valley (Southern Nevada)
• Rhett Trlicek | C/INF | R/R | 5-10 | 200 | Fr.-HS | Hallettsville, Texas-Hallettsville
Luke Almendarez | INF | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Fr.-HS | Round Rock, Texas-Round Rock
High School: Multi-sport athlete, lettering in baseball and football at Round Rock HS… as a senior, named a THSBCA All-Star and to 6A All-State Third Team, TSWA 6A All-State Honorable Mention and All-VYPE Public School First Team… helped Dragons to 13-6A Championship and was named Defensive Player of the Year… played for Texas Rangers Area Code… member of FCA… father, Chris, is President of Round Rock Express and a former Houston Baseball letterwinner (1995).
Isaiah Blaylock | RHP | L/R | 6-5 | 210 | Jr.-TR | Las Vegas, Nev.-Shadow Ridge (Southern Nevada)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2017 through 2019 at Southern Nevada… posted a 9-4 record with a 3.90 ERA across 19 appearances with four starts across career… recorded 75 strikeouts to 24 walks across 85.1 innings pitched… helped Coyotes win Scenic West Athletic Conference Championship and Region XVIII Championship in 2019… named All-Region XVIII Second Team in 2017 after going 9-3… junior college teammate of Steven Rivas and Nick Rupp.
Brett Cain | UTL | L/R | 6-5 | 240 | So.-TR | China Spring, Texas-China Spring (Howard)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2018 and 2019 seasons at Howard College… batted .250 with three doubles across nine games in 2019… posted .357/.446/.615 slash in 2018… went 51-for-143 with 11 doubles, one triple and eight home runs, 20 walks, 37 RBI and 43 runs scored… selected to Region V All-Star game… junior college teammate of Reed Osborn.
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball, football, basketball and track at China Spring HS… four-time All-State selection… left as Cougars' single-season and career doubles record holder… helped CSHS to four playoff berths including making the Regional Finals as a senior… aided Cougars to 18-4A District Championship as a junior… All-State First Team third baseman as a senior and Third Team as a junior and sophomore… All-State Second Team outfielder as a freshman as well as named Super Centex Newcomer of the Year… also named All-District in football and basketball… regional qualifier and CSHS record holder in high jump (6'5'').
Dax Dathe | INF/RHP | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Fr.-HS | Round Rock, Texas-Stony Point
High School: Played at Stony Point High School… named to Perfect Game's Top Prospects Games Top Prospect List… played for Texas Rangers Area Code… Co-MVP of 643 Prime Events Elite 30 in Houston.
Cole Ferguson | RHP/UTL | R-R | 6-5 | 220 | Fr.-HS | Shelbyville, Texas-Shelbyville
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball and basketball at Shelbyville HS… two-time All-Star… named District Offensive Player of the Year… helped Dragons win State Championship in basketball and was a three-time All-State selection.
Randy Garza | LHP/1B | L/L | 6-1 | 180 | Fr.-HS | Alice, Texas-Agua Dulce
High School: Four-year letterwinner and First-Team All-District selection at Agua Dulce HS… named Offensive Player of the Year all four years as a Longhorn… three-time First-Team All-State selection… salutatorian… received Carl Randy Citizenship Award… also lettered in football, basketball and golf… named to Academic All-State First Team in football and to the All-District First Team in basketball… four-year Regional Qualifier in golf.
Robert Gasser | LHP | L/L | 6-1 | 180 | Jr.-TR | El Dorado Hills, Calif.-Oakridge (New Mexico/Delta College)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2019 season at Delta College… 2019 ABCA/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year… posted a 14-0 record and 2.38 ERA across 18 appearances with 17 starts… recorded 139 strikeouts to 45 walks across 102.0 innings pitched… set single-season records for wins and strikeouts in California… Big 8 Pitcher of the Year… California Pitcher of the Year… Pacific Association Pitcher of the Year… spent 2018 season at New Mexico… appeared in 21 games with 11 starts for Lobos… recorded 52 strikeouts to 27 walks across 52.1 innings pitched.
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Oak Ridge HS… posted a 5-2 record with a 2.47 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 51 innings… helped Trojans to 2016 Sierra Foothill League Championship… named First-Team All-League and All-North California Honorable Mention… also part of the Bass Fishing Club at ORHS.
Luke Haas | C/OF | R/R | 6-3 | 215 | Fr.-HS | Pearland, Texas-Glenda Dawson
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Glenda Dawson HS… represented Eagles in Senior All-Star Game… helped GDHS to four playoff berths… won District 23-6A Championship as a junior… three-time All-District catcher.
Luke Hammond | OF/1B | R/L | 6-3 | 195 | Fr.-HS | The Woodlands, Texas-The Woodlands
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball and football at The Woodlands HS… helped Highlanders to three District Championships as well as a 30-8 record as a senior… four-time Under Armour Preseason All-American… member of National Honor Society.
Nate Hardcastle | RHP/1B | R/R | 6-2 | 195 | Fr.-HS | Bear, Del.-Red Lion Christian Academy
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball and basketball at Red Lion Christian Academy… named All-Conference and All-State as well as an All-Star for Lions.
Ryan Hernandez | 1B | R/R | 6-4 | 245 | Jr.-TR | Brookline, Mass.-Dexter Southfield (Albany/San Jac)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2019 season at San Jacinto College… named to All-Region XIV Second Team… helped Gators win Region XIV Championship… posted .295/.390/.409 slash, going 52-for-176 with eight doubles, four home runs, 21 walks, 36 RBI and 32 runs scored… spent 2018 season at Albany… started 46 of 47 games played, hitting .289 with 14 doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI… named America East All-Rookie.
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball, football and basketball at Dexter Southfield HS… career average of .310 with 43 doubles and 14 home runs… batted .435 with nine doubles and five home runs and named Team MVP as a senior… two-time Small School Championship MVP… named New England All-Area, All-League All-Star, Rawlings New England Region Top Prospect… Rawlings All-American… Perfect Game Northeast Honorable Mention… Perfect Game New England All-American… member of Honor Roll and Head of Community Service Club.
Bryson Hill | INF | L/R | 6-1 | 195 | So.-TR | Fort Worth, Texas-Saginaw (Cisco)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2018 and 2019 seasons at Cisco College… posted .295/.404/.446 slash across 53 games in 2019… went 49-for-166 with 14 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 28 RBI and 42 runs scored… did not play in 2018.
High School: Four-year letterwinner and First-Team All-District selection at Saginaw HS… named District 6-5A 2017 Pitcher of the Year and 2014 Newcomer of the Year.
Layne Looney | RHP | R/R | 5-10 | 210 | GS-TR | Dallas, Texas-Highland Park (Richmond)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2016 through 2019 seasons at Richmond… three-year letterwinner… posted a 7-7 record with 13 saves and a 3.07 ERA across career… recorded 160 strikeouts to 93 walks to 129.0 innings pitched… named to the Atlantic 10 First Team and drafted in 19th Round (Pick 578) by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 MLB Draft.
High School: Ranked nationally as Top 500 prospect and No. 22-rated RHP in the state of Texas by Perfect Game as a senior… posted a 12-0 record, including four no-hitters, with a 0.53 ERA and 119 strikeouts as a junior for the Highland Park Scots… named to 2014 CBS Sports Online-MaxPreps Underclass All-American Team… 2014 Underclass Third-Team All-American by Perfect Game… awarded First-Team All-State by both Texas Sports Writers Association and Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association… invited to be an Under Armor Preseason All-American in 2015… named First-Team All-Area by Dallas Morning News… voted District MVP… 2013 Perfect Game 16U National Championship All-Tournament Team… played for Texas Rangers Area Code and was a NY Mets Metropolitan Classic participant… invited to represent Team Texas at Sun Belt Classic… member of National Honor Society… Cornerstone Scholar Athlete… HPISD Baseball Scholar Athlete.
Reggie McCalister | OF | L/R | 5-10 | 180 | Jr.-TR | League City, Texas-Clear Brook (Blinn)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2018 and 2019 seasons at Blinn College… batted .275 with an on-base percentage of .441 with 10 home runs, 36 RBI and 42 runs scored as a sophomore… helped Buccaneers to NJCAA World Series Runner-Up finish… as a freshman, batted .305 with an on-base percentage of .512 with two home runs and 33 runs scored.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Clear Brook HS… named to All-District First Team as a junior and senior… batted .375 with 12 stolen bases as a senior and .410 with 13 stolen bases as a junior… selected to play in the Houston Junior All-Star Game… helped Wolverines to three playoff berths… also played football.
Cam McMillan | INF | 6-5 | 200 | Fr.-TR | Kansas City, Mo.-St. Thomas Aquinas (Vanderbilt)
Prior to Houston: Member of 2019 National Championship squad at Vanderbilt… did not see action for Commodores.
High School: Multi-sport athlete, lettering two years in baseball and one year in basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas… ranked as Missouri's top overall player and the nation's No. 38 shortstop in the class of 2018 by Perfect Game… also named a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American (All-Central Region First Team).
Rey Mendoza | LHP/OF | L/L | 6-4 | 180 | Fr.-HS | Eagle Pass, Texas-Eagle Pass
High School: Multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball and football at Eagle Pass HS… two-time District 29-6A MVP as a junior and senior… TSWA 6A All-State First Team and THSBCA All-Star as a senior… also named VYPE Valley Preseason Baseball MVP… named First-Team THSBCA All-State Outfielder, Third-Team TSWA All-State, Second-Team ALL-USA TODAY Texas Baseball Team and THSBCA Team Texas Junior All-Star… All-District First-Team Pitcher and Second-Team outfielder as a sophomore… District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman… son of EPHS head coach Reynol Mendoza… helped football team to Bi-District Championship as an All-District wide receiver.
Reed Osborn | RHP | R/R | 6-5 | 210 | Jr.-TR | Lewisville, Texas-Marcus (Howard)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2018 and 2019 seasons at Howard College… appeared in 15 games as a sophomore… posted a 0-1 record with 20 strikeouts across 14.0 innings pitched… appeared in eight games making two starts as a freshman… recorded a 1-0 record with nine strikeouts across 10.0 innings… appeared in Region V All-Star game… junior college teammate of Brett Cain.
High School: Two-year letterwinner at Marcus HS… helped Marauders to Regional Semifinals as a senior.
Andrew Papantonis | INF | R/R | 6-2 | 190 | Jr.-TR | Lebanon Township, N.J.-Delbarton (Virginia/San Jac)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2019 season at San Jacinto College… appeared in 15 games and helped Gators win Region XIV Championship… batted .340, going 18-for-53 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, five walks, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases… spent freshman season at Virginia… appeared in 12 games and made five starts between designated hitter (4) and shortstop (1) for Cavaliers… went 4-for-16 with a double, home run and four RBI.
High School: Two-sport standout, earning four letters in both baseball and football at Delbarton HS… missed most of senior baseball season because of injury during football season… as a junior, batted .423 with three homers, 20 RBI and .557 OBP… named 2016 First-Team Under Armour All-American… MVP of 2016 Area Code Games… attended 2016 East Coast Pro Showcase… earned First-Team All-Metro honors as a junior and senior… named First-Team All-New Jersey twice… two-time team captain… on football field, played wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back… as a sophomore, was named First-Team All-New Jersey, All-Area and All-Conference as well as a Second-Team All-Metro pick… was first freshman to start varsity game in school history.
Dylan Post | C/1B | L/R | 6-2 | 200 | Fr.-HS | New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central
High School: Four-year letterwinner Lincoln-Way Central HS… helped LWCHS win Conference and Regional Championships as a junior… appeared in Area Code Underclassmen Games… played one season of basketball… member of National Honor Society… brother, Cam, plays baseball at Oakland.
Steven Rivas | OF | L/L | 6-1 | 195 | Jr.-TR | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-Etiwanda (Long Beach State/Southern Nevada)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2019 season at Southern Nevada… posted a .266/.380/.453 slash, going 37-for-139 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs, 21 walks, 38 RBI, 31 runs scored and two stolen bases… helped Coyotes win Scenic West Athletic Conference Championship and Region XVIII Championship… junior college teammate of Isaiah Blaylock and Nick Rupp… spent 2018 season at Long Beach State… posted a .291/.365/.327 slash, going 16-for-55 with two doubles, seven walks, 11 RBI, eight runs scored and one stolen base.
High School: Played at Etiwanda HS… helped lead Eagles to 2017 CIF-SS Division 2 Championship as a senior… First-Team All-CIF and First-Team All-Baseline League selection… hit .477 with 12 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 38 RBI and 43 runs scored… went 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts… set school record with 11 RBI in a 23-3 win over Chino Hills HS, hitting one double, one triple and two home runs… transferred to Etiwanda HS from Los Osos HS… hit .302 as a junior.
Nick Rupp | LHP | L/L | 5-9 | 175 | Jr.-TR | Las Vegas, Nev.-Spring Valley (Southern Nevada)
Prior to Houston: Spent 2018 and 2019 seasons at Southern Nevada… posted a 13-4 record with a 2.58 ERA across 25 appearances with 24 starts across career… recorded 138 strikeouts to 43 walks across 122.1 innings pitched… named All-Region XVIII Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore… helped Coyotes win Scenic West Athletic Conference Championship and Region XVIII Championship in 2019… junior college teammate of Isaiah Blaylock and Steven Rivas.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Spring Valley HS… three-time All-State performer… SVHS all-time strikeout leader for single season and career.
Rhett Trlicek | C/INF | R/R | 5-10 | 200 | Fr.-HS | Hallettsville, Texas-Hallettsville
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Hallettsville HS… helped Brahmas to three Area Championships… four-time All-State selection… District MVP and THSBCA All-Star as a senior.
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