Cardenas Inks Eight In Early Signing Class
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
NACGODOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin head baseball coach Johnny Cardenas announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Monday morning during the early signing period.
The class is made up of eight prep stars, consisting of Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas; St. Anthony Catholic High School), Mitchell Johnson (Humble, Texas; Atascocita High School), Brent Patane (Montgomery, Texas; Montgomery High School), Austin Hearn (Crosby, Texas; Crosby High School), Clayton Rasbeary (Heath, TX; Rockwall-Heath HS), Tyler Starks (Mesquite, Texas; North Mesquite High School), Tyler Pinkston (Rockwall, Texas; Rockwall-Heath High School), Brendan Venter (Flower Mound, Texas; Marcus High School).
“I feel like the work that my assistants have done to bring in such a quality class has been outstanding,” Cardenas said. “We look for these guys to be immediate impact players.”
Henry Sanchez - San Antonio, Texas (St. Anthony Catholic HS)
Position(s): Middle Infielder
Height/Weight: 5-9/165
Bats/Throws: S/R
A three-year starter, Sanchez enters his senior year under head coach Ed Solis at St. Anthony Catholic High School in San Antonio.
Seeing time between second base and shortstop, Sanchez has garnered all-district honors all three years of playing the middle infield. He was tabbed District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, before earning MVP honors as a sophomore and junior. In 2014, Sanchez was a unanimous all-district, all-state and academic all-state selection.
Sanchez is currently ranked as the No. 22 middle infielder in the state of Texas and No. 45 middle infielder nationally by Perfect Game USA.
Sanchez is also a four-year letterman in football, being named all-district in 2012 and 2013 as a running back and linebacker. In 2012, he was selected as a member of the USA Football team.
Cardenas on Sanchez:
“Henry is a quality infielder with very good hands,” Cardenas said. “He should really help with the depth in the middle of our infield.”
Mitchell Johnson - Humble, Texas (Atascocita HS)
Position(s): RHP/OF
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
A two-year letterwinner, Johnson enters his senior year under head coach Eric Matthews at Atascocita High School.
Johnson, who has seen time both as a starting pitcher and outfielder, helped the Eagles to a Region 2 championship and 5A state tournament semifinal appearance in Round Rock, Texas, in 2014.
As a junior, Johnson was tabbed All-Houston by Houston 5A Baseball and named all-district 13-5A as a pitcher. He also received pitcher of the week honors for a complete game, no-hit shutout, logging 12 strikeouts and allowing just one walk across seven innings in Week 5 of that season.
Johnson is currently ranked as the No. 30 outfielder in the state of Texas and No. 198 outfielder nationally by Perfect Game USA. He was invited to attend the 2014 Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts.
Cardenas on Johnson:
“Mitchell is a right-handed pitcher who can throw three pitches for strikes,” Cardenas said. “He should lengthen our bullpen in his first year.”
Brent Patane - Montgomery, Texas (Montgomery HS)
Position(s): 3B
Height/Weight: 6-1/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
A two-sport athlete at Montgomery High School, Patane broke the school’s three-point record and was voted unanimous first team all-district as a sophomore, before picking up second team all-district honors in baseball as a junior. The third baseman hit .350 and racked up 40 RBI in 2014.
A member of the Twelve Baseball Organization for many years, Patane is currently ranked as the No. 16 shortstop in the state of Texas and No. 158 shortstop nationally by Perfect Game USA.
Cardenas on Patane:
“Brent is a solid infielder with above average hands,” Cardenas said. “He is a gap-to-gap hitter with potential power to play on the corner. He should make a push to be in the starting lineup right away.”
Austin Hearn - Crosby, Texas (Crosby HS)
Position(s): RHP/OF
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
A three-year letterwinner, Hearn enters his senior year at Crosby High School in Crosby, Texas.
After serving as the team’s closer as a sophomore in 2013, Hearn made the transition to a starter in 2014. As a junior, he tossed three complete game shutouts and posted 9-2 record to help lead the Cougars to Co-District and Bi-District championships.
During the 2014 sesaon, Hearn earned a plethora of awards, garnering all-district 19-4A, H5AB 4A Pitching Leader for Houston and H5AB All-Houston Team honors. He was also a four-time H5AB Pitcher of the Week nominee and member of the 2014 All-Baytown Sun Super 25 Team.
As a junior, Hearn was also selected as the CHS senior representative for the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association’s annual “Don’t Drink and Drive” poster/campaign at Minute Maid Park.
Most recently, Hearn pitched at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to power hitters from all over United States. He has also been invited to pitch in the Miami International Power Showcase at Marlins Park in December.
Cardenas on Hearn:
“Austin is a hard throwing right-handed pitcher with above average command and can throw three pitches for strikes,” Cardenas said. “He attacks hitters in every situation.”
Clayton Rasbeary - Heath, Texas (Rockwall-Heath HS)
Position(s): OF
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Bats/Throws: L/R
A three-year letterwinner, Rasbeary enters his senior year at Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas.
Rasbeary is a three-time first team all-district selection, who also garnered first team all-state tournament team at designated hitter when RHHS was the 2012 Texas 4A state champion.
Rasbeary was invited to attend the 2014 Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts.
Rasbeary is the high school teammate of fellow SFA signee Tyler Pinkston
Cardenas on Rasbeary:
“Clayton is an above average athlete with good physicality,” Cardenas said. “He is an above average runner with potential to develop into a top tier hitter.”
Tyler Starks - Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)
Position(s): LHP/OF
Height/Weight: 5-9/140
Bats/Throws: L/L
A three-year letterwinner, Starks enters his senior year at North Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas.
During his time at MHS, Starks has been named District 12-5A Underclassmen of the Year (2012-2013), District 12-5A MVP, first team all-area, second team all-state and Perfect Game Preseason All-American.
Starks is currently ranked as the No. 55 outfielder in the state of Texas and No. 368 outfielder nationally by Perfect Game USA. He was invited to attend the 2014 Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts.
Cardenas on Starks:
“Tyler is a dual athlete who could potentially compete for us both on the mound and in the outfield,” Cardenas said. “He is a possible leadoff hitter with good bat control. On the mound, he is a left-handed pitcher who attacks both hitters and the zone.”
Tyler Pinkston - Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall-Heath HS)
Position(s): Utility
Height/Weight: 6-3/230
Bats/Throws: R/R
Pinkston enters his senior year at Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas.
During his time at RHHS, Pinkston was named all-district 12-5A as a designated hitter as a sophomore, before being tabbed all-district 12-5A as a pitcher as a junior. In 2014, he was tabbed honorable mention all-state and a Perfect Game All-American 2014. Pinkston was also tabbed an Under Armour Preseason All-American (2013-2014).
Pinkston is currently ranked as the No. 11 catcher in the state of Texas and No. 93 nationally by Perfect Game USA. He was invited to attend the 2014 Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts, and finished third on the Hit Challenge Champion 2014 for BBCOR bat/bat speed at impact.
Pinkston is the high school teammate of fellow SFA signee Clayton Rasbeary
Cardenas on Pinkston:
“Tyler is a utility player with an above average arm and power,” Cardenas said. “He will make a push to be a weekend pitcher and also has the potential to be a middle of the lineup hitter.”
Brendan Venter - Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus HS)
Position(s): 1B/3B
Height/Weight: 6-2/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
Venter enters his senior year at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas.
During his time at MHS, Venter has been named District 5-5A MVP, first team all-area, winner of the Connie Mack Homerun Derby and Connie Mack World Series champion.
Venter is currently ranked as the No. 2 first baseman in the state of Texas and No. 32 nationally at first base by Perfect Game USA. He was invited to attend the 2014 Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts.
Cardenas on Venter:
“Brendan is a corner infielder with above average bat and power,” Cardenas said. “He will be a prospect immediately to hit in the top of our lineup.”
-SFA-
