Baseball Announces 2021 Recruiting Class

PITTSBURGH — Pitt baseball head coach Mike Bell announced Monday the 23 newcomers to join the program for the upcoming 2022 season: Jack Anderson, Brendon Blair, Jonathan Bautista, Spencer Butz, Harrison Coble, Kyle Demi, Ben Dragani, Will Droll, Logan Evans, AJ Fritz, Nick Giamarusti, Tyler Kennedy, Quin Konuszewski, Luke Lambert, Tatem Levins, Johnny Long, Ryan Miller, Josh Overbeek, Joey Pilewski, Baron Stuart, Hayden Summers, Tommy Tavarez and Jeffrey Wehler.

The 2021 recruiting class features 13 true freshmen, nine players with Division I experience and three JUCO transfers.

"I'm really excited about the depth and talent of this class, as well as grateful for the endless hours of work from our complete staff during these uncharted COVID recruiting times," Bell said. "This group that Coach Megahee, Reida, Mercadante, Linder, and Mesoraco were able to secure will definitely uphold the Gold Standards set forth here at Pitt. We knew we would be replacing some key departures, and I truly feel like we recruited to not only reload immediately but also to continue to build toward the future development of this program."

Recruits by Position:
Outfielders: Giamarusti
Infielders: Anderson, Butz, Fritz, Tavarez and Wehler
Catchers: Anderson, Levins, Lambert, Long and Pilewski
Pitchers: Bair, Bautista, Coble, Demi, Dragani, Droll, Evans, Kennedy, Konuszewski, Miller, Stuart and Summers
Utility: Overbeek

Recruits by State/Country (Hometown):
Canada: Droll (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Florida: Long (Naples) and Stuart (Okeechobee)
Illinois: Giamarusti (Chicago)
Michigan: Evans (Saline) and Konuszewski (Saginaw)
New York: Tavarez (Brooklyn)
North Carolina: Summers (Greensboro)
Ohio: Fritz (Lebanon) and Overbeek (Cincinnati)
Pennsylvania: Anderson (Mars), Bair (Johnstown), Bautista (Philadelphia), Butz (York), Demi (Wexford), Lambert (McDonald), Levins (Langhorne), Miller (Blandon), Pilewski (Bethel Park) and Wehler (St. Mary's)
South Carolina: Kennedy (Columbia)
Virginia: Coble (Richmond)
Wisconsin: Dragani (Brookfield)

JACK ANDERSON: Junior, First Base/Catcher (State College of Florida/Northwestern/Mars/Mars, Pa.)

Recorded a .495 slugging percentage, .429 on-base percentage and .314 batting average at State College of Florida with 59 hits, 15 doubles, 46 runs and five homers.
Played two seasons at Northwestern with 11 starts.
Hit for a .420 batting average and 4 home runs for the Mars Fightin' Planets.
Helped Mars make its first WPIAL Championship appearance in school history.

BRENDON BAIR: Freshman, Pitcher (Bishop McCourt/Johnstown, Pa.)

Led Bishop McCourt Catholic to a District 6 Class A Championship in 2019 and PIAA semifinal appearance.
Finished his sophomore season with an 3-4 record, 1.83 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched.
Named to the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference All-Conference team, a Class of 2021 Top 10 Baseball Prospect by PennLive and a 2020 Preseason Underclass All-American Atlantic All-Region First Team Perfect Game selection.
Played for the Flood City Elite travel team with fellow Panther CJ Funk.

JONATHAN BAUTISTA: Freshman, Pitcher (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy/Philadelphia, Pa.)

Tallied 10-3 record with a 0.85 ERA in three seasons with Springside Chestnut Hill.
Named to the Northeast All-Region first team by Perfect Game and a Class of 2021 Top 10 Baseball Prospect by PennLive.
Played for NEB National (2021), Ohio Warhawks (2021) and Anderson Monarchs (2017-20).
Selected the Most Valuable Pitcher of the 2020 PG 18U Mid-Atlantic Fall World Series tournament.

SPENCER BUTZ: Freshman, Infielder (York Suburban/York, Pa.)

Awarded the 2021 YAIAA York/Adams Division II Player of the Year.
Batted .469 with an on-base percentage of .611 with 24 hits, eight doubles, two triples, three homers, 20 runs and 19 RBIs.
Captained his age group of the Keystone Baseball Club.
Played with current Panther CJ Funk in the Big 26 Baseball Classic.

HARRISON COBLE: Freshman, Pitcher (St. Christopher's/Richmond, Va.)

Led St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Va. to two VISAA Prep League Championships and state semifinal appearances.
Named VISAA First-Team All-State, RTD First-Team All-Metro, and First-Team All-Prep.
Finished his senior season with a 7-0 record, a 2.44 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.

KYLE DEMI: Freshman, Pitcher (North Allegheny/Wexford, Pa.)

Led North Allegheny to win the 2021 WPIAL 6A championship and reach the PIAA Championship Game.
Named to the WPIAL First Team All-Section, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Area Team, and the TribLive HSSN Baseball All-Star team.
Holds the school record for ERA, strikeouts, games won and games pitched.
Recorded a 0.87 ERA, 9-1 record, 81 strikeouts and 12 appearances as a senior.

BEN DRAGANI: Redshirt-Junior, Pitcher (Michigan/Catholic Memorial/Brookfield, Wisc.)

Named the 44th-best transfer by Baseball America for the upcoming 2022 season.
In three years at Michigan, recorded a 3.34 ERA, 9-5 record and 73 strikeouts in 28 appearances, 14 starts and 105 innings pitched.
Named in 2018 to the Collegiate Baseball News Freshman All-America, Perfect Game Freshman All-America Second Team, D1Baseball Freshman All-America Second Team selection, All-Big Ten Third Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Recorded as a freshman a 2.76 ERA, 6-2 record and 54 strikeouts in 16 appearances, 11 starts and 75 innings pitched.
Selected the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year for Baseball in Wisconsin, All-State First Team, Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Wisconsin Little Ten First Team.

WILL DROLL: Freshman, Pitcher (St. Ignatius/Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada)

Played for Toronto Mets (2019-2021) and Thunder Bay Lakers (2018).
Helped Team Ontario win the Canadian National Championship.
Selected to Perfect Game All-Region Team

LOGAN EVANS: Sophomore, Pitcher (Penn State/Saline/Saline, Mich.)

Two-year reliever for Penn State and went 2-1 in three appearances, totaling a 4.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in eight innings in 2020.
Led Saline to the 2017 MHSAA D1 State Championship.
Named a first-team D1 All-State Pitcher with a team-best in wins (six), ERA (1.10), home runs, doubles and triples in 2018 and only lost one game as a starting pitcher in his high school career.
Ranked as the second-best right-handed pitcher and fifth-best player overall out of Michigan and in the Perfect Game Top 500.

AJ FRTIZ: Junior, Infielder (State College of Florida/Evansville/Lebanon/Lebanon, Ohio)

Two-year starter at State College of Florida, notching 44 hits, 26 RBIs and three stolen bases in 58 games.
Last season tallied a .268 batting average, .368 on-base percentage and .320 slugging percentage.
Started in 45 games as a freshman for Evansville, recording 34 hits 25 RBIs and six home runs.
Named First-Team All-State his senior year with a .427 batting average.

NICK GIAMARUSTI: Freshman, Outfielder (Notre Dame College Prep/Chicago, Ill.)

Led Notre Dame College Prep to the 2019 ESCC North Division Championship.
Finished his senior season with a .400 batting average and a 1.038 OPS.
Named Team MVP and to the ESCC All-Conference team his senior year.
Set the PBR Futures Games 60-yard dash record (6.22 seconds).

TYLER KENNEDY: Freshman, Pitcher (Georgia Premier Academy/Columbia, S.C.)

Played at A C Flora High School in 9th and 10th grade before transferring to Georgia Premier Academy for remaining two years of high school.
Led Georgia Premier to runner-up in National Academies Association conference tournament.
Recorded 99 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA in 54 innings pitched in one season of academy baseball.

QUIN KONUSZEWSKI: Freshman, Pitcher (Heritage/Saginaw, Mich.)

Led Heritage to win two state championships and the 2017 regional championship.
Awarded first team all-state and competed in the Michigan high school all-star game as a senior.
Threw 97 strikeouts with a 2.04 ERA in 56 innings.
Selected first team all-conference as a sophomore.

LUKE LAMBERT: Freshman, Catcher (West Allegheny/McDonald, Pa.)

Led West Allegheny High School to the PIAA state semifinals.
Finished his senior season with a .484 batting average and five home runs.
Named to the All-Area All-Star team.
Played for the Allegheny Pirates with fellow Panther Dom Popa and also for the Team Ohio Pro Select and Beaver Valley Baseball.

TATEM LEVINS: Junior, Catcher (La Salle/Notre Dame H.S./Langhorne, Pa.)

Named the 34th-best transfer by Baseball America and No. 51 by DIBaseball.com for the upcoming 2022 season.
Three-year starter at La Salle, tallying a .318 batting average, .524 slugging percentage and .402 on-base percentage with 17 homers, 37 doubles and 113 RBIs.
Named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team and All-Atlantic 10 Second-Team last year.
Batted .315 with a .416 on-base percentage and a .503 slugging percentage and led the team with 49 runs scored, homered seven times and added 14 doubles.
Named the 2019 A-10 and Philadelphia Big 5 Rookie of the Year and was selected to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.

JOHNNY LONG: Sophomore, Catcher (Florida Gulf Coast/Barron Collier/Naples, Fla.)

Two-year starter at Florida Gulf Coast.
Named to the All-Atlantic Sun Freshman Team after recording a .385 on-base percentage, .351 slugging percentage, 18 RBIs, eight extra-base hits and 24 runs.
Caught five baserunners stealing in college.
Hit .403 as a senior with seven doubles, four home runs and 23 RBIs.

RYAN MILLER: Junior, Pitcher (North Carolina Central/Fleetwood Area/Blandon, Pa.)

Named the 85th-best transfer by Baseball America for the upcoming 2022 season.
Last season was named the MEAC Pitcher of the Year, HBCU Nines Large School Division National Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-MEAC, an All-American by Collegiate Baseball (Second Team) and NCBWA (Third Team), to the ABCA Second Team All-Region and a NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist.
Set an NCCU modern era record with 10 wins (10-0), tossed consecutive complete game shutouts against Norfolk State on Feb. 27 and March 6, had a streak of 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run in his first four starts of the year and led the MEAC with a 2.21 ERA, which is the third-lowest in the modern era at NCCU and 10th best in a single season in MEAC history.
Picked the 2019 MEAC Rookie of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and Third Team All-MEAC.
Finished third in the MEAC with a 3.15 ERA, seventh in strikeouts with 73, tied for third in wins and tied for first in walks allowed with just 13 and also ranked 23rd in the nation with a 5.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

JOSH OVERBEEK: Freshman, Utility (Anderson/Cincinnati, Ohio)

Recorded a .458 batting average, 1.532 OPS, and eight home runs in his senior season.
Named to the All-State team, All-Cincinnati team, and named Eastern Cincinnati Conference Player of the Year.
Holds the school record with a home run in five consecutive games.
Selected a Perfect Game Underclass All-American and PBR Ohio All-State first team and ranked in the Perfect Game Top 500 National Ranking.

JOEY PILEWSKI: Freshman, Catcher (Central Catholic/Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Led Central Catholic High School to the PIAA 6A state semifinals.
Named to the PIAA 6A All-Second Team.
Averaged .310 with three home runs and caught 15-of-17 runners stealing in his senior season.

BARON STUART: Senior, Pitcher (USF/Okeechobee/ Okeechobee, Fla.)

A key arm for the last four years at USF, recorded a career 5.78 ERA, 116 strikeouts and 10-8 record in 43 appearances, 26 starts and 137 innings pitched.
Helped the Bulls last year win the American Athletic Conference Tournament and Gainesville NCAA Regional Championships to advance to the Austin NCAA Super Regionals.
Was primarily a starter his first two seasons with 61 strikeouts combined in the two years.
Earned his first career save last season along with 34 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched.

HAYDEN SUMMERS: Sophomore, Pitcher (Walters State CC/Northwest Guilford/Greensboro, N.C.)

Helped Walters State CC reach the NJCAA World Series and win its conference championship.
Recorded a 6-0 record and 0.84 ERA in 32.0 innings pitched.
Struck out 47 batters with three walks given up.
Three-time conference pitcher of the year and all-state selection in high school

TOMMY TAVAREZ: Freshman, Infielder (Citius Prep/Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Played baseball at Citius Prep in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
School competed against other prep schools as well as junior colleges.
Ranked #120 in the country in the 2021 class by Perfect Game.
Named a Perfect Game All-American and All-Region player during his senior season.

JEFFREY WEHLER: Senior, Infielder (Youngstown State/St. Mary's Area/St. Mary's, Pa.)

Named the 54th-best transfer for the upcoming 2022 season by Baseball America and No. 55 by DIBaseball.com.
Finished his Youngstown State career ranked second in school history with 88 career steals and lead his team in stolen bases in four straight seasons.
Named First-Team All-Horizon League last year and second-team in 2019 and 2018.
Last season had career-bests of a .332 batting average, .390 on-base percentage, .552 slugging percentage, 53 runs, 74 hits, 27 extra-base hits, eight homers, 38 RBIs and 20 walks.

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Baseball Announces 2021 Recruiting Class

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Baseball Announces 2021 Recruiting Class

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