COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team has
rounded out its 2009 signing class with commitments from five
players, including three rising freshmen, and two junior college
transfers.
“These five young men are fantastic baseball players and will
represent our University well on and off the field,” Bragga
said. “As with every recruiting class, we want young men that
are top-notch people, and incredibly talented players. We have met
that standard with every young man that will be joining
us.”
Tristan Archer, Zephan Guyear and Ryan Hopkins will all be freshmen
for the Golden Eagles in the 2010 season, while Devin Rivers will
transfer from Northwest Shoals Community College and Frankie Beech
III will transfer from Motlow State Community College. The group
will join the eight players head coach Matt Bragga and his coaching
staff signed in the early signing period last fall.
"These five young men put a great top to our 2009-2010 recruiting
class and go along great with the special group of young men we
were able to sign in the fall,” Bragga said. “All of
our newcomers will compliment our returning players incredibly
well. I want to thank our assistant coaches, Coach B', Coach Cole,
and Coach Hogan for all the hours of work they put in to find this
championship group of young men."
Frankie Beech III - 5'11 180 UTL Motlow State Community College
“We are thrilled that Frankie will be joining our Tennessee
Tech Baseball family. Frankie is a fiery player that hit over .500
for much of the season for his Motlow State Community College team
and lead our Tennessee Junior College system in batting average at
season’s end. He brings a great energy to the baseball field
and is a versatile player, as he is comfortable at numerous
positions around the diamond. Frankie is not only a great baseball
player, but a great young man and student.”
Devin Rivers - 5'11 200 3B/1B Northwest Shoals Community College
(Alabama)
“Devin is going to be a great player for us here at Tech. He
has great power at the plate and will hit for a high average as
well. Devin is a middle of the order type of hitter as he is an
extremely good run producer. Goodness, Devin had a great spring as
he lead the state of Alabama (20 JUCO teams) in Home Runs (17),
Slugging percentage, on-base percentage and was third in RBI. He is
a great athlete that knows the game very well and played for a
great program in Northwest Shoals Community College and a great
coach in David Langston. Additionally, Devin is such a great young
man and student.”
Tristan Archer - 6'3 170 RHP Sullivan South High School
(Tennessee)
“Tristan is a young man that we believe will make an
immediate impact for us as a freshman. He has the ability to be in
our weekend rotation next year. He has a great fastball that is
complimented very well with his off speed pitches. He is going to
have a special career here at Tennessee Tech and as good of a
pitcher as he is and is going to become, Tristan is an even better
young man and student.”
Zephan Guyear - 6'4 180 Infield Marion County High School
(Tennessee)
“Zephan is an incredible athlete, and a special baseball
player. He is the type of athlete that you can put anywhere on the
field and he’s going to do a great job. As a hitter his
stroke is so fluid and he will produce so many gap hits over the
years. Zephan has an incredibly high ceiling as a ball player, and
we expect great things from him at Tennessee Tech. As with all our
young men, Zephan is a first class person and a great
student.”
Ryan Hopkins - 6'3 220 RHP Western Brown High School
(Tennessee)
“Ryan is a young man that has an electric slider and great
velocity with his fastball. He has an ideal pitchers body and as he
continues in this great game he is going to be something special.
He is ready to pitch for us immediately, but he has not yet reached
his ceiling, which is great for him and our program. Ryan is
another young man that is a class act on and off the field. We are
thrilled to have Ryan joining our TTU Baseball family.”