Aug. 3, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford Baseball coaching staff has released the final additions to its impressive 2007 signing class. In wrapping up the staff's third group overall, the Bulldogs are adding another SEC transfer in Bo Smith from Florida and an outstanding left-handed high school pitcher Taylor Hammond. Smith marks the second SEC transfer in this recruiting class.

Recruiting Coordinator Tony David feels this class will have an opportunity to prove it is the best.

"We are extremely excited about the group our staff has put together," David said. "To have consistent success as a program it has to start with consistency in recruiting. We have addressed our needs and built some quality depth. Until the performance is there on the field, none of it matters but the talent in this group could certainly prove to be the best we have brought in so far."

Bo Smith (OF, 6-2, 210, University of Florida, Gainseville, Fla.) is a powerful left-handed outfield transfer from the University of Florida and a graduate of Buchholz High School, one of the largest in the Gainesville, Fla., area. While at Florida he had been slowed by injuries, but comes to the Samford program in good health and ready to contribute.

Smith finished his senior year with First-Team All-State Honors and being named the Gainesville Sun Player of the Year while hitting .456 with a power swing that led him to an .881 slugging percentage. He also scored 34 runs while going a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen bases and hitting five home runs. He was recognized by the newspaper as its Scholar Athlete of the Year. Smith finished his career as the all-time leader in hits while leading the prestigious program to a top-10 ranking each season. In addition to those honors on the baseball field, he was also second- and third-team All-Atate selections as a sophomore and junior at the 6A level.

An outstanding athlete, he started three seasons at wide receiver on the football field and was selected three times for the 6A All-State football team as well while scoring 24 touchdowns and accumulating almost 2,000 receiving yards in his career.

Smith enters the Bulldog program with an opportunity to make an impact.

"Bo is an incredible athlete that swings the bat well from the left side," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "He played high school against some of the best competition anywhere and was slowed by arm injuries in his time at Florida. He is healthy now and will be a great addition to our baseball program."

Taylor Hammond (LHP, 6-0, 185, Olympia HS, Orlando, Fla.) is an outstanding left-handed pitcher from Olympia High school in Orlando, Fla. While leading his team to the 2007 State Regional Finals, Hammond set a school earned-run average record at 1.41 over 64 innings while striking out 57 batters. For his outstanding work he was named his team's Most Valuable Pitcher.

Hammond is also an outstanding student having graduated Magna Cum Laude with an almost perfect GPA and receiving the Economics Award from his high school. Baseball runs deep in the family with his father and two uncles playing professional baseball. His father, Steve Hammond, and one of his uncles, Chris Hammond, also made it all the way to the major leagues.

"Taylor is a quality left-hand pitcher," Dunn said. "They are difficult to come by. He also comes from a great baseball family that has a true understanding of playing at the highest level. He is an outstanding student that will represent Samford well on and off the field."

The complete list of the 2007 Signing Class can be found on the Samford Baseball website in the near future.