University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball Vols Sign 10 in Early Signing Period
November 19, 2001 | Baseball
Nov. 20, 2001
Head coach Rod Delmonico announced a 10-member early baseball signee class for 2003 that consists of six pitchers, two outfielders and two infielders. Of the 10, three hail from the junior college ranks and one was previously drafted by a Major League team.
"We were really aggressive in our approach to signing a higher caliber of player this year," said Delmonico. "I think it really paid off. We have a class that could rank among the best we've ever had by the time it's allsaid and done. We went after certain players to fill positions, but mainly we focused on putting together a solid pitching staff with starters and relievers."
The Vols open the 2002 season at Miami (Fla.), Feb. 1-3.
Josh Alley is an outfielder from Anna, Ill., who was named 2001 All-State and is a three-time All-Conference selection. He is rated as the No. six prospect in the state by Baseball America/Prospects Plus. He was also a two-time All-Conference choice in football as a quarterback and defensive back. As a leadoff hitter, he hit .517 with five home runs, 35 RBI and 40 stolen bases. He turned down scholarship offers from Arkansas and Missouri.
Brian Cleveland is a shortstop from San Jose Community College who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 36th round this past June.Cleveland finished as the third leading hitter among California Community Colleges with a .469 average (45-for-96) in 28 games with 28 runs scored, 17 RBI, four doubles, one home runs and five steals. The Jaguars finished 22-18 in the Coast South Conference.
Blake Crigger is a right-handed pitcher from Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) Community College. The 6-3, 210-pound Franklin native, who attended Brentwood Academy, was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the 40th round of the 2001 Major League draft. He pitched in 24 games with a 1-2 record, 8 saves (2nd in state), a 4.97 ERA, 24 strikeouts and six walks last year. He gave up 28 hits in 25.1 innings. Crigger also played some catcher, batting .273 in 33 at-bats.
Patrick Green, a pitcher and infielder for Okaloosa-Walton Community College, hit .325 in 123 at-bats with 15 RBI in 2001 while seeing limited time on the mound as a closer. Green was named Florida Community College Athletic Association honorable mention player of the week for April 9 when he hit a torrid .765 for the week. The highly draftable prospect has a fastball in low 90s and is expected to see more time on the hill this spring. Green hit .528 this past fall for O-W. He was also recruited by Alabama.
Luke Hochevar (HOE-chay-ver), who throws 90-91 with a good slider, is a potential top-10 round draft pick. He turned down a scholarship offer from Arizona State. The two-time All-State selection fashioned a 7-0 mark with a 0.88 ERA, striking out 96 in 47.2 innings as a junior. His father, Brian, played professional basketball with the Denver Nuggets in 1979.
Justin Jones is considered a potential top-10 round draft pick heading into his senior year. He consistently throws 87-90, and is rated as the No. two prospect in the state of Virginia and No. 78 in the nation's top 400 by Baseball America. He was ranked as the No. 25 prospect by Baseball America/Prospects Plus at the 2001 East Coast Showcase held in August in Wilmington, N.C. "Jones is a big, young lefty who already has a major league average fastball. He throws four pitches for strikes: an 85-89 mph fastball, 76 slider, 72-74 curve and 65 curveball," according to Baseball America/Prospects Plus. He turned down scholarship offers from Miami (Fla.) and North Carolina.
Matt Maloney, a left handed pitcher who throws 86-87, is rated as the No. two prospect in the state of Ohio and No. 164 in the nation's top 400 by Baseball America/Prospects Plus. The All-State performer was 10-0 with a 0.82 ERA, striking out 105 in 59 innings in 2001. He is 24-3 in his prep career with over 200 strikeouts. He turned down scholarship offers from Clemson, Ohio State and Kentucky.
Todd Martin is a three-time All-District 7-AAA selection as an outfielder for Cookeville High School. As a cleanup batter, Martin hit .408 with four home runs, 23 RBI while scoring 25 runs last season. As a sophomore, he batted .327 with six home runs.
Kyle Norrid, a third baseman from Germantown High School, who has the potential to become both a power-hitting and a slick-fielding third baseman at the next level. He is rated as the No. 16 prospect in the state by Baseball America/Prospects Plus. He was a member of the 2001 TSSAA Class AAA State baseball championship team and the All-State Tournament team. He hit six home runs and batted .380 last year. Norrid also played for the Dulin Dodgers who took part in the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, Fla., this fall. He turned down scholarship offers from Georgia and Mississippi.
John Parscal, who is rated among the top prospects in Colorado by Baseball America/Prospects Plus, throws 88-90 from a low three-quarter arm-slot and gets a lot of "ride" on his fastball. The two-time All-Conference selection posted an 8-4 mark and a 2.50 ERA in 2001 as Northglenn High School won the league title for the second straight year.
| TENNESSEE BASEBALL SIGNEES FOR 2003 SEASON | |||||
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | B/T | HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL) |
| Josh Alley | OF | 5-9 | 175 | L/L | Anna, Ill. (Anna-Jonesboro HS) |
| ^Brian Cleveland | INF | 6-1 | 180 | R/R | San Jose, Calif. (San Jose CC) |
| *Blake Crigger | RHP | 6-3 | 210 | R/R | Franklin, Tenn. Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC |
| Patrick Green | RHP/IF | 6-3 | 180 | L/R | Alpharetta, Ga. (Okaloosa-Walton CC) |
| Luke Hochevar | RHP | 6-5 | 190 | R/R | Fowler, Colo. (Fowler HS) |
| Justin Jones | LHP | 6-4 | 200 | L/L | Virginia Beach, Va. (Kellam HS) |
| Matt Maloney | LHP | 6-3 | 195 | L/L | Huron, Ohio (Huron HS) |
| Todd Martin | OF | 6-3 | 195 | L/L | Cookeville, Tenn. (Cookeville HS) |
| Kyle Norrid | INF | 6-0 | 180 | R/R | Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown HS) |
| John Parscal | LHP | 6-1 | 190 | L/L | Broomfield, Colo. (Northglenn HS) |
| ^-previously drafted | |||||
