Xavier University Athletics
Xavier Baseball Announces Early Signing Class
11.22.04 | Baseball
?The coaching staff is very pleased with the results of our 2005 fall signing period,? stated the first-year mentor. ?We addressed some deficiencies in team speed and left handed hitting. We also feel we have added quality defensive depth. Overall, we believe we have a group of talented, hard-nosed ballplayers, who we look forward to developing.?
Bautista, a standout from Dallas, Texas, will provide XU with speed and depth in the infield or outfield. ?In many ways Richard fits the profile of what we are looking for here at Xavier,? commented Coach Simonds. ?His athleticism, versatility, experience and competitiveness will be a big plus for our program.? He was captain of the baseball team at Jesuit College Prep High School over the last two seasons and earned second-team all-district honors. A member of the nationally recognized Dallas Tigers, Bautista helped the team earn 2001 and 2002 AABC and CABA World Series championships.
The second signee, Bonnikson, is a native of Danville, California where he excelled at nationally known De La Salle High School. He has been named one of the top 40 first basemen in the country by Team One, one of the top 30 players in the Bay area, and named the top hitting prospect at the ABA Showcase in Monterey, California. Coach Simonds stated that, ?Jack is probably one of the better left-handed hitting prospects that I have seen in some time. He has the capability of driving the ball out of any part of the ballpark. We are excited about Jack joining our program and his potential to have an immediate impact.?
A local prospect is the third of XU's signing class. A Cincinnati native, Brown, also a three sport athlete from La Salle High School, will add much needed speed that the Musketeers need. A first-team all-GCL selection in 2004, Brown has had the fastest 60-yard dash time in several showcases. ?The first thing that jumps out at you with Steve is his potential,? admired Coach Simonds. ?His speed alone will create a whole new dimension for our ball team. It will be exciting to see what this young man will do when he focuses on baseball as his only sport and develops his skills.?
Voted as one of the top 50 players in Illinois, Farrell is a career .390 hitter and has thrown a perfect game over his four-year prep career. He was also named to the all-conference and all-area teams over his career. The Naperville Central standout from Naperville, Illinois will add another quality arm to the XU staff and depth to the outfield corps. ?Sean is a very athletic player with an outstanding arm,? stated Coach Simonds. ?Although we see him as primarily a position player, there is no question he will see time on the mound, probably as a closer. His speed and track record of a high on base percentage may provide us with an ideal lead off type hitter.?
The final signee for the Musketeers is an Ohio product that will join Farrell in the bullpen. Leugers, a 6?6? pitcher from New Bremen High School in New Bremen, Ohio, was a second-team all-league selection and named to the Buckeye Scout top 100 list of Ohio prep players. ?Alex could be the find of our recruiting class,? commented Coach Simonds. ?He has a huge upside in the sense that he is 6?6? and has yet to reach his physical maturity. It will be very interesting to see how he progresses and develops. With a lot of hard work and structure, he has a chance to be something special.?
Coach Simonds finished by saying, ?We still have a considerable amount of work ahead of us for the spring. However, we feel we have established a good foundation. Our next goal will be to attract a couple more quality arms.?
The 2005 edition of Musketeer baseball opens their spring schedule at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee on February 18. Xavier?s Atlantic 10 schedule begins on March 26, as XU welcomes Massachusetts to Hayden Field.
