LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Baseball has signed 12 student-athletes during the Fall signing period for the upcoming 2021-22 season, head coach Matt Deggs announced on Wednesday. The 2021 class, as it currently stands, features six high school prospects and six junior college transfers. Pitching filled out the majority of the class, with an emphasis on junior college arms (6). "We are very proud and excited that 12 really good players and their families who believe in our vision as a program, officially today, became a part of the Cajun Baseball Family," Deggs said. "The 12-player class is "need" based and centered around the best fits for what we do as a program. Everything for us begins and ends on the mound and we believe that we have signed some really good arms that not only have very high ceilings, but also have a feel to pitch with their fastballs, all have the making of an out pitch, love to compete and have shown that they can field their positions and hold runners." Two of the pitchers signing with the Ragin’ Cajuns have already been drafted, while another arm was offered a contract following last year’s shortened season. "Speed and strength, combined with versatility, are what make up the four position players that we signed today," Deggs added. "All four are high school players that have advanced skill-sets already and we believe they will push as soon as they arrive on campus." Below is a full breakdown of the signing class:
Bo Bonds | RHP | Chipola College
– Pitched in 25.0 innings during the 2020 season
– Posted a 1.80 ERA with 39 strikeouts and a .136 opponent batting average at Chipola.
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Bo is a versatile arm capable of being a dominant back-end bullpen piece or spot starter. He features a 90-92 attacking fastball, complimented by a wipeout swing and miss power curveball. Bonds comes to us from one of the premier junior colleges in the country and was a mainstay in his freshman campaign (COVID shortened) as evidenced by a stellar stat line of 1.80 ERA 25 IP/11 H/11 BB/39 K and only a .136 opponent batting average. We are especially excited about his ultra-competitive bulldog, blue-collar mentality that will fit perfectly with the culture we strive to create year in and year out."
Jack Clark | UTL | White House High
– First Team All-District
– First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention All-District in Football
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Jack is a tough hard-nosed player out of the Northeast Texas area who we feel has a chance to be a special LH hitter. He possesses a nice combo of strength and speed, which will allow him to function well into our offense as a dynamic player who can impact the game both as a threat on the bases, as well as a potential RBI producer. Defensively, he is athletic enough to play multiple positions on the infield which could open up different line-up options."
Kyle DeBarge | 3B | Barbe High School
-All-District at Third Base (2019)
-All-State Honorable Mention (2019)
-State Champion (2019)
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Consistent with a theme of this signing class, Kyle brings a unique intensity, compete, and versatility to our program. He is an elite defender on the infield and will also see time behind the plate as a catcher for powerhouse Barbe High School out of Lake Charles. He has been comped by pro scouts as a young Ryan Theriot and we are very excited about his future and his development in our program."
Cole Elkins | LHP | Homstead High School
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Cole is an athletic framed LHP with FB velocity already flashing 91-92, but the separator is his ability to really spin a breaking ball. This is a quality high school arm and could be a solid piece to our pitching staff for years to come. Cole is already fully invested in our program, as he will make his way to Cajun country from his home state of Indiana."
Adam Guth | LHP | Barbe High School
– State Champion (2019)
– Earned the highest GPA in the Barbe baseball 2021 class
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"One of two Barbe products in this signing class, Adam comes to us with advanced feel to pitch for his age. There are many similarities with former Cajun great and Barbe product, Gunner Leger. Guth has a strong frame, which could potentially project to add power to his already refined arsenal. We are very pleased with this sign and look forward to what’s to come."
Antoine Harris | RHP | Mississippi Gulf Coast JC
– Drafted by the Minnesota Twins out of high school
– Named District 8-5A MVP and NOLA.com All-Metro Baseball Honorable Mention as a senior in high school.
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Originally from the state out of Chalmette, Antoine brings with him a tremendous upside. He has worked hard at the junior college level to refine his craft and parlay that well of talent into a professional future on the mound. Already previously drafted by the Minnesota Twins out of high school, Harris is at present a low to mid 90’s arm with that projects to of even more in the future."
Clint Lasiter | UTL | Benton High School
– Two-time First Team All-District
– State Champion (2018)
– Batted .436/.506/.692 with a 1.199 OPS at Benton
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Clint has been one of the premier bats in North Louisiana since his early high school days. He has present strength at contact and good barrel awareness, which could translate well to the Division I level. Lassiter is also from the same hometown as current pitching coach and Cajun legend BJ Ryan. He brings a no-nonsense approach to the game and loves to compete."
Tommy Ray | RHP | John A. Logan
– Threw in 7.0 innings with 10 strikeouts during the 2020 JUCO season
– Went 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 97.1 innings during his high school career
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Tommy comes to Cajun country with a very high ceiling and potential to play for a paycheck one day. He is big framed RH with an 87-89mph cutter that he works off a plus downhill tilted fastball at 91-92. This creates extreme deception for hitters. He has weekend type stuff and will enable us to continue to run out physically imposing arms should we lose our current power arms to the draft this year."
Tony Rossi | RHP | State College of Florida Manatee JC
– Offered a contract by the Detroit Tigers after 2020 season
– Notched 30 strikeouts in 15.0 innings at JUCO
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Another big physical RH, Tony features power stuff with a fastball that has been up to 96 and consistently 92-94. He’s shown the ability to induce high rates of swing and miss with both his FB and power slider as evidenced by his nearly two to one strikeout to inning ratio over the course of the spring, and in the Florida Collegiate League. Rossi was offered and turned down a free agent contract by the Detroit Tigers last year and was also the Freshman of the Year in his conference at the University of West Florida before transferring to Manatee JC."
Dylan Theut | LHP | Blinn College
– Threw in 18.1 innings during the 2020 JUCO season.
– Compiled a 0.49 ERA with 25 Ks to 7 walks.
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Dylan has the rare ability to induce swing and miss with his fastball which has been up to 93. There is funk and deception to his delivery that enabled him to put up dominant numbers at the Texas junior college level, striking out 25 in only 18 innings pitched to go along with a 0.49 ERA in COVID shortened 2020. We feel he is a quality LH piece to our pitching staff and should only continue to get better."
Peyton Zabel | RHP | Iowa Western
– Drafted in the 19th Round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers
– South Dakota AA player of the year in football, baseball, and basketball
– Academic All-State in football, baseball, and basketball
– National High School Coaches Association Football All-American
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Peyton may just be the premier junior college RHP in the country this season. There is present big league stuff to go along with a monster frame. The FB is already mid to upper 90’s with a power breaking ball to finish hitters. Originally from South Dakota, Zabel was previously drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. Under the tutelage of Coach BJ Ryan, we feel Peyton could further develop into a high draft pick. We are excited to say the least about how he could impact our program."
Mason Zambo | 1B | Catholic Baton Rouge
– First Team All-District (INF)
– All-State Honorable Mention
– Batted .414 with three home runs during his junior season.
Assistant Coach Jeremy Talbot‘s Report
"Mason is a big framed LHH with power potential from one of top high school programs in our state. He already has feel to hit with natural back-side gap ability, which is rare for a high school hitter with size. It will be fun to watch his development as he will continue to get more physical with age, maturity, and our state of the art strength and conditioning program."
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