BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Head Coach Tony David of the Samford Baseball team announced on Thursday the Bulldogs' 2023 recruiting class.

"This is an outstanding 2023 class that we are looking forward to getting to campus," Coach David said. "Coach Shrout and Moss have done an excellent job of locating talent that is a good fit for us here. We have built this program primarily by signing outstanding high school players and having them play early while developing and continuing to get better each year. Despite all the changes in our sport over the last two years that remains our goal. We will also use the junior college ranks to address older needs."

The Bulldogs inked nine players in total, bringing eight from the high-school ranks and one via junior college.

"We have local guys in town, a couple with strong Samford ties, and have gone to other areas of the country to try and find the kind of talent to help win championships here," David said. "A lot of these guys have played in state championship programs and had to perform in the postseason when it matters. This class is filled with great students and guys that will represent our university, program, and their families incredibly well in their time at Samford."

Cade Carr (C/INF | 5'11 | 170 LBS | Hoover HS | Hoover, Ala.)
Cade Carr (no. 79 national ranking, no. 3 state ranking, 8.5 Perfect game ranking) is one of two players from Hoover High school joining Samford in 2023. He was named to the 2021 All-State Team as a utility player and additionally earned MVP Honors in game three of the PBR Futures Games in 2021. In 205 at-bats playing for Perfect Game, he has compiled a .332 batting average with an 868 OPS.

"Cade is a rare player that has a chance to be a high impact defender in multiple spots and could play all 8 defensive spots in division I," He is a baseball player. He's hard-nosed and has been the guy you want at the plate with the game on the line his entire life. He and his entire family are Samford people. Outstanding fit for our university and baseball program."

Jackson Harris (LHP / 1B | 5'11 | 170 LBS | Vestavia Hills HS | Vestavia Hills, Ala.)
Jackson Harris ((no. 562 national ranking, no. 14 state ranking,)  signs as both a left-handed pitcher and first baseman. His father, Eddie, played baseball at Samford from 1998-2001 and is currently the head coach at 7A powerhouse Vestavia Hills High School. He's posted a 6-1 career record and a 3.00 earned run average on the mound while amassing a .361 career batting average, a .508 on-base percentage, and a .994 fielding percentage.

"Jackson is another 'Baseball Player' that can do it all on the field," David said. "We always liked him as a high-level performing hitter and defender at both first and the outfield. He came to our camp at the end of the summer and showed a lot on the mound. Another guy with Samford blood and a great fit for us here."

Will Lawrence (C/1B | 6'4 | 210 LBS | Hoover HS | Hoover, Ala.)
Will Lawrence (no. 323 national ranking, no. 10 state ranking, 8.5 Perfect game ranking) joins Carr as the other Hoover Buc to ink with the Bulldogs. His father, Drew, also played baseball at Samford. Lawrence has tallied a .350 batting average over two varsity seasons for the Bucs while also logging a 940 OPS.

"Will is another player we have known for some time here," David said. "There is real power potential for him at the plate. We are in a power league and park, so he will come in with an opportunity to help provide a power threat for us. He gives some versatility defensively having spent time at first base and catcher. Playing for Coach Moseley at Hoover ensures us that he will be ready for this level."

John Malone (RHP | 6'2 | 205 LBS | Bayshore Christian | Fairhope, Ala.)
John Malone (no. 379 national ranking, no. 14 state ranking) will look to the Bulldogs pitching staff upon arrival. Malone has played a crucial role in winning two class 1-A State Championships (2021 & 2022) for Bayshore Christian in Fairhope, Ala. The 2022 1-A Player of the Year and 2021 State Tournament MVP has struck out 149 batters over three seasons while also amassing a 1.50 ERA.

"John comes to us from an outstanding program that has pitched in the highest leverage situations possible at the high school level," David said. "He has been one of the guys for his school that's won multiple championships. He's a great fit for our program. Has a great frame that will continue to get stronger and will pitch for us right away."

Matt Manley (RHP | 6'1 | 180 LBS | Madison Academy | Huntsville, Ala.)
Matt Manley (no. 140 national ranking, no. 2 state ranking) is another solid get for the pitching staff. A 2022 5A All-State honoree, Manley has posted a record of 14-5 in 20 starts for the Mustangs of Madison Academy while notching a 1.94 career ERA and 150 strikeouts in 97.1 innings of work.

"Matt is another of our guys to come out of an outstanding high school program and performed well when it's mattered the most," David said. "He is already a guy touching some really good velocity with command. He's another great fit for our program and has an opportunity to make an impact in important games right out of the gate."

Ben Moyer (RHP | 6'0 | 175 LBS | Spotswood HS | McGaheysville, Va.) Top 1000 / 28 Team Elite
Ben Moyer (Top 1,000 national ranking) joins the Samford staff noted for the command of his pitches and live in the strike zone. Moyer's 2022 junior campaign at Spotswood High School in McGaheysville, Va. saw him post a record of 6-0 with a school-record 0.46 ERA. Moyer earned First Team All-State Honors while also striking out 48 over 30.1 innings of labor.

"The story of Ben will be a great one here from start to finish," David said. I looked into him initially because a great friend from high school knew the family. So, I did, initially because I was asked to by a friend and not thinking we would find a gem. He has an unreal command with multiple pitches and is a strike-throwing machine. Ben can pitch and will have a chance to get on the mound right away for us."

Angelo Prieto (OF | 6'1 | 190 LBS | Monsignor Pace HS | Miami, Fla.)
Angelo Prieto (no. 111 national ranking, no. 14 state ranking, 9 Perfect Game ranking)  inks with the Bulldogs as a potential five-tool player in the outfield. He's helped guide Monsignor Pace High School two a pair of District Championships (2021-22) while also earning All-District honors twice.

"Angelo is another in a long line of great players that have come to us from the south Florida region," David said. He's a physical guy at the plate that moves well in the outfield. He has unlimited potential and should impact our program the day he steps on campus."

Adam Roth (LHP | 6'0 | 185 LBS | Dickson County HS | Dickson, Tenn.)
Adam Roth (no. 148 national ranking, no. 10 state ranking)  will be a commodity right away for the Bulldogs as a left-handed pitcher. The Dickson, Tenn. native has racked up 106 career strikeouts during his prep career and has twice been named to the All-District Team (2021-2022).

"Adam helps fill a need for us in the left-handed pitching category," David said. "We needed to have at least one young left-handed arm in this group that we felt could pitch right away for us as a freshman"

Evan Steckmesser (LHP | 6'3 | 185 | Snead St CC | Huntsville, Ala.)
Evan Steckmesser (no. 407 national ranking, no. 10 state ranking) joins the Bulldogs as another sought-after southpaw. Steckmesser appeared in 18 games last season at Snead State Community College in Boaz, Ala. where he compiled a record of 2-0 with a pair of saves. He struck out 38 batters in 28.1 innings for a rate of 12.07 Ks per nine innings.

"Evan was a high-value target for us to address likely departures via the draft this summer," David said. "We needed to add one older guy in this early period that we felt could jump right into a weekend starting role for us, particularly with the draft this summer for a few of our arms. It's an issue that a program of this level needs to have to deal with. We are bringing Evan in to pitch for us in important situations on the weekend."

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