By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With as many as 10 newcomers playing large roles and making instant impacts for the Tennessee Tech baseball team last season, the Golden Eagles hit the recruiting trail hard to find the same kind of impact for the 2018 season.
Head coach Matt Bragga and assistants Justin Holmes and Derek Weldon once again put together a strong signing class to make the transition seamless over the next two seasons. Each of the team's five signees for 2018 season offer tremendous upside with potential to make an instant impact on Tech's hunt for another Ohio Valley Conference championship and the always challenging berth into the postseason.
"We are so fortunate to have Coach Holmes as our recruiting coordinator," Bragga said. "He is so good at what he does. He has an incredible plan and works with such an upbeat motor, not to mention he possesses a great eye for talent and incredible people skills. Coach Weldon is also an integral part our recruiting process here at Tennessee Tech and does a fabulous job helping to get the 'right' young men to TTU.
"With this recruiting class, we again have the exact young men that were born to go to school and play baseball at Tennessee Tech. This is a phenomenal group of great baseball players and high-character student-athletes. We are thrilled to have them committed to our program here at TTU."
TONY CURRY - RHP │ 6-2 │ 185
Hometown: Kingston, Tenn.
High School: Roane County HS
Travel Team: Knoxville Blue Sox
A four-year starter at Roane County High School, Curry finished 6-2 on the hill as a junior, boasting a ridiculous 69-7 strikeout-walk rate with a 1.62 ERA. The Golden Eagle signee was ranked as the 14th right-handed pitcher in his travel team, the Knoxville Blue Sox. He was also named as a Preseason All-American Honorable Mention by Perfect Game prior to the 2016 season and has been voted to the Perfect Game All-Tournament team three times. Sporting a 3.75 GPA, Curry plans to study in mechanical engineering at Tennessee Tech.
Bragga's take:
Tony continues our long line of talented players coming to us from the Knoxville area. His advanced feel for off speed stuff and his competitive demeanor make him a perfect fit for TTU baseball.
Knoxville Blue Sox head coach Jeff Hawn's take:
Tony is a very young 2017 prospect. He could be considered a 2018 guy, which leads me to believe that the best is yet to come from this talented young man.
JASON HINCHMAN - CIF/OF │ 6-3 │ 210
Hometown: Winston, Ga.
High School: Alexander HS
Travel Team: Team Elite West
A pure power hitter with the ability to play multiple positions, Hinchman racked up many honors while playing at both Alexander High School and for his travel team, Team Elite West. As a junior, he tallied a .368 average with five home runs, earning team MVP honors and was named the Georgia 5A Player of the Year. He finished as the 2016 International Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby runner up and tallied the 2016 Perfect Game Highest Exit Velocity speed of 105.3 miles per hour. He received multiple Perfect Game All-Tournament honors and was named All-Region 5A First Team. Hinchman owns an impressive 3.95 GPA, leading to three High School Top Scholar honors.
Bragga's take:
Jason is a legitimate power threat at the plate. He has worked very hard to become the best athlete he can be, which opens up options for him in the field. We needed an advanced bat in this class and Hinchman is the perfect fit. We are very excited for his future at TTU.
Alexander High School head coach Chris Brown's take:
Hinchman is freak on the field and in the weight room, but, surprisingly, a soft spoken player who leads quietly by example. He understands that everything must be earned in this game and I am excited to see him excel in the years to come.
DANIEL HOLLEY - LHP │ 5-8 │ 160
Hometown: West Point, Ga.
High School: Glenwood School
Travel Team: Team Elite
Holley has enjoyed plenty of success at multiple levels the past three years between his high school team at Glenwood School in Georgia and his travel team, Team Elite, in Alabama. He helped lead Glenwood to a state championship as a junior, earning All-Tournament honors and an Aisa All-Star accolade as well. In travel ball, he took home a spot on the Perfect Game Uncommitted Showcase Team and top prospect list. A strong student as well, Holley posted a 3.5 GPA as a junior.
Bragga's take:
Daniel comes to us from one of the most successful programs in Alabama. His ability to keep hitters off balance and pound the strike zone is fun to watch. Daniel is a competitor through and through and will be one to watch for years to come in the OVC.
Team Elite head coach Jeff Halstead's take:
Daniel's going to be a great fit for the Tennessee Tech program. Not only is he a consistently great pitcher, he possesses the intangibles to make it at the next level. His demeanor, his character, his work ethic, and his attitude all helped to make him a special player in our program, and I know he'll carry those attributes into his college career and be very successful.
NATHAN MCMEANS - MIF │ 5-10 │ 170
Hometown: Cordova, Tenn.
High School: Evangelical Christian School
Travel Team: Memphis Tigers
McMeans has lettered three years at Evangelical Christian School, earning All-District, All-Region and All-Tournament honors in each of his three seasons. As a junior, he earned All-Metro honors, in addition to his other three accolades, aver batting .390 with 33 stolen bases. He ranked 10th in the state in stolen bases and finished with 14 doubles. Boasting a fantastic eye at the plate, McMeans struck out just four times between high school and summer league ball last year. He owns a 3.7 cumulative GPA at ECS.
Bragga's take:
Nathan is going to be a great asset to our program in the coming years. He can play multiple positions and match up with any type of pitcher he faces. The thing I like about him the most is his old school approach to the game. He is always hustling, diving, and covered in dirt.
Evangelical Christian School head coach Duke Williams' take:
Nathan is a hard-working, hard-nosed player. He is always willing to go the extra mile to do what it takes to be successful at a high level.
BROCK MYERS - RHP │ 5-11 │ 160
Hometown: Goodlettsville, Tenn.
High School: Davidson Academy
Travel Team: CrossHit Canes
Myers has been a member of two district championship winning squads at Davidson Academy, earning All-District, All-Region and All-State honors throughout his high school career. He was the first pick in the 2014 USSSA All-American Games for the Southeast team and was named a 2016 Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention. As a junior, Myers posted a 1.47 ERA and 0.915 WHIP over 71.0 innings of work on the hill. He punched out 83 batters while tossing three shutouts. He was also a member of Team Tennessee at the PBR Future Games.
Bragga's take:
Brock is the definition of a baseball player. His athleticism allows him to play many positions, but he will focus on pitching here at TTU. I love his ability to attack the strike zone with multiple pitches and look forward to watching him grow as a person and a player here in Cookeville.
Davidson Academy head coach Dennis Winn's take:
I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to coach Brock at Davidson Academy. He has been a huge part of our success here and is constantly working to get better. I look forward to watching him bring the same level of talent, passion and commitment to Tennessee Tech.
