Aug. 17, 2010
ATLANTA – – With the Major League Baseball signing deadline passing Monday night, head coach Danny Hall gave his thoughts on the signees and what he sees out of the recruiting class going into fall practices in an interview with RamblinWreck.com.
Six of the incoming freshmen who signed National Letters of Intent back in November of 2009 and were selected in June’s MLB First Year Player Draft did not sign a professional contract prior to Monday evening’s deadline and will enroll and play baseball at Georgia Tech this fall.
Nine of Tech’s school-record tying 10 players signed contracts with their respective organizations, including 11th overall pick Deck McGuire, who inked a contract late Monday with the Toronto Blue Jays. Of those nine, only two did not have any remaining eligibility (senior first baseman Tony Plagman and pitcher Andrew Robinson). Rising-senior pitcher Kevin Jacob did not sign a contract and will play his senior year on the Flats.
The Jackets will welcome 16 newcomers to campus for the 2011 season. Just two everyday position starters from 2010 return this fall – Junior third baseman Matt Skole (120 career starts) and junior second baseman Jacob Esch (59 career starts).
DeAndre Smelter (2010 MLB 14th round draft pick, Minnesota Twins)
RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 205 | Macon, Ga. (Tattnall Square Academy)
Mott Hyde (2010 44th round draft pick, Toronto Blue Jays)
SS | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | Resaca, GA (Calhoun)
Daniel Palka (2010 19th round draft pick, Philadelphia Phillies)
1B/OF/LHP | L/L | 6-2 | 190 | Lyman, S.C. (Greer)
Chris Triplett (2010 47th round draft pick, Detroit Tigers)
INF | S/R | 5-11 | 178 | Fayetteville, Ga. (Sandy Creek)
Chase Butler
3B/RHP | S-R | 6-0 | 185 | Rome, Ga. (Darlington)
Matthew Grimes (2010 4th round draft pick, Chicago White Sox)
RHP | R/R | 6-5 | 185 | Hoschton, GA (Mill Creek)
Dusty Isaacs (2010 50th round draft pick, Pittsburgh Pirates)
RHP | R/R | 6-1 | 190 | Lebanon, Ohio (Lebanon)
Alexander Cruz
INF | R/R | 6-2 | 187 | Woodstock, Ga. (Blessed Trinity)
Jonathan Roberts
RHP | R/R | 6-2 | 160 | Fayetteville, GA (Starr’s Mill)
Paul Kronenfeld
OF/1B | L-R | 6-3 | 190 | Greensboro, N.C. (Woodberry Forest (Va.))
Zane Evans
C/RHP | R-R | 6-3 | 220 | Roswell, Ga. (Roswell)
Kyle Wren
OF | L/L | 6-0 | 165 | Peachtree City, Ga. (Landmark Christian)
Brad Markey
INF/RHP | S/R | 5-10 | 170 | Bel Air, MD (C. Milton Wright)
Conner Kendrick
LHP | L/L | 6-1 | 165 | Sharpsburg, Ga. (Northgate)
Devin Stanton
LHP | R/L | 6-0 | 185 | Lilburn, Ga. (Wesleyan)
Will West
LHP | L/L | 6-2 | 170 | Tallahassee, Fla. (Chiles)
