Clemson Signs 14 Baseball Players in Fall Signing Period

Dec. 20, 2006

Clemson Baseball Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan announced the signing of 14 players during the fall signing period in November. The group, which includes 11 high school players and three junior college transfers, will enroll at Clemson in the fall of 2007 and be eligible for the 2008 season.

“We signed 14 players that will help us address our needs,” said Leggett. “Many of these players are rated among the best in the country by Baseball America and Perfect Game, and we couldn’t be more excited about this talented group. Coach O’Sullivan and Coach (Tom) Riginos have done an outstanding job of recruiting a top-notch class that will help us to continue to compete with the best teams in the ACC and across the country. I like the talent level and versatility of this class, and am excited that they all will be a part of continuing our tradition.”

2006 Clemson Fall Baseball Signees

Player Pos.B-T Hgt. Wgt.Cl. Exp.Hometown Previous School TreyDelk RHP R-R 5-11 190 Jr. JC Elgin, SC Spartanburg MethodistCollege Chris Epps OF L-R 6-2 175 Fr. HS Stone Mountain, GADunwoody HS Craig Gullickson LHP L-L 6-1 210 Fr. HS Palm BeachGardens, FL Cardinal Newman HS Casey Harman LHP L-L 6-2 180 Fr. HSSouth Burlington, VT South Burlington HS John Hinson INF/OF L-R 6-0185 Fr. HS Asheville, NC A.C. Reynolds HS Kyle Miller 3B R-R 6-2220 Jr. JC Jacksonville, FL Central Florida CC John Nester C/RHPR-R 6-1 200 Fr. HS Greer, SC Riverside HS Nick Noonan SS L-R 6-1175 Fr. HS San Diego, CA Francis W. Parker HS Justin Poovey RHP R-R6-1 185 Fr. HS Granite Falls, NC South Caldwell HS Trent RothlinRHP R-R 6-1 170 Fr. HS Hickory, NC Fred T. Foard HS Matt SandersINF/OF R-R 6-0 185 Jr. JC New Bern, NC Young Harris College JeffSchaus OF L-R 6-1 200 Fr. HS Naples, FL Barron Collier HS JoshSmoker LHP L-L 6-3 200 Fr. HS Sugar Valley, GA Calhoun HS JakeSmolinski OF/INF R-R 6-0 195 Fr. HS Rockford, IL Boylan HS

Signee Highlights

Trey Delk, RHP * #3 junior college prospect in South Carolina by Perfect Game * Region Player-of-the-Year as a junior and senior at Lugoff-Elgin High School * South Carolina Select Team member in 2004

Chris Epps, OF * #106 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #111 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #7 prospect in Georgia by Perfect Game

Craig Gullickson, LHP * #106 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #158 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #26 prospect in Florida by Perfect Game * Son of former Major League pitcher Bill Gullickson, who pitched for Montreal, Cincinnati, New York (Yankees), Houston, and Detroit from 1979-94; he also won 162 career games and had a 3.93 ERA in 2560.0 innings pitched

Casey Harman, LHP * #1 prospect in Vermont by Perfect Game

John Hinson, INF/OF * #170 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #314 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #13 prospect in North Carolina by Perfect Game * All-conference as a freshman, sophomore, and junior * Region All-Star as a junior * Asheville Citizen-Times Player-of-the-Week as a junior * Set single-season school records for doubles (14) and hits (44) and hit nine home runs as a junior * East Coast Professional Showcase selection in 2006 * Represented North Carolina in the 2006 National Home Run Derby in Delray Beach, FL, where he advanced to the semifinals

Kyle Miller, 3B * Florida Junior College All-Star in 2006 * Drafted in the 27th round by Atlanta in 2005

John Nester, C/RHP * #2 prospect in South Carolina by Perfect Game * #1 catcher prospect in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects * #1 two-way player in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects * First-team all-state as a junior * Was 5-0 with four saves, a 1.91 ERA, and 76 strikeouts in 36.0 innings pitched as a junior * Has played on two state championship teams

Nick Noonan, SS * #16 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #23 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #4 prospect in California by Perfect Game * AFLAC All-American as a junior * Baseball America All-American as a junior * All-Section Player-of-the-Year as a junior * San Diego Union Tribune First-Team All-Section as a junior * Coastal League (South) Player-of-the-Year in 2005 and 2006 * USA Baseball Junior National Team alternate as a junior * San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team selection as a junior * All-Section Player-of-the-Year as a sophomore * First-Team Coastal League (South) in 2004

Justin Poovey, RHP * #93 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #104 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #4 prospect in North Carolina by Perfect Game * All-state as a junior

Trent Rothlin, RHP * #121 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #142 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #5 prospect in North Carolina by Perfect Game

Matt Sanders, INF/OF * Junior college all-state in 2006 * Hit .438 with four homers and 11 doubles in 35 games in 2006 * Played for New Bern in the Coastal Plain League in the summer of 2006, where he hit .255 with nine doubles, three homers, and 21 RBIs * Sun Journal Player-of-the-Year as a senior at New Bern High School * AAAA All-State as a junior * Sun Journal All-Area as a junior and senior * All-conference as a junior and senior

Jeff Schaus, OF * #47 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #68 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #8 prospect in Florida by Perfect Game * World Wood Bat Tournament MVP (hitter) in 2006 * Honorable Mention All-State as a junior * First-Team All-County and All-Area as a sophomore and junior * Led the team with a .402 batting average and 12 stolen bases as a junior * Led the team with a .410 batting average as a sophomore

Josh Smoker, LHP * #7 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #13 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #2 prospect in Georgia by Perfect Game * World Wood Bat Tournament MVP (pitcher) in 2006 * Most Valuable Pitcher for East Cobb in 2006 * AFLAC All-American as a junior * Georgia state Player-of-the-Year as a junior * Had a state-record 137 strikeouts and state-record 0.09 ERA as a junior * Most Valuable Pitcher at WWBA in 2005 and 2006 * All-area as a freshman, sophomore, and junior * Has a 28-6 record from his freshman to junior seasons * Has a 54-2 record in summer ball * Georgia AA Player-of-the-Year as a sophomore

Jake Smolinski, OF/INF * #20 prospect in the nation at the 2006 Area Code Games by Baseball America * #82 prospect in the nation by Baseball America * #171 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game * #6 prospect in Illinois by Perfect Game * Northwestern University Showcase tournament MVP in 2006 * First-team all-conference as team MVP as a junior * Hit .441 with a .971 slugging percentage, 45 runs scored, 19 walks, 49 RBIs, 13 doubles, and 13 homers as a junior * Conference Scholar Athlete as a freshman, sophomore, and junior * Conference MVP in football as a junior