VMI baseball has announced its spring recruiting class, according to information released by the program Monday.
The class consists of six players, and joins the 11 early additions to the program announced prior to the 2016 season.
“We are very excited to add these six players to our incoming class,” said VMI head coach Jonathan Hadra. “Some of them have been committed since the fall, while some have been added recently during the spring. Needs are always changing in the recruiting process so we, as a staff, are always assessing what our current needs are at this particular time. Some of our current needs that we were able to address were adding some position players that could improve our team speed on both sides of the ball, depth in the middle of the field and some arms that we think could come in and pitch very early in their career.”
Mason Adamson, MIF/RHP, R/R, 6-2, 170, Newport News, Va./Woodside
Four-year letterwinner at Woodside HS for Coach Kevin Hare….First Team All-Conference in 2015…has previously been Second Team All-Conference…also lettered three years in volleyball where he was a two-time First Team All-Conference honoree…played summer ball for the Hampton Roads Hurricanes, coached by Bryan Kersey, where he was a teammate of fellow signee Michael Diodato…intends to major in business and economics.
Coach’s Quote: “Mason is an extremely talented multi-sport athlete that will come to VMI next year having earned All-Conference accolades while at Woodside High School in baseball, volleyball and golf. He shows that same athletic versatility on the baseball field exceling in the infield and on the mound. Mason has a chance to be a premier defender for us and adds another quality right-handed arm to our pitching staff. With a fastball that ranges from the mid-to-upper 80’s and a breaking ball that will play nicely at our level, Mason has a bright future in our program.”
Michael Diodato, SS, R/R, 6-1, 175, Glouchester, Va./Glouchester HS
Three-year letterwinner at Glouchester HS…Second Team All-Conference…hit .466 in his junior year…played shortstop for the Hampton Roads Canes (coached by Bryan Kersey)…teammate of fellow signee Mason Adamson…also played in the 2015 Commonwealth Games…National Honor Society…National Spanish Honor Society…intends to major in biology.
Coach’s Quote: “Middle infielders were a big priority for us in our 2016 recruiting class and we feel like we landed a really good one in Michael. Michael possess a simple, flat swing and all the characteristics you look for in a middle infielder at this level, but what has us most excited about him is the energy with which he plays the game. We saw Michael play numerous times last summer/fall and the consistency in which he played the shortstop position and positive energy he brought to the park has us pumped about adding him to our team.”
Jake Hall, SS/2B, R/R, 5-9, 160, Nashotah, Wisc./Lake County Lutheran
Four-year letterwinner at Lake County Lutheran, where he was the starting shortstop for the two-time state champions…2016 First Team All-State Preseason…hit .425 with 35 steals and 27 RBI as a junior…First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State Academic…ranked as the #39 player in Wisconsin by Perfect Game…tabbed as the #5 shortstop in the state and #44 player in Wisconsin by PBR…currently holds school record for most stolen bases in a season…coached by Dave Bahr…also lettered one year in both football and soccer…also played summer ball for Rawlings Hitters Baseball, where he was coached by RJ Fergus…has made high honor roll every semester of high school…received Christian Leadership Award as a freshman…intends to major in international studies.
Coach’s Quote: “Jake is a young man that embodies many of the traits that define the VMI Cadet-Athlete. As a three-sport athlete, Jake has found success in multiple different athlete venues, while at the same time maintaining a high honor roll status his entire high school career. He brings a winning mindset to our program having been part of back-to-back Wisconsin State Championship teams at Lake County Lutheran High School and a very successful travel baseball program, the Rawlings Hitters. Jake is a hard-nosed middle infielder with a compact swing whose game will translate really well at our level.”
Jackson Rivera, RHP, R/R, 6-6, 185, Prince George, Va./Prince George HS
Four-year letterwinner at Prince George HS, the alma mater of VMI alumni and former pro players Mike and Sam Roberts…was coached there, and with the Virginia Swamp Things summer program, by their father Mickey…was named first team all-conference as a junior and was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a sophomore…also played for the VA Cardinals, where he was coached by Rich Graham…received first-ever Hank Pedigo Award from the Progress-Index…intends to major in history.
Coach’s Quote: “Jackson is a young man that has been through a lot of ups and downs in his high school career, but this spring we have seen him blossom into a dynamic arm and we are pumped to add him to our program. Jackson’s 6’6” frame, upper 80’s fastball and two off-speed pitches give him a great chance to develop into an impactful pitcher at the collegiate level. Jackson has proven himself a winner at the high school level playing for Coach Roberts at Prince George High School, one of the most successful programs in the state of Virginia. Coach Roberts has helped send multiple high quality baseball players to VMI over the past 10 years, including his sons Mike and Sam, and we are excited to add another one of his players to the VMI family.”
Tony Schultz, OF, R/R, 5-11, 165, Sparks, Md./St. Paul’s
Four-year letterwinner at St. Paul’s…team captain…ranked as the #7 outfielder in the state and #27 overall player in Maryland by Perfect Game…coached by Patrick Walsh…also played for Crabfest All-Americans (coached by Sean O’Conner) and Team Maryland Futures…All-Americans placed 17th in Evoshield National Tournament this past year, where he made the all-tournament team…2016 Atlantic Region Honorable Mention…four-year honor roll member…2012 Headmaster’s List…2015 German National Honor Society…intends to major in political science.
Coach’s Quote: “Tony is a high character young man who we are very excited to add to our program. We enjoyed watching him continue to progress as a player throughout the late summer and fall and think his best years are ahead of him. Tony is a quick twitch outfielder who plays the game fast and with high intensity. His raw athletic ability was very attractive to us in the recruiting process and we think he can develop into a dynamic player at this level.”
Derek Tremblay, RHP, R/R, 6-3, 185, Covington, Va./Alleghany
Three-year letterwinner at Alleghany HS…Second Team All-District…coached by Gus Morande…also lettered three years in football where he was a First Team All-Conference honoree…graduated with honors…intends to major in economics and business.
Coach’s Quote: “Derek may be our most interesting addition to our pitching staff next season. His 6’3 frame and low-sidearm slot make him very deceptive to right-handed hitters and he will be a valuable asset in our bullpen next season. Derek will bring a wealth of experience with him to VMI, having had a successful career as a starting pitcher at Alleghany High School and we are extremely excited to add him to our 2016 recruiting class.”
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