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July 7, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis head baseball coach Darin Hendrickson today announced that 11 student-athletes have agreed to attend the University and play baseball for the Billikens. All begin play in the 2009 season. These additions bring SLU's recruiting class to 21 newcomers.

Ben Braaten, C, Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS/Iowa Western Community College
Braaten is one of two newcomers from Iowa Western Community College. A catcher, Braaten helped IWCC to two consecutive appearances in the JUCO World Series. In 2008, the Reivers set a school record with 54 victories and had a national ranking as high as ninth. This past season, Braaten hit .386 and was third on the squad with 13 doubles. In 2007, he hit .314 with 10 doubles and 28 RBIs.

"Ben will help provide stability at the catcher position," Hendrickson said. "He is a very good defensive catcher and also handles the bat well. Ben and Connor Gandossy, who we signed earlier this year, give us two bona fide catchers that every team needs in a 50-plus game schedule."

Danny Brock, 1B/RHP, Loveland, Colo./Mountain View HS/Northeastern (Colo.) Community College
Brock was a two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection at first base for Northeastern (Colo.) Community College, and the right-hander has also seen time on the mound. The 2008 first-team All-District selection led the Plainsmen with a .407 average, five home runs, 19 doubles and 41 RBIs. On the mound, he did not allow an earned run in 11-2/3 innings and went 2-0 while picking up four saves. Brock's father, Greg, played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.

"Danny is sound defensively and has a great baseball IQ," Hendrickson said. "He played in a very good wood-bat league in Colorado. Danny could also see time closing out games, or we may use him in a significant bullpen role. He knows how to win, which is one of the things I look for in a player."

Andrew Buckham, LHP, Abbotsford, British Columbia/St. John Brebeof HS/Galveston (Texas) Community College
Buckham led Galveston Community College in strikeouts and posted an ERA around the 2.00 mark. Prior to his one-year stint at Galveston, Buckham competed with the Langley Blaze in British Columbia in addition to playing for Team British Columbia, with whom he had the league's third-best ERA.

"Andrew is a left-handed strike thrower who can throw three pitches over the plate," Hendrickson said. "He fills a big left-handed void on our pitching staff, one that most college programs have difficulty filling. Like all of our new pitchers, Andrew will compete for a starting spot, but what capacity we will use him in is still to be determined."

Mike Carroll, RHP, Eredenheim, Pa./Penn Charter HS
Carroll was a three-year varsity player for Penn Charter High School in Philadelphia, including 2008 when he was named team captain. Last summer, Carroll was selected to play for Mike Manning's Elite All-Star Baseball Academy select showcase team. At the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association 17-U National Championship in Marietta, Ga., Carroll appeared in two games and did not allow a hit in four innings.

"First and foremost, Mike is a good athlete who comes from a great baseball family," Hendrickson said. "He is a strike thrower with three pitches. He is not necessarily an overpowering pitcher, but he is an innings guy with a durable arm. Mike is going to come in and compete for innings, and that is exactly what this team needs."

Cody Cotter, IF/OF, St. Joseph, Mo./St. Joseph Central HS/Iowa Western Community College
Cotter is a left-handed hitter who played both in the infield and outfield for the aforementioned record-setting Iowa Western CC squad. Last season, he posted a .395 batting average and broke the school record with eight triples. Cotter led the squad with 13 stolen bases and cracked 11 doubles on the season.

"Cody is your typical leadoff hitter who is scrappy and a good runner," Hendrickson said. "He is a hard-nosed competitor who knows how to win. He is what most coaches are looking for in a leadoff hitter."

Lucas Calderon, IF, Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit
Calderon earned second-team All-State honors after hitting .380 and belting nine home runs for Belen Jesuit. He drove in 30 runs and scored 26 for the Wolverines. In addition, he earned All-Dade 4A-1A first-team accolades from the Miami Herald. In 2007, he helped his team to district and regional championships and an appearance in the state final four.

"Lucas succeeded in one of the toughest conferences in the state of Florida," Hendrickson said. "He is a versatile athlete who can hit for power. He can play third base, shortstop and second base, which will really help us."

Steve Fernandez, C/IF, St. Louis, Mo./Parkway Central HS
Fernandez earned honorable mention All-State honors after finishing third on his Parkway Central squad with a .391 average. He led the team with nine home runs, which tied for fourth overall in the St. Louis metro area. He had an .826 slugging percentage, registered a .523 on-base percentage and scored 30 runs.

"Steve will challenge people right away with his bat," Hendrickson said. "He is capable of hitting for power, and he will also contribute as a utility infielder and with depth at the catching position."

Ryan Kennedy, LHP, Calgary, Alberta/Central Arizona CC
Kennedy, one of three lefties who will be on SLU's roster next season, played one season at Central Arizona Community College. He struck out 40 batters in just 36 innings pitched. Kennedy was a member of the Canada Junior National Team and played for the Langley Blaze of the British Columbia Premier League, widely regarded as the top high school-age league in Canada.

"Ryan has the chance to be a legitimate factor for us," Hendrickson said. "He has great size and a great arm. Ryan knows how to win, and that is the mindset we are looking for here. He has a lot of upside, and his best days are ahead of him."

Marco Mejia, RHP, Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit
Mejia, who was a prep teammate with fellow Billiken newcomer Lucas Calderon, made 10 appearances (five starts) for Belen Jesuit and posted a 2.67 ERA and three complete games. He struck out 38 batters in 36-2/3 innings while walking just nine. In 2007, he helped his team to a district and regional championship and an appearance in the state final four.

"Marco features three pitches for strikes," Hendrickson said. "He comes from a quality school, and because we have only three returning arms, this is a great year for Marco to win a job somewhere. I think his best days are ahead of him."

Zach Miller, IF, O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West HS
Miller hit .444 with 15 extra-base hits, 29 RBIs and 38 runs scored his senior season for Fort Zumwalt West, which featured the most prolific offense in the Gateway Athletic Conference. For his efforts, he earned All-GAC first-team honors and was named to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's All-Metro team.

"Zach is arguably one of the best hitters we will be bringing in," Hendrickson said. "He can play third and second base, and I think his bat will get him into the lineup. He is a real plugger who knows how to play the game. Like a lot of our young guys, he is going to be fun to watch."

Cody Stites, RHP, Festus, Mo./Festus HS/Jefferson (Mo.) Community College
Stites is overcoming an injury that shortened his career at Jefferson Community College in Hillsboro, Mo. In 2007, he appeared in nine games and tossed eight innings with a 3.00 ERA. The 6-foot-4 right-hander enjoyed a stellar prep career at Festus High School, where he earned first-team All-Conference, All-District and All-Metro honors.

"Cody was one of the most highly touted recruits in the area before getting injured," Hendrickson said. "He is recovering well, and if he returns to form he will be in the mix for a starting spot."

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