University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panther Baseball 2000 Recruits
6/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Panther Baseball 2000 Recruits
6/16/1999
"We are very pleased with our recruiting class for next season. I believe that we have added quality depth and solid baseball players to our squad. Each year we will attempt to raise the level of competitiveness with each recruiting class. We had a strong year in 1999 and I expect to take our program up another notch in 2000. Coach Dombkowski, Coach Jones and I are very much looking forward to working with this group in the fall."
- Pittsburgh Head Coach Joe Jordano on the recruiting class of 2000.
Here's a look at some of the promising additions to the 2000 Pittsburgh Panthers Baseball Team:
Rick Alexander
Pitcher/Outfielder
5-9, 170
Bats Right/Throws Right
Portage, Pa./Portage H.S.
Alexander Notes: Pitched 49.1 innings in 1999 for Portage High School for a 2.83 ERA...Struck out 81 batters and gave up 20 earned runs...Batted .428 with 27 hits, 23 runs, 36 RBI and five home runs...In 1998, he pitched 55.2 innings, with 80 strikeouts, for an ERA of 2.77...Finished the season with a record of 4-2...Batted .403 with 25 hits, 10 home runs and 30 RBI...Played for the AAABA Johnstown Principle Development team in 1998...Struck out 44 batters in 43.1 innings...Earned a record of 3-0 and recorded eight saves...Also batted .444 with 12 hits in 27 at bats.
Joe Jordano on Alexander: "Alexander is a multi-talented baseball player who possesses an excellent breaking pitch and decent velocity. He can play other positions, but will mostly be looked at as a spot reliever. His breaking pitch is the best I have seen from a high school kid in a while."
Jimmy Barrett
Pitcher
Bats Right/Throws Right
Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill H.S.
Barrett Notes: In 1999, pitched 55.1 innings with 93 strikeouts (1.68 avg.)...Recorded 26 walks and just 14 earned runs for an ERA of 1.77...Finished the season with a record of 7-1...Consistently pitches at 94 mph and has touched 97 this year...Was 22-for-65 at the plate with 19 RBI and two home runs for a batting average of .338...Was recently drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round but has not yet signed a professional contract.
Joe Jordano on Barrett: "Barrett throws hard. He has been clocked as high as 97 mph and pitches at 91-93 mph. I feel he has the potential, if he chooses to come to Pittsburgh, to develop into a 1st round pick in three years. He has all the tools."
Joe Burger
Outfielder
6-0, 185
Bats Left/Throws Right
Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk H.S.
Burger Notes: A three-time letterwinner at Blackhawk High School...In 1998, batted .461 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI...Collegiate Baseball named him one of the top Pennsylvania prep prospects of the year...Named an East-West All-Star...A four-time member of the prestigious Keystone Games...A member of the 1997 Pennsylvania Junior Olympics Team that competed in the USA Junior Olympics in Ft. Myers, Fla....A three-year member of the Youngstown (Ohio) Class B and Beaver Valley Traveling Tournament teams...Also played for the 1998 Junior Pirates.
Joe Jordano on Burger: "Joe is a very solid offensive threat. He has great power and could be a force with his bat early. He needs to work on his defense but he has unlimited potential."
Scott Folmer
Infielder
5-10, 175
Bats Right/Throws Right
Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg H.S.
Folmer Notes: A four-year varsity letterwinner at Chambersburg High School...A two-time All-Mid Pennsylvania honoree...In 1998, batted .340 with one home run...Also stole eight bases.
Joe Jordano on Folmer: "Scott is a very fine infielder who is going to be a solid addition to our team. We expect him to make an immediate impact. Many have said he is one of the best defensive players in the region. He comes from a long line of solid athletes in his family and has brothers who played at both Oklahoma State and Old Dominion."
Chris Mahoney
Outfielder
Bats Switch/Throws Left
Council Rock H.S.
Mahoney Notes: A three-year varsity letterwinner from Council Rock High School...As a senior, batted .400, including five doubles, three triples and one home run...Also recorded 10 stolen bases...As a junior, batted .410 with one home run, five triples and 12 stolen bases...A two-time All-League selection...Named to the All-Philadelphia Area First Team as a junior...Played for the Suburban I National Carpenter Cup team.
Joe Jordano on Mahoney: "Mahoney has speed, plus a strong arm, and is a very talented outfielder. He could be the answer to our lead-off spot question."
Adam Swavely
Pitcher
6-2, 195
Bats Right/Throw Right
Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts H.S.
Swavely Notes: Has pitched 42.2 innings in 1999 for Owen J. Roberts High School...Has an ERA of 1.80 with 46 strikeouts and a record of 7-0...Has allowed just 26 hits in 178 batters faced with 11 earned runs...His opponents' batting average is .166...Helped Owen J. Roberts claim wins over league-rivals Spring-Ford and Phoenixville.
Joe Jordano on Swavely: "Swavely has made great strides this past high school season and has some serious potential. I look forward to developing Adam this fall."
(Editor's Note: This list will be updated as new recruit information is obtained.)
