Gopher Baseball Adds Nine with 2022 Signing Class
11/19/2021 3:50:00 PM | Baseball
Minnesota is set to bring in multiple impact players
Making up this year's signing class are catcher/outfielder Drew Berkland (Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata H.S.), right-handed pitcher Caden Capomaccio (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy), left-handed pitcher T.J. Egan (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview H.S.), infielder Tristan Ellis (Greendale, Wis./Greendale H.S.), left-handed pitcher/outfielder Kristofer Hokenson (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park H.S.), pitcher/center fielder Easton Fritcher (Hayfield, Minn./Hayfield Community School), right-handed pitcher Sam Kennedy (St. Paul, Minn./North St. Paul H.S.), catcher/third baseman Weber Neels (Cottage Grove, Minn./East Ridge H.S.), right-handed pitcher/third baseman Gilbert Saunders (Gilbertsville, Pa./The Hill School).
"I am extremely excited about the 2022 class of Gopher Baseball recruits that our coaching staff has assembled," said head coach John Anderson. "This impressive class of future Gophers represents the exceptional efforts of assistant coaches Packy Casey and Ty McDevitt, who identified these multi-tooled players and invested the time to develop the trusting relationships necessary to land this special group of student-athletes."
The incoming 2022 class is well-balanced, featuring three pitchers and four positional players to go along with a pair of two-way talents.
"The highly skilled group features six of the top players from Minnesota, two from Wisconsin and a highly ranked corner infielder and pitcher from Pennsylvania, Anderson said. "We expect each of them to make an immediate impact on the field with bright futures ahead in their baseball careers. They all possess solid personal values, have high academic goals and possess the internal motivation that makes them great matches for the Gopher Baseball team culture. Our coaching staff is very excited to welcome this very talented 2022 class to the Gopher Baseball Family and we look forward to mentoring each of them throughout their journey at the University of Minnesota, preparing them for the next fifty years of their lives."
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Jump to: Berkland | Capomaccio | Egan | Ellis | Fritcher | Hokenson | Kennedy | Neels | Saunders
Drew Berkland
| Position: C/OF | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: Wayzata, Minn. | High School: Wayzata Scouting Report: An outstanding three-sport athlete who possesses 6.7/60 speed, versatility and developing power tools at the plate. Behind the plate, he has has a quick release and above average arm strength, but his speed in center field is game-changing and possibly his long-term position. Has natural leadership qualities and is a fierce competitor. An exciting prospect who projects to play early in his Minnesota career. |
Berkland arrives in Minnesota after a three-sport prep career in football, basketball and baseball at Wayzata High School. He was an all-conference selection in all three sports in his junior year and a starter on Wayzata's state champion football team (2019) and basketball team (2021). He was an all-section selection last spring on Wayzata's baseball team and was a Prep Baseball Report Futures Game participant.
He had a stellar junior season, hitting .340 with two home runs, 20 RBI and a .500 on-base percentage. Berkland ranks as the No. 5 overall prospect in the state by Perfect Game in addition to being the No. 1 player at his position and No. 67 player nationally. Prep Baseball Report ranks him as the No. 10 player in the state and No. 1 overall at his position.
Berkland is the son of MaryBeth and Jon Berkland. He also has two younger brothers, Jake and Matthew. His father Matthew played baseball at Emory Riddle Aeronautical University and his mom played volleyball at Lawrence University. He plans on majoring in business when he gets to Minnesota.
Schools Considered: Notre Dame, Washington, Miami (Ohio), San Diego, Yale, Illinois, Northwestern.
Goals for His Time at Minnesota: "My goal is to win the Big Ten Championship and go to Omaha each year I am there."
Berkland on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because the university presents a great opportunity academically and athletically. Most importantly, the culture established in the baseball program and throughout the university will better me as a person in preparation for my entire life. The UofM felt like home the first time I stepped on campus. It is the best place for me to pursue my baseball dreams, stay close to home, and put myself in the best position for success when I leave the University."
Assistant Coach Packy Casey on Berkland: "Drew is a special player and someone who's been on our radar for a long time. He's come up in two outstanding programs coached by our alumni at Wayzata High School, Bob DeWitt (1996, '99-00) and Billy Soule Jr. (2010-13) and at NorthStar Baseball coached by Mike Kvasnicka (2008-13) and Alec Crawford (2013-14). We owe a big thanks to them in their development of Drew. Not only is he going to be a big asset for us on the field but his leadership qualities, competitiveness and will to win are intangibles you can't teach. If there's one word to sum up Drew Berkland it's 'winner.' He finds ways to wins championships and it doesn't matter if he's scoring touchdowns or making assists, he just wins. As a player, he's a great fit for everything for we do, he's going to be versatile, and his combination of speed and power is something you don't find often in prep players, that'll play in our lineup very quickly. We are extremely lucky to have Drew wearing the Maroon and Gold and proudly welcome his father Jon, mother Marybeth and younger brothers Jake and Matthew to the Golden Gopher Baseball Family."
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Caden Capomaccio
| Position: RHP | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: Green Bay, Wis. | High School: Notre Dame Academy Scouting Report: Electric and athletic right-handed pitcher who works with a high spin 91-93 mph fastball, a hard-biting slider and a very good changeup. Broke out as junior and established himself as one of the best arms in the state of Wisconsin. Very polished on the mound with explosive arm action and a very high upside. He has all the makings of a power pitcher in the Big Ten Conference with high-strikeout potential. |
The right-hander out of Green Bay has had a fabulous prep career, earning the unanimous Pitcher of the Year award in his conference as a junior in 2021 in addition to making first team all-district and WBCA Third Team All-State. His junior year on the mound saw him post a 5-0 record with an 0.98 ERA with 64 strikeouts and just 16 walks.
During the summer, Capomaccio pitched in six games for the 17U GRB Rays, posting a 1-0 record with a 4.30 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
On top of his status as the No. 15 right-handed pitcher and No. 43 overall player in Wisconsin, Perfect Game has Capomaccio as the No. 783 player in the country. Prep Baseball Report has him as the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in Wisconsin and the No. 12 prospect overall.
Caden is the son of Tracy and Mark Capomaccio. He has an older sister, Chloe (student at Marquette University), and a younger sister, Ella (student at Notre Dame Academy). As a student at Notre Dame Academy, Caden was a two-time Honor Roll student in addition to making High Honor Roll as a junior. Capomaccio intends to major in finance at the University of Minnesota
Schools Also Considered: Notre Dame, Indiana, Xavier.
Capomaccio on why he chose Minnesota: "Minnesota has always been one of my dream schools to attend. Once I started talking to the coaches there, we immediately bonded and created an important relationship. Having coach Anderson at Minnesota for almost 40 years makes the program that much more special. On the academic side, Minnesota's business school (Carlson School of Management) is one of the best in the nation and I believe a degree from such a great school will help me accomplish my professional goals."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "Some goals that I have for myself are becoming the best pitcher I can be. Both physically and mentally, I want to be able to become the best version of myself and I believe with this coaching staff I will be able to accomplish this goal. Some goals that I have for this team is to help out the pitching rotation in whatever role the coaches want me in. Whether it's starting or relieving, I am willing to do whatever it takes to win."
Pitching Coach Ty McDevitt on Capomaccio: "Caden is everything we look for in a prep arm. He is athletic, can spin the baseball, commands three pitches and is a fierce competitor on the mound. He has dominated in the state of Wisconsin and pitched competitively against some of the best national competition at his age. Although he already routinely works into the 90's, we expect a jump in velocity with increased physical development. We expect Caden to contribute early in his career in a verity of roles. Caden will remind Gopher fans of Brett Schulze (2017-19) with his quick and ability to spin the breaking ball."
| Position: LHP | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215 | Bat/Throws: L/L Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn. | High School: Eastview Scouting Report: Fast rising left-handed pitcher who shows the makings of having a breakout senior season for Eastview High School. Equipped with an imposing 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame, his fastball works in 88-90 mph range with room for considerably more velocity down the road. His curveball has 1-7 shape with depth. He also features a changeup and cut fastball. He has tons of upside and is one of the more intriguing arms in the Gophers 2022 class. Has tons of ability to go along with his pitchability and competitiveness. |
The southpaw out of Apple Valley, Minnesota had a big time junior year for the Lightning, posting a 1.75 ERA in 48.0 innings pitched with 75 strikeouts and just 10 earned runs. He was named South Suburban All-Conference, All-Section 3AAA and his team's Pitcher of the Year.
In club ball, Egan played for the Minnesota MASH from 2016-21 and for Northstar in 2021. During his 15U season with MASH, he helped the team to a National Championship in Indianapolis. He made the World Series All-Tournament Team in the title run as well. He followed that up by making the 16U WWBA North Championships All-Tournament Team. He was also a 16U Midwest Stripes Team Member.
Perfect Game ranked T.J. as the No. 398 prospect nationally, the No. 48 player in Minnesota (No. 6 left-handed pitcher). Prep Baseball Report ranked him as the No. 12 player in the state and No. 4 LHP.
A standout in the classroom, Egan was named to the MSHSBCA AAAA Gold All-State Academic Team.
The son of Becky and Jim Egan, T.J. has three younger siblings, Ryan, Emma and Kaleigh. His father, Jim, (baseball) and mother, Becky (volleyball) were both student-athletes at the U. He's currently undecided on what his major will be at Minnesota.
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Schools Also Considered: USC, Indiana, Wichita State, Dallas Baptist, University of California-Santa Barbara and University of Illinois-Chicago.
Egan on why he chose Minnesota: "It has been my dream to go here since I was a little kid. Both of my parents were student athletes at Minnesota, so I grew up bleeding maroon and gold. Growing up walking around campus and going to games for every sport all year round grew a love for the school that I couldn't find anywhere else. After talking a visit of campus and many great conversations with coach McDevitt, I knew it really was the place I wanted to spend the next four years of my life."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "I want to maintain a great team culture and bring the entire team up together when we are succeeding. Setting the team up as best as we can to secure wins. I want to be a the best teammate I can be, on and off the field."
Pitching Coach Ty McDevitt on Egan: "The velocity isn't going to jump at you, but he is one of the more polished pitchers the state has to offer. T.J. has dominated Minnesota High School competition with a solid 3-4 pitch mix, sinking the baseball and using an impressive changeup. With a long and strong build, athletic genetics, and a smooth arm action, there is a lot to dream about here. Anytime you can get a lefty with good command, physicality, smooth arm action and Gopher Pride ingrained in him at a young age, it is a no-brainer for me. We can't wait to get T.J. on campus in the fall."
Tristan Ellis
| Position: IF | Height: 5-8 | Weight: 155 | Bat/Throws: L/R Hometown: Greendale, Wis. | High School: Greendale Scouting Report: Exciting middle-infield prospect with potent left-handed bat and impressive speed skills on the bases. Projects as a top of the lineup option in the coming years with a good two-strike approach, can play the short game well and walks more than he strikes out. Has a very good arm and with continued physical strength could be an option anywhere in the infield and potentially the outfield early in his career at Minnesota. |
A starter on Greendale's varsity team since his freshman year, Ellis has developed from a consistent contributor into a star player on his high school team. As a freshman, he hit .286 with a .425 on-base percentage, driving in 14 runs with 13 runs scored.
His sophomore season was canceled because of COVID-19, but he came back for his junior year with a bang. Ellis was selected as one of three team captains and hit .436 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 32 runs, eight doubles and 34 hits. He also had a standout year as a pitcher, winning 2021 Woodland Conference Player of the Year after going 6-0 on the mound with a 1.67 ERA and 51 strikeouts. Ellis made the First Team Southeast All-District and All-State honorable mention for his performance as well. Greendale High School's team awaded him with the team's Cy Young, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove team awards.
On the club circuit for Hitters Baseball, Ellis led his team to the 17U WWBA Battle for the Midwest Championship last summer. As a junior, he led the Hitters 16U team to the WWBA North Championship and the Perfect Game Labor Day Championships.
Prep Baseball Report ranks Ellis as the No. 1 middle infielder in the state of Wisconsin and the No. 22 player overall.
As the son of Jodi and Joe Ellis, he also has an older sister, Morgan. Tristan is undecided on what his major will be at Minnesota.
Schools Also Considered: Purdue, Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky.
Ellis on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because of what Minnesota has to offer academically and how they will prepare me for my future. I also chose Minnesota because of the rich history of the baseball program."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "My goals for the team is to contribute to win a Big Ten Championship and a national championship. My goals for myself is to develop into a leader and better player and person on and off the field."
Volunteer Assistant Coach Trey Vavra on Ellis: "We're really excited with Tristan coming into the program and what he brings to the table. He has a quick twitch, athletic body that moves well and his attention to detail will help us on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he's going to be able to do a lot of things for us as he runs the bases extremely well to go along with above average speed. His short game plays right away in our offense and his versatility and ability to play up the middle is a strong addition to our defense. Most importantly, he has the right type of grinder mentality we cherish in young players - he gets after it and plays with passion and a desire to win. Tristan is exactly the type of player we needed in this class as he brings a lot to the table and compliments his fierce competitiveness with a unique skillset that is rare to find in amateur players."
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Easton Fritcher
| Position: LHP/CF | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190 | Bat/Throws: L/L Hometown: Hayfield, Minn. | High School: Hayfield Community School Scouting Report: Incredibly talented multi-sport athlete who has 6.7/60 speed, an above-average arm and an advanced hit tool at the plate. He dominated the competition this past spring and summer, helping Hayfield to the Class A State Championship and a perfect 26-0 record. A physical left-handed hitter at the plate, Fritcher has started to show signs of strength and power after hitting .563 with eight doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 48 RBI's as a junior. He projects to hit near the top of the lineup for the Gophers in the coming years and his high-end athleticism will allow him to play anywhere in the Minnesota outfield. |
A pitcher and outfielder for Hayfield, Fritcher has been as valuable as any player in program history. The 2021 Post Bulletin All-Area Player of the Year hit .543 as a junior with eight home runs, 48 RBI, 52 runs scored and eight doubles. On the mound, Fritcher held a sensational 11-0 record with a 1.55 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched. He picked up a victory on the mound in leading Hayfield to the Class A State Championship game.
A three-time all-section and all-conference team honoree, Fritcher also helped lead his high school's basketball team to a state title in 2021. He grabbed an incredible 29 rebounds in Hayfield's state semifinal basketball win over Legacy Christian to help the Vikings reach the state title game.
The No. 12 overall player in the state according to Prep Baseball Report, he ranks as the No. 3 outfielder in Minnesota. Perfect Game has Fritcher as the No. 43 player in the state (No. 15 outfielder) and No. 475 player nationally.
Easton is the son of Jodi and Shannon Fritcher. He also has an older brother, Jadyn. He intends to major in kinesiology at the University of Minnesota.
Schools Also Considered: Arizona, Quincy, South Dakota State.
Fritcher on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose the University of Minnesota it is close to home and I love the community."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "I want to win a lot of games and to get better!"
Assistant Coach Packy Casey on Fritcher: "Minnesota got one heck of a player when Easton committed to the Gophers this past summer. When you talk about dominant talent in the 2022 class, Easton Fritcher is at the top. You look at what he's done for Hayfield in multiple sports, and what's been able to do for Adam Barta and the Blizzard program and it's nothing short of extraordinary. He produces wherever he goes and whatever he plays. He competes and he brings with him a winning quality that matches what John Anderson and Rob Fornasiere have always looked for in Minnesota born players, kids who want to wear the Maroon and Gold who have a special talent and Easton fits that narrative to perfection. He'll remind Minnesota fans of Charlie Nelson (1991-94) with his gliding speed, left-handed bat and all-out style of play. He gives our offense a lot of options with his running ability on the bases, but it's his hit tool and developing gap-to-gap power that's really exciting, he took a big jump as a hitter this past year and his physicality at the plate was something that caught the eye of everyone who saw him. Easton has all the talent to make an immediate impact as Gopher and we're extremely excited to have him and his parents, Shannon and Jodi Fritcher, apart of our Family with Gopher Baseball.
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Kristofer Hokenson
| Position: OF/LHP | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175 | Bat/Throws: L/L Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minn. | High School: St. Louis Park Scouting Report: One of the best two-way talents in the country, Hokenson excelled on the mound last spring for St. Louis Park and is also one of the best left-handed hitters in the state. Armed with an 88-91 fastball and a very good curveball with tight 2-8 break. He throws strikes and competes. Excellent hitting skills and started to show signs of developing more power this fall for the Midwest Reds Scout Team. Shows professional potential both on the mound and at the plate. |
A four-year varsity player, Hokenson has had a phenomenal career on the diamond for the Orioles. As a junior in 2021, Hokenson hit .348 with one home run, 16 RBI, 12 doubles and 22 runs scored. On the mound, he went 4-0 with an 0.45 ERA in 31.0 innings pitched with 58 strikeouts and 17 walks. He was the only junior named to the Star Tribune All-Metro Team in addition to making ht 6AAAA All-Section and West Metro All-Conference teams. His standout performance ame in the section playoffs against Wayzata, when he pitched a complete game, four-hit, 13-strikeout shutout in a victory.
He lettered for SLP's hockey team in 2020 before the baseball season was canceled becuase of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his debut as a freshman in 2019, he pitched a complete game shutout in a no-hitter with seven strikeouts and just one walk.
In club ball, Hokenson played four years for Northstar Baseball before playing for the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team this past summer. He hit .453 for the Reds Scout Team with one home run, 25 RBI, 28 runs, nine doubles and four stolen bases. He also pitched 13.2 innings, posting a 2.56 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks in 13.2 innings pitched.
A consensus top-10 overall player in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game (No. 7) and Prep Baseball Report (No. 9), Hokenson was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 158 overall player in the country. PG and PBR have him as the No. 2 outfielde in Minnesota.
As the son of Erik and Linda Hokenson, Kris has a younger brother, Alexander. Erik was a Universitiy of Minnesota graduate while Linda graduated from University of Uppsala (Sweden). Kris intends to major in kinesiology at the University of Minnesota.
Schools Also Considered: Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Xavier, St. Louis.
Hokenson on why he chose Minnesota: "I was born and raised in St Louis Park, so to have a chance to become a Gopher is a dream come true. I am going to get to study at a top university, be coached by an amazing staff and play baseball close to home for a program with a long history of success. After my first time attending one of the Gopher baseball camps, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I could just see myself playing at Siebert field."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "My goal and hope for our team is to win a national championship. For myself, I am excited to become a Gopher and keep working to be a better baseball player and leader. I want to focus on getting stronger and faster and improve in all parts of the game - hitting, pitching, and fielding. I also want to help my teammates improve and support them whenever they need it."
Assistant Coach Packy Casey on Hokenson: "The first time I saw Kris swing I knew he was going to be a Gopher. Kvas (Mike Kvasnicka) deserves a lot of credit with what he's done with Kris. His bat path is incredibly efficient, he's quick to the ball and everything is clean and smooth. When Gopher fans see him swing, it'll remind them a lot of what Mike (Kvasnicka) did at the plate and some of Craig Selander (1996-98) too. I love everything Kris is as a player. He reminds me of Max Meyer in high school - dominant at the plate and on the mound - that's what we look for in high school kids. Kris worked very hard this last winter to improve his body and the results really showed. He's gotten more bat speed, developed more power and really took a jump on the mound with his velocity. He's athletic, has a repeatable delivery but he really competes and that's what separates and makes him special. Kris is going to be a two-way player for us at Minnesota, and he's going to hit in our lineup early in his career. He's the perfect fit for the program and has a very bright future at Minnesota. We can't wait to get him on campus and have him and his parents, Erik and Linda Hokenson, become a part of the Gopher Baseball Family."
Sam Kennedy
| Position: RHP/IF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: St. Paul, Minn. | High School: North St. Paul Scouting Report: One of the top prep pitchers in the nation, Kennedy broke out this last summer and made the Area Code Team where he showcased his big arm and a lively 91-92 mph fastball with a high spin curveball and power changeup from high ¾ slot. He has a well-built, sturdy frame on the mound and projects as a future weekend starter with three-plus pitches. A very athletic performer, he could also see time at the plate for the Gophers with impressive bat speed and hitting ability. |
The hard-throwing right-hander is a two-time Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American selection heading into his senior year of high school at North St. Paul. The 2021 team MVP for the Polars hit .451 as a junior with three home runs and a .549 slugging percentage while posting a 3.0 ERA on the mound with 54 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched.
In club ball for the Minnesota Blizzard, Kennedy led his team to the Perfect Game 17U WWBA North Championship in 2021 in addition to the 2020 Perfect Game Firecracker Invitational title. He was named the 2021 Minnesota Blizzard Blue 2022 Team MVP this past summer. In 2020, he won the team's top hitter award. He performed admirably at numerous Prep Baseball Report events, posting the third highest exit velocity at their preseason All-State event. He earned the top spin rate on his fastball and slider and second quickest fastball velocity at the Prep Baseball Report event in 2020.
According to Perfect Game, Kennedy is the No. 2 pitcher and No. 7 overall player in the state of Minnesota in 2022. He is the No. 411 player nationally according to Prep Baseball Report, including the No. 2 right-handed pitcher and No. 4 overall player in the state.
Sam is the son of Laura and Dan Kennedy. He also has an older brother, Joe. A three-time honor roll student in high school, Sam is undecided on what his major will be at the University of Minnesota.
Schools Also Considered: USC, Indiana, Pepperdine, St. Louis, Grand Canyon, Georgia State, UW-Milwaukee, Tennessee Tech.
Kennedy on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota based off of the philosophy of their player development, playing for my home state, the rich culture of the program, and it felt like the best fit for me when I went of my visit"
Kennedy on his goals at Minnesota: "I want to get better everyday and help the team win. My team goals are to win a Big Ten Championship."
Pitching Coach Ty McDevitt on Kennedy: "Don't let Sam's quiet demeanor fool you, he is a bulldog on the mound. He reminds me a lot of Matt Fiedler (2014-16) with his frame, athleticism, competitiveness and quick arm. Sam is a dynamic athlete who has contributed as a two-way player to both his North St Paul and Blizzard teams. He dominated the competition, making him a good fit for our pitching philosophy. His physicality will not jump out at you but the quickness in his arm will. He is an incredibly smart and calculated competitor who is hungry for objective information to guide his development process. We are excited to keep Sam in state and look forward to getting him on campus."
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Weber Neels
| Position: C/3B | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: Cottage Grove, Minn. | High School: East Ridge Scouting Report: Very good athlete and fierce competitor who plays with aggressiveness and a lot of grit. Strong and sturdy frame, possess above average arm strength and a very good feel for hitting. Will develop into a middle part of the order bat as his strength continues to develop. Has enough athleticism to play just about anywhere on the field but might find his long-term niche at the hot corner |
Joining the Gophers from Cottage Grove, Minn., is catcher/third baseman Weber Neels. As a junior, Neels hit .303 with three home runs, 53 RBI and 12 doubles. He was extremely dependable in the field, making just two errors in the 89 opportunities he had. As a catcher, Neels threw out nine of the 15 runners who attempted to steal bases on him.
As a freshman in high school, Neels led East Ridge to a state title victory over New Prague at Target Field. He went 2-for-3 in the game with a go-ahead two-run double in addition to a single earlier in the game.
For club ball, Neels played six seasons for the Northstar Baseball Club under former Gophers Mike Kvasnicka and Alec Crawford. He also attended the 2020 futures games with fellow 2022 Drew Berkland at Milkmen Stadium in Franklin, Wis. Neels went 3-for-7 on the weekend and was 6-for-6 on plays in the field. Throughout his six years with Northstar, the team won half the tournaments it played in and were invited to multiple nationally renown tournaments.
The son of Rachel and Peter Neels, Weber was a younger sister, Monica, and his beloved dog, Maggie. His dad, Peter, played college baseball at the University of Mankato (1991-93) as a pitcher and first baseman. His sister, Maggie, plays high school volleyball and hopes to play in college in a couple years. His grandfather also pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers in the late 1940's.
Schools Also Considered: Dallas Baptist, Iowa, Purdue, Xavier, Bradley.
Neels on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose the University of Minnesota to continue my athletic career for three main reasons. Minnesota has a long track record of being in the top five of the Big Ten standings each year. Also, if it weren't for my family I wouldn't be in this position I am now, so for that I chose the UofM to stay close to home for dedication to my friends and family to be able to watch me play here at home. Finally, I decided to attend the University of Minnesota because I feel like they give me the greatest opportunity after school to reach my goals, whether it's with baseball or not."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "I want to win a Big Ten championship with my team and make a run for the national championship in Omaha. I also want to continue friendships that I will have for a lifetime. I think the University of Minnesota gives me so many opportunities to reach each of my goals, big or small."
Assistant Coach Packy Casey on Neels: "Weber is everything we want in a Gopher Baseball player. He's tough, he competes and he really wants to win. He'll remind Gopher fans a lot of Tim McIntosh (1984-86) with his ability to hit, strong arm, versatility and fierce competitiveness. The thing that really impressed me about Web was his leadership, no fear attitude and charismatic personality - he's the guy who can bring a team together and lead by example. I love his style of play at both third base and behind the plate. He's athletic enough to be very good at either one of those spots but it's ultimately his bat that's going to play. He's got an advanced feel for hitting, knows the strike zone and had started to figure out how to make adjustments at the plate. The great thing about Weber is he makes winning plays; he hits in the clutch and finds ways to produce when the game is on the line. None of these things show up in the stat column, but they're what makes him really special. We're very lucky to have Weber and his parents Peter and Rachel, in our program representing the state of Minnesota."
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Gilbert Saunders III
| Position: RHP/1B | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 265 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: Gilbertsville, Pa. | High School: The Hill School Scouting Report: One of the most physically gifted athletes in the country. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Saunders runs a 6.8 60-yard dash, routinely has exit velocity in the 106-112 mph range and is armed with a 90 mph fastball on the mound. He's an explosive athlete with tremendous power potential at the plate and he has limitless upside as both a pitcher and a hitter. Has all the makings of an ideal cleanup hitter with elite bat speed and scary pop from the right-hand side of the plate. He could also be featured on the mound as a major weapon out of the backend of the bullpen or as a weekend starter for the Gophers. |
The multi-tooled prospect comes to the Gophers from Gilbertsville, Pa. As a junior, he hit .417 at the plate. A three-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American, Saunders was ranked as the No. 232 player in the country by Perfect Game.
He was also ranked No. 15 in the state of Pennsylvania. He's a three-time MLB Dream Series Participant and participated in the Perfect Game Underclass All-American Games and the Perfect Game Jr. National Showcase.
In club ball, he played for Foundation Sports, a team that ranked in the top-100 in the country during his time there.
The son of Rena and Gilbert Saunders II, Gilbert plans to major in sports management at Minnesota. His father, Gilbert II, played basketball for Cheyney University (Division II) and won a national championship in 1978.
Schools Also Considered: Duke, USC, Kentucky, Miami, West Virginia, Georgetown, Penn State, Maryland, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina Central.
Saunders on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because I fell in love with the atmosphere on campus, and how much pride the students take in going there. I feel it is a place where I can grow as a student, a baseball player and as a man. I love the coaches, and the program has a great reputation of developing players and preparing them for life."
Goals for his time at Minnesota: "My main goal is to contribute to the team as much as I can to help us win. The goal I have for the team is to go to Omaha and bring home a national championship."
Assistant Coach Packy Casey on Saunders: "The Gopher Baseball program hasn't had an athlete like Gilbert Saunders before, the athleticism and two-way potential he possesses is simply unmatched. Gilbert has produced at a very high level for The Hill School (Pa.) and on the national travel scene the last two years, he's played against the best competition in the country and has handled himself well. He's only just begun to scratch the surface of his incredible potential. We are going to make a hitter out of Gilbert at Minnesota - he has the rare gifts that you just don't see often in recruiting, there's so much to like with him and it all starts with his character and personality, on top of that he's a leader who lives to win and play at a high level. You can't help be captivated by what he brings to a team and the positive impact he'll have on his teammates. It's exciting to think what he could do in the middle part of our lineup in the coming years, the power potential is unlike anything we've had before. The flip side of that is that he's also an emerging talent on the mound, as he continues to refine his delivery and breaking ball, he's going to be a power-pitcher who attacks hitters with a fastball/change-up combo. The sky is the limit for Gilbert and best of all he's coachable with a strong desire to get better, he belongs at Minnesota and is a great fit for the program, both on the field and in the classroom. We couldn't be more excited to have Gilbert in Gold Country and can't wait to him and his parents, Rena and Gilbert Saunders II, apart of the Gopher Baseball Family."
The Gopher baseball program begins preseason practice for the 2022 season in January.