Baseball Announces Fall Signees
11/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 10, 2004
Fort Worth, Texas - TCU head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle announced the signing of the fall class of 2005. In all, TCU signed seven recruits to National Letters of Intent. The seven players, which includes six high school players and one junior college transfer, will join the Horned Frogs in fall 2005. All seven members of the class hail from the state of Texas and the group features a player ranked third in the state of Texas as ranked by Texas Baseball News.
"After bringing in 19 new players for this upcoming year, we knew that our efforts for this fall class would be centralized on a few specific needs," remarked Schlossnagle. "Our primary concerns were to find some athletic infielders who could run and play multiple positions if needed, add competition and depth at the catching position and sign a few high impact pitchers. The thing I like most about this class is that, in the classroom, they have all performed at a high level and on the field they are very versatile and competitive."
Among the seven signees is Fort Worth product Corey Steglich, an infielder from Southwest High School, and Metroplex natives Craig Italiano, a right-handed pitcher, and Paul Kelly, an infielder out of Flower Mound and Aaron Smith, a catcher/infielder out of McKinney. Joining these four are fellow high schooler's Ben Carruthers, an infielder out of Georgetown, Texas, and Matt Vern, a catcher/infielder from Brazoswood High School. Transferring to TCU in the fall is Weatherford Junior College product, Donald Furrow, a left-handed pitcher.
"In Paul Kelly, Ben Carruthers and Corey Steglich, we have filled the need in the infield," said Schlossnagle. "These three guys are all superb athletes and very good students as well. Kelly will also play a significant role as a relief pitcher."
Kelly was named the District 7-5A Most Valuable Player last season and was an all-state performer at Flower Mound High School for current TCU volunteer assistant coach Derek Matlock.
"Paul has been on our radar since I took this job and he will improve our program immediately," raved Schlossnagle. "He is a very good athlete who plays very good defense in the middle infield, hits for average and power and can pitch. He comes from a tremendous family and is so very excited to be at TCU."
Carruthers has been a first-team all-district and second-team all-Centex performer at Georgetown High School. As well as excelling on the field, Carruthers has been named first-team academic all-district.
"Ben can do a lot of things both as an infielder and as a hitter," remarked Schlossnagle. "He will bring much needed speed to our program and is very versatile. He comes from a long line of TCU family and has performed superbly in the classroom as well."
Steglich was named the District 7-4A Utility MVP following his junior campaign at Southwest High School. He was also selected to the first-team all-region team.
"Corey really played well late in the summer and in our summer showcase camp," said Schlossnagle. "He has a projectable body, a good arm and a strong bat. We want the best local players to think TCU first and Corey fits that mold. We are excited to have him and his great family on board."
"Matt Vern and Aaron Smith meet our needs behind the plate," said Schlossnagle. "They both have played other positions, in the outfield and infield, and are very strong and physical players. Combined with our current freshman, Andrew Walker, we will have a talented catching corp."
Vern was a first-team all-District 24-5A player at Brazoswood High School in Freeport, Texas. He was also selected as a first-team all-county performer.
"Matt is an exceptionally strong and athletic player," remarked Schlossnagle. "He is very mature physically and runs well. He can play multiple positions, including catcher, and has good power. Matt has a great love for TCU and we are excited to have him."
Smith was a first-team all-district 9-5A performer as a junior at McKinney High School.
"Aaron was our last commitment of the fall," said Schlossnagle. "He, like Vern, can catch and play in the infield. He is developing physically into a great frame and is an exceptional student."
"Craig Italiano and Donald Furrow will make an instant impact on our pitching staff," noted Schlossnagle. "Craig has one of the best arms in the country and has power stuff to go with it, along with being a very good athlete. Furrow brings quality junior college experience and success."
Italiano was ranked as the third best player in the state of Texas by Texas Baseball News earlier this fall. The honor comes on the strength of an outstanding junior campaign in which he set the single-season strikeout record at Flower Mound High School. He was named first-team all-district 7-5A and Northeast County Newcomer of the Year.
"Craig is a great coup for our program," raved Schlossnagle. "He is one of the premier pitchers in the nation along with being a very good student. He was recruited by every marquee program in the country and we are excited that he chose TCU. He will make an immediate impact as a freshman and, with continued development, will be a dominant force on the mound for a long time at TCU."
Furrow currently plays at Weatherford and completed a successful freshman campaign. He earned first-team all-conference honors as well as first-team all-region honors.
"Donald can flat pitch," stated Schlossnagle. "He has excelled for Coach Jeff Lightfoot at Weatherford and will step right in on our staff. He has command of three pitches and has tremendous upside as well. Like the others, he has performed at a very high level in the classroom as well."
"This class represents another great effort of our coaching staff, led by Todd Whitting," remarked Schlossnagle. "Coach Whitting has quickly become one of the most successful and hard-working recruiting coordinators in the country.Matt Siegel, Derek Matlock and Mike Dilley spent many hours on acquiring these players and are to be commended as well."
