TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil Baseball program and Head Coach Tracy Smith have added six members to its highly ranked 2016 signing class during the spring signing period, which began Wednesday.
“Sun Devil Baseball has always attracted top-talent from all around the country,” Coach Smith said. “Being here only a short time it is easy to see why. This place is special! We are proud to announce the addition of six more top student-athletes who feel the same way. Our recruiting class was already highly ranked from the group we signed in the fall and it just got better. We couldn’t be happier having these six talented players joining the ASU Baseball family.”
The 2016 signing class is ranked third in the nation, according to Perfect Game. It features nine signees who participated in the 2015 Area Code Baseball Games, an invitation-only elite baseball event held annually, four who played in the Tournament of the Stars, a showcase hosted by USA Baseball, two who competed in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park, three who played in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field, two who were a part of the 40-man provisional roster for the 18U National Team Trials, and four who rank in ESPN.com Keith Law’s latest Top 50 MLB draft prospects.
The class features athletes from 10 different states, including four from Arizona, three from California and Illinois, two from Nevada, Texas and Wisconsin, and one each from Florida, Iowa, New Mexico and Utah.
Hunter Bishop – OF, San Carlos, Calif. / Junipero Serra High School
“Hunter is a rare blend of speed and strength. He is one of the top position players in the country. As good as Hunter already is as baseball player, we feel that he is just scratching the surface of his potential. In addition, he comes from the same high school as Sun Devil legend Barry Bonds.”
High School: Two-sport athlete who played both baseball and football; Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Perfect Game Second-Team All Region in 2016
Rankings: Keith Law, ESPN.com: #44 MLB Draft Prospect
Tournaments/showcases: 2015 Under Armour All-American Game, 2015 Area Code Games
Family ties: Brother, Braden Bishop, was a standout at Washington and is currently in the minor leagues with the Seattle Mariners organization.
Frank Dickson – LHP, Scottsdale, Ariz. / Desert Mountain HS
“Frank, another local LHP, is an excellent competitor and has shown the ability to locate multiple pitches in the zone. We love the way he competes every pitch and every inning. We think Frank has a chance to come in and pitch for us right away.”
Rankings: Perfect Game - #2 left-handed pitcher in Arizona
Jacob Godfrey – RHP, New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic HS / Northwestern Florida State College
“We are excited to bring in a power right-handed arm in Jake Godfrey. We feel that he has the potential to compete for a spot in the weekend rotation immediately. No stranger to top-level competition, we love Jake’s bulldog mentality on the mound.”
High School: Perfect Game First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Region in 2014; two-sport athlete who played both baseball and football; pitched Providence Catholic to 2014 Illinois State Class 4A championship and earned MVP honors; named 2014 All-Conference in Chicago Catholic League.
College Career: Served as both a reliever and starter for Louisiana State University during the 2015 season and appeared in 21 games with nine starts and posted a 7-1 mark in 54.2 innings. Transferred to Northwestern Florida State College for the 2016 season and has appeared in nine games with one start, and has accumulated a 2.29 ERA in 39.1 innings.
Rankings: Perfect Game - #8 overall junior college prospect and #5 junior college pitcher in 2016; Prep Baseball Report - #1 overall right-handed pitcher in PBR coverage area in 2014
Major League Baseball Draft: 21st-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2014
Ethan Skender – INF, Metamora, Ill / Metamora HS/ State College of Florida
“Ethan brings athleticism, versatility, and a strong bat to our infield. We love his makeup and the way he competes on the diamond. We expect Ethan to be an impact player from the day he steps on campus.”
Metamora High School: Prep Baseball Report First-Team All-State in 2015; Perfect Game Third-Team All-American and First-Team All Region in 2015, and Perfect Game Second-Team Underclass in 2014. Batted .495 with 33 extra-base hits in 107 at-bats, including 21 doubles, four triples and eight home runs, 32 RBI and 39 runs scored as a senior.
State College of Florida: Has accumulated a .369 batting average with seven home runs and 42 RBI in 30 games this season as both an infielder and outfielder.
Rankings: Perfect Game - #69 overall junior college prospect and #11 junior college shortstop in 2016, #1 high school shortstop in Illinois and #26 high school shortstop in nation in 2015; Prep Baseball Report - #6 overall player in Illinois and #84 overall player in PBR coverage area in 2015
Major League Baseball Draft: 31st-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2015
Tanner West – LHP, Albuquerque, N.M. / Volcano Vista High School
“In Tanner, we feel that we have the top 2016 LHP in New Mexico. Tanner brings an upper 80s fastball with a good slider and has shown feel for a changeup. Similar to others in this class, we feel Tanner’s best days are in front of him.”
Volcano Vista High School: Three-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All-American, USA Today All-USA New Mexico First-Team in 2015, All-State in 2015. Pitched five complete games in his prep career, including a no-hitter in 2016.
Rankings: Perfect Game - #5 overall player in New Mexico
Tournaments/showcases: Participated in 2015 Area Code Games tryouts
Mikey York – RHP, Henderson, Nev. / Basic High School / College of Southern Nevada
“We feel Mikey is a premium junior college arm, including an electric fastball that tops out in the mid 90s. We feel he has the ability to be a front-line arm in the Pac-12.”
Basic High School: 2014 First Team All-Conference, All-Region and All-State, 2014 National Army Reserve Scholar Athlete
College of Southern Nevada: Has more than 45 strikeouts in more than 35 innings pitched, including a 10-strikeout, five-inning performance March 19, and put together a 21.2-inning scoreless streak across five outings.
Family ties: Father, Mike York, was a Major League pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.