Bragga Announces 15 Newcomers To Baseball Roster

The Rice baseball program has added 15 new players who will join the team for the 2020 season, head coach Matt Bragga announced on Friday (Aug. 9).

The list of newest Owls includes Eric Benitez, Austin Bulman, Christian Cienfuegos, Brayden Combs, Alex DeLeon, Cullen Hannigan, Daniel Hernandez, Andrew Kane, Tyler LaRue, Quinton Martin, Jared Plank, Mathew Santos and Garret Zaskoda. Now starting his second season at the helm of the Owl program, coach Bragga stated the 2020 newcomers will be competitive on the field and in Rice's elite academic curriculum.

Coach Bragga on the 2019 Recruiting Class:

"We are so excited about this 2019 recruiting class! Our coaching staff, in particular coach Barton and coach Janish, did an amazing job on the recruiting trail. We were able to add an incredible mix of talented transfer and freshman student-athletes. These young men fit the profile of what it takes to be a Rice baseball player, as they are not only talented on the field, but will excel in the classroom and off the field as well.

The four transfer pitchers we added to the roster were vital, as we had no returning senior pitchers. So adding a grad transfer and three junior college stalwarts to the pitching staff was very necessary from an experience standpoint as well as on the leadership front. These young men are all incredibly talented with electric stuff.

We also have a talented group of freshman pitchers joining the roster. Two of our freshman pitchers are also position players. This versatility is incredibly valuable in college baseball! I look forward to watching this group grow and seeing which of these talented young men will contribute early.

In the field we added some experienced junior college talent. Two of our transfers competed in the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction Colorado. All three of our transfer position players are absolute winners and will make an immediate impact with our Rice baseball program and within the Rice community. They are a great mix of athleticism, strength and power.

Our freshman position player class is talented and tough. We've got some great offensive fire power represented in this class and strong, athletic defensive ability as well. I am excited to get these guys on campus!

I am looking forward to watching this great group of newcomers mesh with our incredible group of veterans. Again, I am so thankful for our coaching staff, as coach Barton, coach Janish and all our guys work tirelessly to find these great young men to come represent our great University!"

Meet The Newest Owls

	Eric Benitez (Fr., C/P) A 2019 graduate of Manvel High School, just south of the Houston area… Versatile four-year varsity letterman under head coach Kelly Kerlin... Helped lead the Mavericks to three playoff appearances, two bi-district titles and to the 2019 5A area finals… Ranked as the No. 15 H.S. catcher in the state by PerfectGame.com… Was named the 2019 District 24-5A Co-Pitcher of the Year… Went 5-4 with a 2.10 ERA in leading the team in starts (11) and innings (60.0)… Struck out 67 batters and maintained a .190 opponents' average… Batted .282 with a .484 on-base percentage as a switch-hitter… Earned Academic All-District accolades. Coach Bragga said: "Eric has a unique combination of being able to catch and pitch! His electric arm and outstanding defensive abilities behind the plate shuts down the opponents' running game. When he takes the gear off and goes to the mound, he shuts down the opponents' bats. We are excited to watch him grow and continue to develop. Eric is a great young man."
	Austin Bulman (Jr., Inf.) Joins the Owls after playing the 2019 season at Wake Tech College in Raleigh, NC… Started 35 of the Eagles' 43 games… Led the team in batting average (.381), hits (53), home runs (8), RBI (34), doubles (16) and slugging (.669)… Finished second on the squad in runs (34) and steals (18)… The team finished the year with a 28-15 record under head coach Eric Sibrizzi… Played a year of Division II baseball at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania in 2018… Hit a home run and a double while playing in ten games as a true freshman for a 28-24 Raiders squad… Drove in a total of five runs and scored four times (in ten games played)… Played third base in an accomplished prep career at Jefferson H.S. in his hometown of Shepherdstown, W.Va. Coach Bragga said: "Austin comes to us from Wake Tech Community College where he led the team at the plate with an OPS of 1099! He is a plus defender that can play any infield position, and is athletic enough to play the outfield as well. He is a driven young man with high goals set for himself and our team. He will work with relentless passion to help reach these goals. We are thrilled to have Austin joining the Rice baseball program and our community."
	Christian Cienfuegos (Fr., Inf.) A 2019 graduate of Goose Creek Memorial H.S in Baytown, Texas… Batted .393 with a .607 slugging percentage for the Patriots as a senior in 2019… coached by Brian Williams… Ranked as the No. 12 prep shortstop in the state according to PerfectGame.com. Coach Bragga said: "Christian has some get-up-and-go fire to him! He will have a chance to be a dual position player for us as a shortstop and pitcher. He has a fantastic arm and is a plus-defender. We cannot wait to watch this young man take the diamond this fall and to be a part of Rice University and our baseball family."
	Brayden Combs (Jr., Inf.) Helped lead Walters State College to a sensational 54-11 season, culminating with a tie for third place finish at the 2019 NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo… Batted .366 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI and 62 runs scored in 62 games played for the Senators under head coach David Shelton… Hit 17 doubles to finish with a .698 SLG%, and drew 35 walks on the way to a .462 OB%... Attended the University of Kentucky in 2017 and 2018, playing in 12 games in year two after gaining a redshirt season as a true freshman… Appeared in 12 games for the Wildcats with two starts as the designated hitter… Scored three runs, had two RBI, a home run, and a walk… First collegiate hit was a home run in a SEC league game… Accomplished multi-sport star and four-year member of the Academic Honor Roll at Beechwood H.S. in his hometown of Fort Mitchell, Ky. Coach Bragga said: "Brayden has some of the best raw power I have ever seen in a hitter, yet stays under control with his sweet left-handed swing! Having played at Walters State, one of the nation's premier junior college programs, he helped guide his team to a Top-4 finish at the JUCO World Series this past season, while leading them in power production. Brayden is another amazing young man and incredibly gifted student."
	Jack Conlon (Jr., P) Veteran right-handed pitcher with two previous collegiate seasons, including San Jacinto College last year and Texas A&M in 2018… Worked his way into three starting assignments, and pitched in nine games overall, for a 42-12 San Jac squad in 2019… Went 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA for the Gators… Struck out 21 batters in 18.1 innings and held opposing hitters to a composite .254 batting average… Retired all six batters he faced in two relief appearances as a true freshman for a 40-22 Texas A&M squad that reached a NCAA Regional… Sensational prep career at Clements High School (just southwest of the Houston area) culminated with being selected in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles with the 128th overall pick. Coach Bragga said: "Jack has incredible talent and ability and will be a major contributor for us. A power repertoire of pitches led him to be a fourth round draft pick out of high school. He spent this last year at one the nation's most dominant baseball junior colleges, San Jacinto! We cannot wait to see what he will do in a Rice uniform, as the sky is the limit for this young man. Jack is another amazing young man and will represent our great University well."
	Alex DeLeon (Jr., P) Played both of the past two seasons at baseball power McLennan College in Waco, Texas, under head coach Mitch Thompson… Posted a career record of 13-4 with a 2.88 ERA in his two seasons with the Highlanders… Struck out 92 batters and maintained a 2.8-to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio in 128.1 career innings… Led the staff with 14 starts in 2019 and finished the year with five complete games… Averaged 5.0 innings for 15 appearances overall and held opposing hitters to a composite .231 batting average… Three-time all-state selection and member of National Honor Society while at Lago Vista High School in central Texas… Selected as the CenTex Player of the Year by the Austin American-Stateman as a senior in 2017. Coach Bragga said: "Alex has spent the past couple of years playing for another one of the nation's premier programs at McLennan Community College, where he has been a stalwart the past two years. Alex has a great arm and incredible pitch-ability as he will mix pitches and command both sides of the plate. He will be a major contributor on the weekends throughout his career with us! Alex is a great person who will excel on and off the field as he represents our incredible institution."
	Cullen Hannigan (Fr., C) The 2019 Valedictorian and Class President of Stratford H.S. in Houston… Three-year letterman for head coach Keith Humphreys… Earned Honorable Mention All-District 17-6A as the starting catcher and team captain for a 22-11 Spartans squad that reached the Area Finals of the 2019 state tournament (losing only to eventual runner-up Ridge Point)… Ranked as one of the Top 25 catchers in the state according to PerfectGame.com… Threw-out 30-percent of runners in 176 defensive innings… Batted .273 in district play with a .415 on-base percentage… Back-to-back recipient of the program's "Mr. Hustle" varsity baseball award… First Team Academic All-State by the Texas High School Coaches Association… National Merit Scholar… Two-time Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by PerfectGame.com. Coach Bragga said: "Cullen is a worker. All of his coaches rave about his coach-ability, work ethic and what an incredible person he is in addition to being a great ball player. He is known for his defense behind the plate, but has some pop as well. Cullen is an incredible student and wonderfully fits the profile for a Rice student-athlete!"
	Daniel Hernandez (Jr., Inf.) An offensive catalyst behind New Mexico College's 42-17 season that reached all the way to the 2019 NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo… Amassed an eye-opening 91 hits in 59 starts last season to finish seventh in the nation among all JC batters… Averaged 1.54 hits per game (and consider that 32 of the team's 59 games were 7-innings or fewer)… Finished the year hitting .425 for the Thunderbirds, the 23rd highest juco batting average in the nation… Closed out two JC seasons with a .395 career batting average (145h, 367ab), 17 home runs, seven triples, 29 doubles, .651 SLG%, 103 RBI and 101 runs scored in 103 career games. Coach Bragga said: "Daniel played at perennial power New Mexico College, where he helped lead them to the elite group of ten programs to reach the JUCO World Series. He is the consummate baseball player, playing the game with great energy and an incredibly high aptitude. He can really hit! He was one of the top hitters in all of JUCO baseball this year with a .425 batting average. Daniel is an infielder with great athleticism that will allow position versatility. We are so excited to get Daniel on campus."
	Andrew Kane (Sr., P) Experienced senior transfer who has already pitched in 53 Division I games at Mercer University, a NCAA Regional participant as the 2019 Southern Conference tournament champion… Gained a redshirt season in 2018 after appearing in only three games (2.1 inn.) for the Bears… Owns a 3.79 Division I ERA in 59.1 career innings… Improved every year beginning with his freshman season in 2016 and culminating with leading the team with a 2.32 ERA last season… Finished third on the staff with 26 appearances and worked his way into five starts… Struck out 36 batters in 31.0 innings of work and held all opposing hitters to a composite .245 batting average… Also played football and was a member of the National Honor Society at Windermere Prep in his home state of Florida. Coach Bragga said: "Andrew is an incredible addition to our ball club and university. Not only does he have a great arm, but he can fill many roles on our pitching staff. He will be our lone senior pitcher, so the experience he brings from a great career at Mercer that culminated in a regional appearance this past season will be incredibly valuable. Andrew is also an amazing student and young man! We can't wait to get him on campus."
	Tyler LaRue (Fr., C) A 2019 graduate of Blanco H.S. in Kendalia, Texas… Selected in the 38th round of the MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals… Ranked as one of the Top 100 players in the state by PerfectGame.com… First Team All-State honoree… Helped lead the Panthers to a 33-5 record and runner-up finish in the 2019 3A State Tournament Championship Final played at the Dell Diamond… Drove home the game-tying run in the state semifinal game the day before to help Blanco rally into the championship game… Batted .461 playing all 38 games for head coach Bryan Wyatt… Shared the team lead in home runs (9) and hit 12 doubles with five triples for a 1.011 slugging percentage… Drew 38 walks on the way to a .628 on-base percentage and scored 36 runs in the 38-game season. Coach Bragga said: "Tyler can flat out hit and loves to work at his craft! He is strong and has great whip in his bat which allows him to drive the baseball to all fields. Defensively he has the ability to help us behind the plate as a catcher and as a corner infielder. Tyler is another great young man and we are so excited to have him as a part of Rice University and our baseball program!"
	Quinton Martin (Fr., OF/P) A 2019 graduate of Sweeny H.S., just south of Houston… Was named to the 4A State All-Tournament team on the way to leading Sweeny to the runner-up finish in the 2019 4A Championship Final and a 31-10 record overall… Went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in the state semifinal game to lift the Bulldogs to the Championship Final… Batted .293 with a .587 slugging percentage as the primary right fielder... Also made nine appearances on the mound as a relief pitcher, where he maintained a 3.86 ERA and posted 29 strikeouts in 23.1 innings of work… Held all opposing hitters to a composite .190 batting average… Ranked as one of the Top 175 H.S. players in the state by PerfectGame.com… Versatile student-athlete was also a letterman for the Bulldog football team. Coach Bragga said: "Quinton is strong! He has a great arm from the outfield and great power potential at the plate. It is going to be fun to watch him grow as a player as he continues to develop in all facets of his game. We are really excited to have Quinton as a part of Rice Baseball."
	Jared Plank (Fr., P) A 2019 graduate of Memorial H.S. in Houston… Ranked as one of the Top 20 right-handed H.S. pitchers in the state according to PerfectGame.com… Helped lead the Mustangs to a 31-6-1 record, the District 17-6A championship, and the Region 3 Quarterfinals of the state tournament… Coached by Jeremy York. Coach Bragga said: "Having played his high school baseball at Houston Memorial, Jared knows what it takes to win and win big! He is a gifted athlete with great size and great throwing ability. Our coaching staff is so excited to see what his future holds on the mound, as we believe he is a special talent."
	Ryan Rickett (Jr., P) Veteran right-hander with two previous collegiate seasons, including Grayson College last year and SEC foe Missouri in 2018… Former teammate of current Owls Drake Greenwood (Missouri, 2018) and Dominic Cox (Travis H.S.)… Pitched in five games out of the bullpen totaling 6.0 innings for a 42-14 Grayson squad in 2019… Struck out 12 of the 18 batters he retired… Worked his way into four relief appearances totaling 3.2 innings as a true freshman at Missouri… Struck out five of the 16 batters he faced, and did not issue any walks… Prep star at Travis High School in Richmond, Texas, who helped lead the Tigers to the quarterfinals of the 6A state tournament as a senior in 2017. Coach Bragga said: "Ryan missed most of this past season at Grayson College, but is now healthy and ready to go. He is another young man with a big-time fastball and great competitive fire! He has the ability to start or be a warrior for us out of the bullpen. We are so excited to have this great young man as a part of Rice Baseball and our University."
	Matthew Santos (Fr., P) A 2019 graduate of Cypress Creek H.S., just northwest of Houston… Three-year varsity letterman for head coach Eric Bryant… Three-time All-District 17-6A selection… Member of the district's All-Academic Team each of the last three seasons... Veteran club player for Banditos Baseball. Coach Bragga said: "It is so nice to add Mathew to our roster, as he is an incredibly talented left-handed pitcher. He has a chance to make an immediate impact in our program. He has great 'stuff' on the mound and a great work ethic to compliment it. Mathew takes care of his business and we are excited to watch his future on the mound and in the classroom!"
	Garrett Zaskoda (Fr., P) A 2019 graduate of Sealy High School… Ranked as one of the Top 50 right-handed H.S. pitchers in the state according to PerfectGame.com… Multi-sport star for the Tigers who played baseball, football and basketball… Coached in baseball by Dane Bennett… Four-year varsity starter as a switch-hitting shortstop who began pitching later in his prep career… First team All-District 25-4A pitcher as both a junior and senior, closing out his prep career with a 1.44 ERA… Went 3-2 with a save and a 1.73 ERA in nine appearances totaling 36.1 innings as a senior… Held opposing batters to a .164 average and finished with 55 strikeouts (13.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings)... Helped the Tigers post a 23-11 record and reach the Region 4 Quarterfinals of the 2019 state tournament… Earned all-district accolades as sophomore shortstop in 2017. Coach Bragga said: "Garret has an incredible presence about him not only as a pitcher, but as a young man. We are looking for Garret to make early contributions on the mound and are excited to watch him get to work this fall. Garret is a great young man and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our great baseball program!"

Player, pos.	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	Cl-Exp.	Hometown (Previous School)
Eric Benitez, c	S-R	6-0	198	Fr.-H.S.	Rosharon (Manvel H.S.)
Austin Bulman, if	R-R	6-1	170	Jr.-Tr.	Shepherdstown, W.Va. (Wake Tech/Jefferson H.S.)
Christian Cienfuegos, if	R-R	5-9	170	Fr.-H.S.	Baytown (Goose Creek H.S.)
Brayden Combs, if	L-R	6-5	240	Jr.-Tr.	Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Walters State/Beechwood H.S.)
Jack Conlon, p	R-R	6-5	220	Jr.-Tr.	Sugar Land (San Jacinto/Clements H.S.)
Alex DeLeon, p	R-R	6-0	190	Jr.-Tr.	Lago Vista (McClennan College/Lago Vista H.S.)
Cullen Hannigan, c	R-R	5-8	185	Fr.-H.S.	Houston (Stratford H.S.)
Daniel Hernandez, if	R-R	5-10	170	Jr.-Tr.	Austin (New Mexico College/Westlake H.S.)
Andrew Kane, p	R-R	6-7	270	Sr.-Tr.	Windermere, Fla. (Mercer Univ./Windermere Prep.)
Tyler LaRue, c	R-R	6-1	220	Fr.-H.S.	Kendalia (Blanco H.S.)
Quinton Martin, p	R-R	5-10	200	Fr.-H.S.	Sweeny (Sweeny H.S.)
Jared Plank, p	R-R	6-4	215	Fr.-H.S.	Houston (Memorial H.S.)
Ryan Rickett, p	R-R	6-1	190	Jr.-Tr.	Richmond (Grayson College/Travis H.S.)
Mathew Santos, p	L-L	6-0	185	Fr.-H.S.	Cypress (Cypress Creek H.S.)
Garret Zaskoda, p	S-R	6-0	175	Fr.-H.S.	Sealy (Sealy H.S.)

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results