UNM Baseball Recruits For the 2017 Season
I thought I should start off saying the list of players for this series of articles was released by each program last November. In other words, they're all early period signings. I know some recruits on the field once school starts and fall ball is full swing are not on this list. I can't catch ‘em all and most are not even mentioned on athletic department web sites. I have a house to paint.
The Lobos will be defending their MWC crown missing a lot of key parts. They lost some great hitters and, well, you know the usual wringing of hands. Here are the kids coming in that should make you fans forget what was lost. Then again, some may not show at all and try the juco route or maybe their final grades or courses taken weren't up to snuff. Happens all the time.
Robby Campillo, C, Salpointe Catholic HS, Tucson, AZ
Robby hit a great .418 and 3 his senior year. He also had 39 RBIs in 30 games. He made All-Southern Arizona first team. Not drafted.
Beau Capanna, INF, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
Beau hit .388 and 8 his senior season for national powerhouse Bishop Gorman. The eight home runs caught my eye first as power is always a scarce commodity at the high school level. He made first team All-Nevada as a shortstop. A shortstop with pop? Hmm. He was also selected in the 21st round of the recent MLB draft and decided on the college route. Good for the Lobos and watch out for the rest of the MWC.
Owen Carver, OF, Canyon HS, Canyon, TX
Owen made Honorable Mention for 5A level baseball in 2016. That's all I could find. Texas can sometimes be a problem finding stats for players. Not drafted.
Chris Dunn, OF, Bonanza HS, Las Vegas, NV
I couldn't find much on Chris other than a possibility of making an all-state list or two. Not drafted.
Cody Dye, RHP, Walnut HS, Walnut, CA
Couldn't find much on Cody, either. Not drafted.
Nathaniel Garley, RHP, ElDorado HS, Albuquerque, NM
Nathaniel had a pretty good year as a senior. He was 7-1 and 1.45 over 58 IP with 70 strikeouts and only 7 walks (!). He had eleven appearances and ten were starts. That kind of record will garner you some awards and it did. He was named New Mexico's POY. He also hit quite well as a .500 BA with eight home runs will attest. A good one. Not drafted.
Drew Gillespie, SS/RHP, Sandia HS, Albuquerque, NM
He hit .348 and 1 his senior year but really shown as a pitcher. He was 4-1 and 0.83 in 33 IP. He had 48 strikeouts in those innings with only seven walks. He should help somewhere. All this was good enough to get him first team All-State. Not drafted.
Andre Gregory, INF, Cosumnes River CC, Sacramento, CA
Andre hit .325 and 2 his sophomore year at the juco level and that was good enough for second best on the team. He led the team in RBIs with 36. Not much else. Not drafted.
Daniel Herrera, C, New Mexico JC, Volcano Vista, Albuquerque, NM
He hit an ok .312 but with 8 home runs which is always notable. He also had 41 RBIs in 50 games. Not drafted.
Connor Mang, SS/RHP, Los Alamos HS, Los Alamos, NM
I found no stats but he made first team All-State as an infielder. That's all I found. Not drafted.
Coach Birmingham has a tendency to recruit some outstanding hitters every year. Not to say he can't recruit pitchers but he certainly gets some great bats to continue the tradition of offense in Albuquerque. The two newbies listed above that I think should be watched are Beau Capanna and Nathaniel Garley. Of course they can hit.