Nov. 20, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech baseball head coach Danny Hall announced on Monday the addition of another top-25 recruiting class with the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to continue both their academic and athletic careers at Georgia Tech beginning in the fall of 2018.
The 2018 recruiting class is ranked No. 24 nationally by Perfect Game. Click Here for the full rankings.
This marks the fourth-straight season in which the Yellow Jackets’ November signing class has ranked in the top 25 nationally.
“I’m very excited about this class because I think that we’ve addressed needs really in all areas, but I think that the one area that we really felt a big need was the pitching. So to get some left-handed help in [Luke] Bartnicki and [Will] Shirah, and then the right handers that are all kind of different in [Jack] Friedman, [Cort] Roedig, [Amos] Willingham and [Reese] Olson,” commented Coach Hall. “We feel like that we have definitely created depth in the staff and have upgraded our arm strength all the way around.”
“We also added some infield help with [Billy] Zinnershine, as well as [Logan] Simmons who also played in the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic game in San Diego with Bartnicki,” continued Hall. “We see Ryan Miller as a corner guy, whether it be first base, third base, right field or left field. All told, we felt like we got some pitchers, infielders and outfielders in these guys, as well as a few others that will be joining us next fall, and feel like it is a really good class.”
2018 Georgia Tech baseball November Signees:
Luke Bartnicki
Marietta, Georgia – Walton
6-3 * 210 * L/L
LHP
East Cobb Colt .45s
A left-handed pitcher, Bartnicki is ranked the No. 1 overall left-handed pitcher in the state of Georgia and the No. 6 overall prospect for the class of 2018 by Perfect Game. He is also ranked the No. 3 overall left-handed hurler and No. 19 overall nationally by Perfect Game in the class of 2018. A 2017 Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American First Team selection and a 2016 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention honoree, Bartnicki played this summer at the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego, Calif. and in the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. Named a Showcase Top Prospect at the 2017 National Showcase, the lefty helped guide his summer team to team titles in 2016 at the 16U PG Evoshield Classic, the WWBA 2018 Grads or 16U National Championship Qualifier, the 16U WWBA memorial Day at LakePoint and at the 2015 PG Elite Underclass Championship. A member of countless all-tournament teams, including the 2017 PG Summer Showdown Protected by G-Form, the 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship, the 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship Qualifier and both the 18U and 17U 2017 Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational events, he led Walton High School to a Region 4-AAAAAA championship last year in 2017 after winning the state championship in 2016. A 2017 MaxPreps Underclass All-American, Bartnicki went 10-1 his junior season to earnMarietta Daily Journal/Cobb County Pitcher of the Year and Georgia Dugout Club Preview Magazine Class AAAAAAA All-State Team honors.
Coach Hall on Bartnicki: “Bartnicki is one of the elite left-hand pitchers in the country that won a regional championship last year and a state championship in 2016 at Walton. He has been up at 94-95 and was in the PG All-American Classic game this summer.”
Jack Friedman
Decatur, Georgia – The Paideia School
6-1 * 205 * R/R
RHP
East Cobb Yankees
A right-handed pitcher, Friedman is ranked the No. 11 overall right-handed pitcher in the state of Georgia and the No. 36 overall prospect for the class of 2018 by Perfect Game. The Georgia native is also as ranked the No. 133 overall righty nationally by Perfect Game in the class of 2018. A 2017 Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American Third Team selection and a 2016 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention honoree, Friedman participated in the 2017 PG National Showcase where he was named to the Showcase Top Prospect Team. A member of the East Cobb Yankees team that won the 2017 Ways to Play powered by MLB & PG Championship and the 2017 18U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, he was recently named to the 18U PG-East Cobb Invitational, 2016 WWBA World Championship, 2017 WWBA 16U National Championship and 2016 17U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational all-tournament teams.
Coach Hall on Friedman: “Friedman is already touching 90 but has a really good breaking ball. He can really spin the baseball and we really like his ability on the mound.”
Ryan Miller
Atlanta, Georgia – The Westminster Schools
6-2 * 195 * R/R
OF, 1B, 3B
6-4-3 Cougars
A big right-handed bat, Miller is ranked No. 6 in the outfield and No. 37 overall for the state of Georgia by Perfect Game, as well as the No. 64 ranked outfielder nationally in the 2018 class. A 2017 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention honoree last season, Miller was named to the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine AAA All-State First Team as a junior last season in which he guided Westminster to the first round of the Georgia High School Association State Playoffs. A member of the 6-4-3 DP Cougars team, Miller was a key part of the 2017 17U PG Summer Showdown, 2017 18U WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint and the 2015 16U WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint championship teams. Tabbed the 2015 16U WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint Tournament MVP, the righty also earned spots on the 2017 WWBA World Championship, the 2017 17U PG Summer Showdown, the 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship, 2017 WWBA 17U National Championships Qualifier and the 2017 17U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational all-tournament teams last summer.
Coach Hall on Miller: “Ryan played really well in Jupiter (Fla.) this fall. He has swung the bat really, really well. He is an outstanding hitter that comes from The Westminster School. We are excited to have him in our program. We think he is a really good right-handed bat.”
Reese Olson
Lula, Georgia – North Hall
6-1 * 155 * R/R
RHP
5 Star National
A tall and lean righty, Olson is ranked as the No. 10 right-handed pitcher and the No. 33 overall prospect for the class of 2018 in the state of Georgia by Perfect Game. He is also ranked No. 111 overall nationally at the right-hand pitcher position by PG for the 2018 class. A 2017 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention selection, Olson led his team to a 30-win season and a Georgia Class AAA state championship title last year as a junior. A member of the 5 Star National Team that won the 2017 17U BCS National Championship, Olson has been named to numerous all-tournament teams including the 2017 Ways to Play powered by MLB & PG, 2017 WWBA World Championship, 2017 WWBA Southeast Qualifier #2, the 2017 17U BCS national Championship, the 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship, the 2017 WWBA National Qualifier and the 2016 16U BCS Finals all-tournament teams.
Coach Hall on Olson: “We were able to get Reese late and as recent as this fall he was 92-93 at the big event that Perfect Game runs in Jupiter. He has an outstanding arm with a good breaking ball and a good change-up.”
Cort Roedig
Orlando, Florida – Dr. Phillips
6-2 * 180 * R/R
RHP
Power Baseball
A power right-handed pitcher, Roedig is ranked as the No. 17 ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of Georgia and No. 90 at that same position nationally by Perfect Game for the class of 2018. Roedig is also ranked as the No. 45 overall prospect out of the state of Georgia for the 2018 class by PG. A 2017 PG Underclassmen All-American Third Team selection, Roedig helped lead his Dr. Phillips Panthers team to a district championship runner-up finish and a spot in the 2017 Florida High School Athletics Association Regional 9A Baseball Championship Tournament last year as a junior. A participant in the 2017 PG National Showcase event in which he was named to the Showcase Top Prospect Team, the righty also took part in the 2016 Sunshine East Showcase event. As a member of the Power Baseball program, Roedig was named to the 2017 17U BCS National Championship, the 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship, the 2016 WWBA World Championship, the 2016 WWBA Underclass World Championship and the 2016 WWBA 16U National Championship all-tournament teams.
Coach Hall on Roedig: “Cort Roedig is a 6-2 righty that has already been over 90 and has a good breaking ball. He is a really bright kid that has a huge upside as a pitcher.”
Will Shirah
Blue Ridge, Georgia – Fannin County
6-2 * 190 * S/L
LHP
East Cobb Colt .45s
One of the best left-handed pitchers in the country, Shirah is ranked as the No. 4 lefty in the state of Georgia and No. 21 nationally by Perfect Game in the 2018 class. Ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect for the class of 2018 in the state of Georgia and the No. 183 nationally ranked prospect by PG, Shirah is a 2017 PG Underclassmen All-American Third Team selection and a 2016 PG Underclassmen All-American Honorable Mention member. A 2017 PG National Showcase and 2016 Jr. National Showcase participant, the lefty was named to the Showcase Top Prospect Team both times. As a member of the 6-4-3 DP Tigers in 2014, he helped lead his squad to the 2014 14U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational championship before moving on to the East Cobb Colt .45s where he was a part of the 2016 16U PG Evoshield Classic, the 2016 WWBA 16U National Championship Qualifier, the 2016 16U WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint, the 2015 PG Elite Underclass Championships and the 2015 15U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational championship teams. This past summer alone, he was named to the 2017 Ways to Play powered by MLB & PG, 2017 WWBA World Championship, 2017 WWBA Southeast Qualifier #2, 2017 17U PG Summer Showdown, 2017 17U WWBA National Championship, 2017 18U WWBA National Championship, 2017 WWBA 17U National Championship Qualifier, 2017 18U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational and the 2017 18U WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint all-tournament teams.
Coach Hall on Shirah: “Shirah, Bartnicki’s summer team teammate, has been over 90. He is definitely one of the better pitchers in the country. He has a good breaking ball, good change-up and is really competitive. He is also an outstanding student.”
Kendall Logan Simmons
Macon, Georgia – Tattnall Square Academy
6-3 * 190 * R/R
SS
East Cobb Yankees
A big and athletic infielder, Simmons is ranked as the No. 1 shortstop in the state of Georgia and No. 4 overall nationally in the class of 2018 by Perfect Game. He is also ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect in Georgia and the No. 14 overall prospect nationally by PG for the 2018 class. A member of the varsity team at Tattnall Square Academy since the eighth grade, Simmons guided his high school squad to a 2016 GHSA Class A Private state championship and a state runner-up finish last year in 2017 in which he earned all-state first team honors from Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine. A two-time PG Underclass All-American First Team selection in both 2016 and 2017, he was also named a 2015 PG Underclassmen All-American Honorable Mention as a freshman. This past summer, the righty played in the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic game in San Diego, Calif. after competing at the 2016 PG Underclassmen All-American Games the previous year. A 2017 Perfect Game National Showcase participant, he was named to the Showcase Top Prospect Team for the fourth-straight year since 2014. Tabbed the Tournament MVP at the 2017 18U Perfect Game -East Cobb Invitational, Simmons helped lead his team to championship titles at the 2017 18U PG-East Cobb Invitational, the 2017 Ways to Play powered by MLB & PG, and the 2016 16U Super25 National Championship events. Since competing with the East Cobb baseball program, Simmons has earned all-tournament honors at 12 national events since 2014.
Coach Hall on Simmons: “Simmons is a very good player and shortstop. He also was in the PG All-American Classic in San Diego says all you really need to know about his talent level. He played this summer with the East Cobb Yankees and is one of the better infielders in the country and one of the better hitters as well.”
Amos Willingham
Summerville, Georgia – Chattooga/Snead State CC
6-4 * 220 * R/R
RHP
Doubleday Dodgers
A junior college transfer from Summerville, Ga., Willingham is a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from Snead State Community College in Alabama. As a member of the 2016 class, Willingham was ranked as the No. 8 right-handed pitcher in the state of Georgia and the No. 177 righty nationally by Perfect Game. A 2015 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention at Chattooga appeared in 14 games on the mound for Snead State CC, including making 11 starts last year as a freshman. The righty, who also played in the field at first and third base, went 5-2 on the season with three complete games, a 3.66 ERA and at total of 48 strikeouts over 66.1 innings pitched.
Coach Hall on Willingham: “We dipped into the JUCO route to get him. He grew up in Georgia and again is a 6-4 right-hander that’s a really good pitcher. He is already throwing 90 or better with a good breaking ball and a good change up. He is a really smart kid.”
Billy Zinnershine
Marietta, Georgia – Lassiter
5-11* 160 * L/R
SS
East Cobb Yankees
A local product from Marietta, Zinnershine is ranked as the No. 12 shortstop and the No. 68 overall prospect in the state of Georgia for the class of 2018 by Perfect Game. Also ranked No. 126 nationally at shortstop for the class of 2018 by PG, Zinnershine was a 2017 PG Underclassmen All-American High Honorable Mention selection and a Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine Class AAAAAAA All-State Second Team honoree last season as a junior at Lassiter. A member of the East Cobb Yankees, Zinnershine was a vital part of the 2017 Ways to Play powered by MLB & PG and the 2017 18U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational championship teams this past summer. He has also been named to the 2016 WWBA Southeast Qualifier #1 all-tournament team, both the 2016 and 2017 WWBA National Qualifier all-tournament teams and the 2017 Ways to Play all-tournament team.
Coach Hall on Zinnershine: “I’ve been able to watch Zinnershine the last two years with the East Cobb Yankees. He is a really good infielder, a competitive kid and a really good baseball player.”
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