Baseball Announces 2004 Signing Class
Nov 21, 2003 | Baseball
MANHATTAN - First-year Kansas State head baseball coach Brad Hill announced Friday the signing of 11 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Wildcats in 2004. The group includes five high school players and six junior college transfers.
Signing to play for Kansas State were right-handed pitcher Brett Ames, catcher David Baker, left-handed pitcher Chase Bayuk, infielder Kyle Byler, infielder Nick Carlson, right-handed pitcher Adam Cowart, right-handed pitcher Brad Hutt, right-handed pitcher Bryan Peterson, infielder Barrett Rice and right-handed pitchers Luther Sanders and Eric Smith.
“We have several needs to fill and this fall class is a big step towards getting that accomplished,” Hill said. “This is a very talented group. We feel that each one of these kids is a great fit for what we are trying to do here. These are blue-collar kids that know how to win. And, most importantly, they are excited about becoming a part of the Kansas State baseball program.”
“There are many factors that allow us to attract quality student-athletes to K-State. First, the commitment that the administration of the university has made to baseball is substantial. This can be seen in our new multi-million dollar stadium, our newly designed batting cage and the $350,000 renovation of the indoor complex adjacent to our field. Also, playing for Kansas State in the nation’s premier baseball conference, the Big 12, definitely plays in our favor.”
Ames, a 6-4, 200-pound right-handed pitcher from Central Arizona College, prepped at Catalina Foothills High in Tucson, Ariz., where he was named the 2002 All-Southern Arizona Player of the Year. In 2002, Ames was 11-0 on the mound with a 1.37 ER, 102 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 82 innings of work. In one season at Central Arizona, Ames was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
“Brett comes from one of the top junior college programs in the nation,” Hill said. “He has good command of three pitches and really knows how to pitch.”
Baker, a catcher from Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ), prepped at Governor John Rogers High School in Puyallup, Wa., where he hit .521 during his senior season to claim the conference batting title. The 6-1, 185-pound Baker hit .345 this past summer for the Elkhart Dusters of the Jayhawk Summer League and won the team’s Hustle Award.
“David is one of the top defensive catchers in all of junior college baseball.” Hill said “He comes from a program that is known for producing front-line catchers. He is an excellent receiver, has a great arm and knows how to get results from his pitchers.”
A 5-10 left-handed pitcher, Chase Bayuk is a three-year letterwinner at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Bayuk was a second team all-district selection and a team captain. Against Keller this past season, Bayuk tossed a complete game with 14 strikeouts.
“Chase really came on this fall,” Hill said. “He is an athletic left-hander with good command and a sharp breaking ball. We feel he can come in as a freshman and make an immediate impact.”
Kyle Byler, a 6-3 infielder from Chesapeake, Va., prepped at Hickory High School where he hit .419 as a junior and .460 as a senior. Byler, who grew up in Manhattan, was a first team all-state selection and was named the 83rd best prospect in the nation and fourth in Virginia by Baseball America.
“Kyle is one of the top high school infielders on the east coast. He has the athleticism and tools to play anywhere on the field. He is a capable switch hitter and has a chance to be a very productive offensive player.”
A 5-9 infielder from Topeka, Nick Carlson lettered at Seaman High School. Nick’s older brother Chris is currently a member of the Wildcat team.
“Nick’s intangibles are off the charts,” Hill said. “He is a great competitor that hates to lose. He is a solid defensive player and a left-handed hitter who handles the bat well and makes things happen. He has an excellent background coming from a good high school program and playing with the Kansas City Sluggers organization.”
A First Team All-Region XIV selection at Alvin Community College, Adam Cowart was 6-0 with a 1.41 ERA this past season at Alvin. The 6-1 right-handed pitcher struck out 52 batters in 56 innings while walking only eight.
“Adam’s first year at Alvin speaks for itself,” Hill said. “To put up those numbers in one of the most competitive junior college leagues in the nation shows what he is capable of. He is a submarine-type pitcher to Chad Bradford of the Oakland A’s with exceptional command and deception.”
Brad Hutt is a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from LaVista High School in Papillion, Ne. At LaVista, Hutt hit .318 with 13 doubles and 31 RBI during the summer while also compiling a 13-3 record and 1.83 ERA on the mound. Hutt, an all-district and all-metro selection, struck out 90 batters in 110 innings while opponents hit just .203 against the right-hander.
“Brad comes from an outstanding high school program that has produced a number of outstanding college players. He is a tall, athletic, right-handed pitcher with good command of his pitches and has an above-average slider.”
A 6-1 right-handed pitcher from Hutchinson Community College, Bryan Peterson made the switch from catcher to pitcher this past season and was a two-year starter for the Blue Dragons. Peterson was First Team All-Sun County selection at Shawnee Mission Northwest where he hit .430 his senior season.
“Bryan has a good pitcher’s build and a great arm,” Hill said. “He was converted to a pitcher this past fall and has already shown signs of becoming a front-line pitcher. We really like the fact that he is in the hands of a coaching staff at Hutchinson that has a great track record of developing pitchers.”
Barrett Rice, a 6-2, 195-pound infielder from Sugarland, Texas, hit .438 with five home runs and 46 RBI this past season at El Paso Community College. Rice scored 66 runs and accumulated a .627 slugging percentage in 2003.
“Barrett is coming off a great freshman season,” Hill said. “His offensive numbers across the board were among the best in Texas junior college baseball. We feel he can come in and contribute in a big way.”
Luther Sanders, a 5-10 right-hander from Bridge City, Texas, compiled a 5-1 record with a 3.50 ERA last season at Blinn College (TX). In 36 innings, Sanders struck out 33 hitters while walking only five.
“Luther is an athletic pitcher with excellent command an a very good breaking ball,” Hill said. “He competes well and has excellent composure. We feel he can come in and help us in a variety of roles next year.”
Rounding out the class is Eric Smith, a 6-2, 200-pound right-hander from Wichita. Smith attends Maize High School and played for the Wichita Wolverines during summer ball.
“Eric is a strong young man with a good arm and a nice breaking ball,” Hill said. “He is a tough kid that competes on the mound. He comes from a very good high school program and also pitches for a highly competitive summer program, the Wichita Wolverines.”
Kansas State opens the 2004 season February 13 against the Houston Cougars at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
2004 Kansas State Baseball Signees
Name Po. Ht. Wt. Hometown (Last School)
Brett Ames RHP 6-4 200 Tucson, Ariz. (Central Arizona CC)
David Baker C 6-1 185 Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler-Gilbert CC)
Chase Bayuk LHP 5-10 170 Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell)
Kyle Byler IF 6-3 165 Chesapeake, Va. (Hickory)
Nick Carlson IF 5-9 170 Topeka, Kan. (Seaman)
Adam Cowart RHP 6-1 185 Pearland, Texas (Alvin CC)
Brad Hutt RHP 6-4 190 Papillion, Ne. (Papillion-LaVista)
Bryan Peterson RHP 6-1 185 Shawnee, Kan. (Hutchinson CC)
Barrett Rice IF 6-2 195 Sugarland, Texas (El Paso CC)
Luther Sanders RHP 5-10 170 Bridge City, Texas (Blinn College)
Eric Smith RHP 6-2 200 Wichita, Kan. (Maize)
-KSU-
