MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball program added 14 student-athletes for the 2017-18 academic year, as announced Tuesday by head coach Mark Calvi.

The class consists of eight high school student-athletes and six who will join the program via transfer from either junior college of another four-year institution.

"The class kind of reflects our needs," Calvi said. "We have a lot of position players coming back. We'll lose a few to graduation and the (Major League Baseball) draft, but for the most part we have a large nucleus of guys who have been in the program coming back. We felt as though we could lose a few guys to the draft. But my philosophy since I have been here is we want to be good on the mound and on the infield, so whenever there is any doubt then we will sign a good pitcher or infielder. 

"We feel very good with the arms we brought in with this class. You can never be good enough on the mound, so we continue to work to be very solid on the mound and defensively. That's our focus with any recruiting class, especially one where you don't have five or six position-player needs to fill. This was a little bit strange in that we have so many guys coming back. We just wanted to be strong in all areas, so we went and got some of the best guys we could find who really wanted to be here. The coaching staff did an outstanding job identifying those players who we feel can help get this program to the next level. Our goal is to win championships, get into the postseason every year and make a run at the College World Series, and we try to sign guys who can help us fulfill that goal as a program."

Andrew Bates – OF – L/R – 6-2, 185 - Pace (Fla.) HS / Pace, Fla.
Has lettered three years at PHS … Helped the Patriots to a district championship as a sophomore, and a district runner-up last season … Batted .413 with three home runs, 24 RBI en route to first-team all-area honors by the Pensacola-Journal News last year … Hit .286 with three home runs and 18 RBI as a sophomore … Batted .419 with 14 RBI in 10 games as a freshman before an ankle injury cut his season short.

Calvi on Bates – "Andrew is a guy who we hope comes in and grows up and blossoms in the program like Jordan Patterson, Cole Billingsley and Jared Barnes. They come in as freshman and compete for playing time early, and blossom into a fantastic Division I player. He is a wonderful student and great person. Andrew is a guy who might be a little under the radar; he wasn't out at the national events and he played locally with the Santa Rosa Rivals. We consider him in our backyard being from the panhandle of Florida. He was one of those guys who we see with huge upside. He has some power and can play multiple outfield positions. When he fills out into his frame, he could be a very dangerous player here in a very short period of time."


Austin Gossman – RHP – R/R - 5-10, 180 – Vincennes University / Avon, Ind.
Went 4-2 with one save, 46 strikeouts against 18 walks and one complete game in 42 1/3 innings pitched as a sophomore … Recorded 14 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched as a freshman … Named to the Dean's List as a sophomore … Helped the Trailblazers to a runner-up sub-regional finishes in each of the last two seasons … Prepped at Avon (Ind.) HS in Avon, Ind.

Calvi on Gossman – "Austin kind of falls into the righty mold that we have had. He is 89-92 (mph) with a very good curveball and slider. He might start for his team; his best role is as a bullpen guy or short reliever. We see him as a backend-of-the-bullpen guy. He is an older pitcher with some experience who has very good stuff, so we're looking for big things out of Austin."


Bailey Gillespie – RHP – R/R – 6-2, 175 – Springville (Ala.) HS / Springville, Ala.
Batted .378 and recorded a 3.00 ERA as a junior last season … Posted a 2.20 ERA and hit .290 as a junior, and batted .333 and recorded a 2.20 ERA as a freshman in 2014 … Named to the St. Clair Times all-county team as a junior … Also lettered in basketball at SHS.

Calvi on Gillespie – "Bailey played for R.L. Langston with Birmingham Baseball. He has good sink and a very good breaking ball. He is a guy who is starting to fill out. He was 87-89 this summer with a very good breaking ball. He is one of those kids who the sky is the limit for once he fills out. He has played very competitive baseball throughout his high school season and over the summer. We're excited about having him."


Chad Wray – RHP – R/R – 6-3, 195 – Russellville (Ala.) HS / Russellville, Ala.
Has earned two letters for the Golden Tigers … Helped RHS capture back-to-back Alabama High School Athletic Association class 5A state championships in 2015 & '16 … Went 7-1 with one save and one complete game in 15 appearances last season, and recorded a 3.10 ERA in 36 1/3 innings pitched … Selected to compete in the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Event last summer.

Calvi on Wray – "Chad is a guy who came to our Prospect Camp. He was one of those in-state, under-the-radar guys who came in and threw very well at our camp. This is where he wanted to be, and he hit it off with (assistant) Coach (Bob) Keller. I thought it was a no-brainer; you have a big-bodied right-handed pitcher who is up to 89 with a good slider and splitfinger (fastball). We have had a lot of success with guys like that – under-the-radar guys who develop. Hopefully, Chad will be in the next wave of that type of pitcher who develops here and does some big things for us." 


Cyrus Grimes – OF – L/R – 6-1, 195 – Navarre (Fla.) HS / Navarre, Fla.
Has earned four letters in baseball and one in football at NHS … Helped the Raiders capture the baseball district championship as a sophomore … Batted .242 with three doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 RBI and 15 runs scored along with a .365 on-base percentage last season, but missed time due to a back injury sustained in football … Hit .322 with 13 doubles, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored as a sophomore … Batted .337 with 13 doubles, three triples, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored and a .424 on-base percentage as a freshman … Played summer ball with the Orlando Scorpions.

Calvi on Grimes – "Cyrus is a guy who we saw here at our tournaments. He can really hit. Cyrus plays first and he can play left field, but the big thing with him is that he swings the bat really well. He's just a guy who has a knack for hitting. He has pitched a little bit and played a corner outfield spot along with first base, so there is some versatility there. He is a left-handed hitter who has hit his whole life, so we are looking for him to come here and continue that trend."


Hunter Brittain – C – R/R – 5-9, 185 – T.R. Miller (Ala.) HS / Brewton, Ala.
Has earned four letters in baseball and three in football for the Tigers … Helped T.R. Miller HS to consecutive 3A area titles in 2015-16 … Batted .425 with 10 doubles, three triples and three home runs as a junior last season … Hit .431 with seven doubles, three triples and three home runs as a sophomore … Batted .351 with nine doubles, two triples and two home runs as a freshman … Named 3A first-team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a sophomore and junior … Also competed in the Alabama High School Athletic Association North-South All-Star Game for the South squad … Received Coastal Alabama all-region honorable mention in 2015 & '16 … Voted the team's offensive most valuable player last season … Made the Tournament of Stars team as part of the selection process for Team USA 17U national squad.

Calvi on Brittain – "Hunter is one of two high school catchers that we targeted and committed. He is a high-energy, tough-as-nails kid who played football. He impressed me with just his love for the game. He's not a big kid, but he is very strong. He catches and throws really well, and his bat has a chance to be really good. But he has a lot of energy, and you can see he loves the position of catcher. He made the Tournament of Stars team, which is a feather in any kid's cap. He has great makeup and high energy who is tough as nails. He is another one of those kids who you see growing up in the program. And that's what we have tried to target – high school position players who grow up in the program and get how we like to do things offensively and defensively. I think he is going to be a good one. The pitchers are going to love throwing to him, just because he is tough as nails and a very solid defender."


Jake Christa – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 225 – Madison (Ala.) Academy / Huntsville, Ala.
Earned four letters in both football and baseball for the Mustangs … Helped MA to three consecutive 3A state championships from 2014-16 … Also helped the Mustangs capture the 2013 and '14 3A football state titles … Earned 3A first-team all-state honors by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after going 7-2 with one save and a 1.32 ERA in 61 2/3 innings pitched last season … Was named second-team all-state by the ASWA in 2015 after going 9-2 with three saves and a 1.44 ERA in 63 innings pitched … Went 1-0 with two saves a 2.39 ERA in 29 1/3 innings pitched as a freshman.

Calvi on Christa – "We saw Jake two summers ago, and he was mid-to-upper 80s then with three pitches. He is a really big, strong and physical kid. As big as he is right now with a feel, when he makes a jump with his velocity then he could be a monster on the mound. But what I liked was that he is a big guy and he has pitchability; he had a feel for two offspeed pitches and he competes. I think the sky is the limit for Jake."


Jared Proctor – LHP – L/L – 5-10, 165 – Wabash Valley (Ill.) CC / Bardstown, Ky.
Twice earned first-team all-state honors at Nelson County High School in Bardstown, Ky. … Went 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings as a senior … Also hit .422 with six doubles, 16 RBI and 21 stolen bases … Went 9-2 with two saves, 1.61 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings pitched as a junior … Also batted .480 with 11 doubles, 24 RBI and 31 stolen bases … Originally signed with Kentucky out of high school where he redshirted the 2015 season.

Calvi on Proctor – "One of the areas of concern was some left-handed pitching. We lose some guys this year, and we have some guys we haven't seen a lot out of this year who we might lose to the draft. We had a chance to sign an older guy – he was originally at the University of Kentucky. Jared is one of those guys who has really started to put it together this fall. He is 87-89 with a very good slider. You don't see the ball very well. He can get you out with his breaking ball. I could see him coming out of the bullpen and being very valuable for our 2018 team next year."


JoJo Booker – RHP/OF – R/R – 6-3, 195 – T.R. Milller (Ala.) HS / Brewton, Ala.
Lettered in football and baseball for the Tigers … Helped T.R. Miller HS to a third-round playoff appearance last season … Batted .413 and recorded a 1.54 ERA with 107 strikeouts last season en route to first-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Calvi on Booker – "JoJo is a good athlete. He plays shortstop and is the quarterback on their football team. What I saw in him as a rising sophomore was he was a good athlete. He played shortstop and pitched, and he swung the bat well. He had the chance for four pitches back then. He was 80-82, threw strikes and had the chance for four pitches. The following summer he was 85-88 and his four pitches were starting to develop. He has family who are alumni of South Alabama. We felt like it was a no-brainer. JoJo is another guy who is physical for his age, and he is only going to get bigger and stronger. He has a feel for pitching and is a good athlete. He is another guy who could be very exciting in the years to come in our uniform."


Patrick McBride – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 220 – John A. Logan (Ill.) CC / Hawesville, Ky.
Went 8-1 with a 3.79 ERA and one complete game in 13 appearances, and recorded 31 strikeouts against 19 walks in 54 2/3 innings pitched last season … Ranked among the top 25 pitchers in Kentucky, according to Prep Baseball Report … Lettered in baseball six years and basketball three years at Hancock County High School in Lewisport, Ky. … Helped HCHS to class A state playoff appearances in three seasons … Helped the NCHS basketball team capture the 2014 district title.

Calvi on McBride – "Patrick had a very good freshman year. He is going to be John Logan's (CC) number-one (starter). He has a fastball, curveball and a very good changeup at 6-foot-4 with a good down angle; he has a hard angle to square up. He has put up good numbers and he has pitchability. We like pitchability starters around here – guys with a good changeup who can throw their secondary pitches for strikes for six to seven innings and maintain their velocity. He is one of those guys. He is older and a little more mature, and we have needed those junior-college kids to come in on the mound and help us. Hopefully he is another one in a long line of junior-college guys we have had a lot of success with."


Reid Powers – C – R/R – 6-2, 205 – Sparkman (Ala.) HS / Harvest, Ala.
Lettered four years at SHS … Helped the Senators to Alabama High School Athletic Association class 6A finals appearance in 2014 and and class 7A finals appearance in 2016 … Also helped SHS to a 7A semifinal appearance as a sophomore … Batted .392 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI last season.

Calvi on Powers – "Reid was another Birmingham Baseball product. What drew me to him was his size, how big and strong he was but how well he moved around behind the plate. He really receives and blocks well, and he throws well. I think he has power potential – maybe he could be a middle-of-the-lineup bat one day. He could be a very dangerous offensive player for us. But both of our catchers in this class, I think we got the best of both worlds. They are both very good defensively, and they both swing the bat. They are good at both, and it should be a lot of fun watching Reid and Hunter Brittain develop in the next few years here. We're really excited to have Reid. He is a big target for pitchers to throw to, and he moves around well. I think he can be an offensive threat. We're excited to have him."


Zach Greene – RHP – R/R – 6-2, 195 – St. Johns River (Fla.) CC / Jacksonville, Fla.
Went 0-1 with a 4.56 ERA in 15 appearances as a freshman last season at UNC-Greensboro … Struck out 23 batters against 14 walks in 23 2/3 innings pitched … Combined for one shutout … Did not allow a run in six of his 15 relief appearances … Four-year letterwinner at Atlantic Coast HS … Finished with a career ERA of 1.59 … Helped lead ACHS to two Gateway League and district championships.

Calvi on Greene – "Zach is just like (former Jaguar) Ben Taylor, but better in some ways. He doesn't throw quite as hard as Ben did when he left, but what drew me to Zach was the first time I saw him he really threw strikes with his fastball and no one squared it up. He has gone 88-92 – we have seen him three or four times this fall in that range. I have yet to see him get squared up. He can pitch off his fastball; it's sneaky and he has some velocity. He is a strike-thrower – he throws his slider for strikes and he has a changeup that is pretty darn good that will get better over the next year. I see Zach as a guy who, if he keeps developing, should be somewhere in the weekend rotation. It wouldn't shock me if he is touching 93 or 94 in there. Another thing I liked was he was a transfer from UNC-Asheville. He pitched against some really good teams there and held his own as a freshman, and he is better now. He has already pitched in Division I baseball. I was impressed with his numbers. When he gets here he will be two years older than he was when he was holding his own as a freshman. We're really excited about Zach. He has a three-pitch mix who can really pitch off his fastball and he throws it for strikes."


Ryan Terry – LHP – R/L – 5-11, 185 – Hillsborough (Fla.) CC / Miami, Fla.
Went 1-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 12 appearances as a freshman last season at Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College … Recorded 37 strikeouts against 13 walks in 27 innings pitched … Prepped at Westminister Christian School where he helped the Warriors capture a state championship his senior season … Named first-team all-Miami-Dade, all-district and the district pitcher of the year as a senior … Also selected to the Miami Dade Private High School Senior All-Star Team after posting a 1.50 ERA and striking out 68 batters in 60 innings pitched in his senior year … Earned first-team all-county honors as a junior after striking out 50 batters in 40 innings … Originally signed with Central Florida out of high school.

Calvi on Terry – "Ryan is a live-wire kid. He has great makeup and he wants to win. He is a fiery competitor. He is 87-90 from the left side with a very good curveball. As a coaching staff, we can count on one hand how many left-handers we have seen in the last year who were upper 80s and touching 90-91 with that good of a curveball. It was a no-brainer for us. He committed on the first day of his visit. This is where he wants to be. He is one of those guys who fills a need for us. He has a very good curveball and a developing changeup, so he has the makings of having a third pitch. But his makeup is off the charts, and those are the kind of guys we look for to bring in to this program. He wants to win in the worst way, so it was a no-brainer to me and him. It should be a great fit. We're really looking for some big things out of Ryan Terry."


Deyvid Silva – IF – R/R – 6-1, 185 – Tallahassee (Fla.) CC / Miami, Fla.
Batted .333 with 11 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 35 RBI, 51 runs scored and four stolen bases in 52 games as a freshman last season at TCC en route to first-team all-Panhandle Conference honors … Hit .372 with seven doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI, 19 RBI and three stolen bases in 20 conference games … Batted .458 (22-for-48) in the final month of the season … Selected to participate in the 82nd National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan., as a member of Team USA … Earned four letters at Mater Academy Charter HS, helping the Lions capture the 6A state championship as a junior.

Calvi on Silva – "David started at shortstop at Tallahassee Community College last year, and then played for Team USA at the National Baseball Congress World Series this past summer. He has very good offensive numbers with extra-base power at shortstop. He has very good and steady hands; he has a chance to be a very good defender at shortstop with a good bat. He has the ability, with his athleticism and defensive ability, to move around a little bit."

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