SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 2023 signing class for the Texas State baseball team was announced today by head coach
Steven Trout. The class features eight student-athletes with six being high school seniors and two from the junior college ranks.
"We are really excited to sign this class to continue to load our program with really talented players. This is a smaller class but may be one of our most talented classes we've signed," said Trout. "Coach
Josh Blakley did a great job leading the charge with the help of coach
Chad Massengale on building off last year's momentum to continue setting up Texas State baseball to compete on the national level. Those guys spend a ton of time away from their families to make days like today happen. I couldn't be more appreciative of their hard work and sacrifice."
Joining the Bobcats will be Austin Eaton, Ryne Farber, Ethan Farris, Tyler Garritano, Benjamin Merriman, Samson Pugh, Matthew Tippie and Javi Torres.
Austin Eaton | INF | Frisco, Texas | Navarro College
Eaton will come to Texas State after spending time at Navarro College. This past year saw him hit .358 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and three triples while finishing with 59 RBI and scored 37 runs. The right-handed hitting infielder posted a .437 OBP and .704 SLG. His performance earned him first team all-conference honors.
The future Bobcat prepped at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas.
Blakley on Eaton: "Austin has major power to all fields. He fits the model of a prototypical Texas State middle of the order hitter with a big, strong body and bat speed. After clubbing 30 extra-base hits his freshmen year, we expect Austin to make an immediate impact on the middle of our lineup."
Ryne Farber | INF | San Antonio, Texas | Johnson HS
Farber will graduate from Johnson High School in San Antonio where he has picked up numerous accolades in his prep career. The 2022 campaign saw him be named to the THSBCA 6A All-State First Team and the TSWA 6A All-State Third Team at shortstop. He also earned academic all-district and all-district first team honors. The
San Antonio Express-News named him to the 6A All-Area Team, to the Super Team and a Player to Watch.
In 2021, Max Preps choose him as a sophomore All-American while picking up District 23-6A and
San Antonio Express-News Newcomer of the Year honors. Farber as also a TXXXX 6A All-State Second Team pick at second base.
Blakley on Farber: "The more times I went to the park to watch Ryne, the more I fell in love with his game. The son of a coach, he is a lockdown defender in the infield and understands who he is as a hitter. Ryne's instincts and defensive ability give him the chance to play early in his career. He is going to be a fun one to watch."
Ethan Farris | INF/OF | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Woods HS
Farris is a 6-foot, 5-inch corner infielder and outfielder out of Cypress Woods High School. This past spring, he was named to the All-District 16-6A at third base. Farris batted .357 with six doubles and two home runs while posting a .446 OBP and .528 SLG his junior year.
The soon to be Bobcats choose TXST over interest from Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Rice, TCU, Texas, ULM and UTSA.
Blakley on Farris: "Ethan has a toolset that is a scout's dream. Possessing a big physical frame with bat speed allows him to hit homers to every part of the ballpark. Don't let the large size fool you, he is a ballplayer and can play defense very well. Expect him to lock down a corner spot on the field and be a mainstay in the lineup for a long time."
Tyler Garritano | INF | Boerne, Texas | Boerne HS
A four-year starter for the Greyhounds, Garritano was named to the All-District ##-4A First team the past two years. This year saw him be named to the Perfect Game Preseason Texas All-Region Second Team this past Spring.
Choose the Bobcats over interest from Arizona and Baylor.
Blakley on Garritano: "Tyler is a hard-nosed dude that can get after it in the batter's box. I watched him play for a long time and he always hit. Possessing a big frame, he has the ability to really fill out and begin hitting home runs to the big parts of the field. I see Tyler playing one of our corner spots and hitting in the middle of the Bobcat lineup for multiple years."
Benjamin Merriman | OF | Austin, Texas | James Bowie HS
Merriman, a soon to be graduate of James Bowie High School, is coming off a season in which he led his district with 18 RBI while batting .416 with two home runs. His performance saw him be named to the All-District 26-6A First Team and to the
Austin American-Statesmen All-Central Texas Second Team.
He is also a two-time Academic All-District 26-6A honoree and named a Perfect Game Preseason Underclassman All-American.
Merriman picked Texas State over interest from Houston, Incarnate Word, Texas, Texas Tech and UTSA.
Blakley on Merriman: "Ben can hit and burst on to the scene as a premier hitter the summer after his freshman year and has continued improving since then. With present strength in his frame, the ball jumps off his bat to all parts of the field. We expect big things from him in the coming years."
Samson Pugh | INF/OF | Montgomery, Texas | Lake Creek HS
Pugh will arrive in San Marcos after graduating from Lake Creek High School. He is a two-time All-District 20-5A First Team choice with one selection at third base in 2022 and as an outfielder his sophomore year. Other awards include all-county outfielder and the country's Newcomer of the Year.
Blakley on Pugh: "Samson has hit in the middle of a really good Lake Creek lineup since his sophomore year. A versatile athlete, he can play all over the field on defense and has really good bat-to-ball skills. Expect Samson to show the ability to hit at our level his freshman year and get playing opportunities right away."
Matthew Tippie | RHP | Wimberley, Texas | Wimberley HS | Angelina College
Tippie currently plays for Angelina College where he was an all-conference second team selection on the mound. The right-hander competed in the Texas-New Mexico Junior College Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game in September.
As a freshman, he struck out 49 in 46 innings over 17 games that included eight starts and finished with a 1-3 record.
Tippie graduated from Wimberley High School. His senior year saw him go 8-3 with a 1.17 ERA while striking out 102 and walking 26 in 65.2 innings and tossing a no-hitter. He was named to the All-District 28-4A First Team in 2021. Also a member of the Texans football team, he was a 2020 TSWA 4A All-State honorable mention choice at quarterback and was the District 14-4A Offensive MVP.
Tippie choose the Bobcats over interest from Georgia State, Lamar, Louisiana, Nevada, Rice, Sam Houston, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, ULM and UT Arlington.
Blakley on Tippie: "Matthew is a big guy with a quick arm. The fastball comes out of a tough slot at 90-93 mph and the curveball really spins. He reminds me a lot of
Zeke Wood at that age. I expect Matthew to pitch in the weekend rotation as soon as he steps on campus."
Javi Torres | INF/RHP | Converse, Texas | Judson HS
Torres is a 6-foot, 1-inch two-way player from Judson High School in Converse, Texas. He is a two-time All-District 27-6A First Team selection and earned 2020 Academic All-District 27-6A accolades. On March 29, he recorded strikeout 20 batters in seven innings against South San Antonio High School
Back in September, Torres took part in the New Balance Future Star Series that was held at historic Fenway Park.
Torres choose the Bobcats over interest from New Mexico State, Oklahoma, Tarleton State and UTSA.
Blakley on Torres: "Javi is a guy we saw the summer before his freshman year of high school and began recruiting right away. Back then, the was a lanky shortstop with a good swing. Now he has put on weight and throws his fastball up to 96 mph with a plus curveball. The sky is the limit for Javi once he becomes a Bobcat."
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