The Minnesota baseball team has signed JT Canakes, Austin Lubinsky, Matt Puhl and Kurt Schlangen to national letters of intent, and added recruited walk-on Troy Larson to the team during the early signing period according to an announcement made by Minnesota head coach John Anderson on Thursday, Nov. 22. All five players will be eligible to compete for the Golden Gophers in the 2009 season.
Canakes is a 6-3, 200 pound outfielder out of Eden Prairie High School. He helped his team advance to the Class AAA State Championship last spring. Canakes also played on the Eden Prairie Legion team that advanced to the Legion World Series and finished second. He was teammates with current Golden Gopher Kyle Geason on his high school and Legion teams He is currently a starting strong safety on the Edcn Prairie football team that will play for a state championship this week. Canakes grandfather (Stav Canakes) was a legendary high school football coach for Edina High School.
Larson is a 6-0, 165 pound middle infielder out of Hill-Murray High School. He has great speed, a strong arm and a quick bat. He is the latest player in a long line of Hill-Murray products that includes current Golden Gopher Derek McCallum, and former Minnesota players Darren Grass, Rick Brosseau and Robb Quinlan. Larson was named All-Conference in his senior year. He batted .377 with 16 runs, eight stolen bases and 20 RBI. Larson helped lead Hill-Murray to a conference and sectional championship. Larson's team also qualified for the Class AAA State Tournament.
Lubinsky is a 6-2, 190 pound right-handed pitcher out of Logan High School in LaCrosse, Wis. In his junior season, Lubinsky was named Honorable Mention All-State and received First-Team All-District. He helped lead his team to a Mississippi Valley Conference title, and received Second-Team All-Conference honors. As a junior, Lubinsky was 8-1 with a 0.63 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 55.2 innings of work.
He is also a two-year letterwinner in hockey and was a letterwinner in football this past season. Lubinsky was named NCHL and Mississippi Valley All-Conference team in hockey as a junior.
Puhl is a 6-5, 195 pound shortstop from North St. Paul High School. Puhl was named All-Conference in baseball as a junior, and was All-Conference in football this past season. Last spring, he was named the MVP of the baseball team. He also was named Offensive Player of the Year in football. Puhl was a captain of the baseball team last year, and of his football team this past season.
He was also MVP of District 4, and of his own Legion team this past summer. Puhl batted .360 with two home runs, 27 runs, 20 RBI, eight doubles and 13 stolen bases for his Legion team this past summer. He was also 4-1 with a 1.14 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 42.2 innings of work. His 27 runs and 13 stolen bases led the team.
Schlangen is a 6-1, 190 catcher/pitcher/outfielder out of Albany High School. Last season, Schlangen was named to the St. Cloud Times All-Area team. He is also a two-time All-Conference honoree. As a junior, he hit .444 with 13 doubles, four home runs, 30 RBI and 26 runs. Schlangen was also 8-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 53 innings of work. Last summer in Legion ball, he hit .443 with 10 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 21 runs and 34 RBI. He also 6-1 with a 0.84 ERA, and struck out 55 batters in 41 innings of work.
He has also made two appearances in the State Wrestling Tournament and is a two-time All-Conference honoree in football. This year, he was also voted the MVP of the conference in football, and helped lead his team to the State Semifinals.
"We feel that all five of these student-athletes are a perfect fit for our program on and off the field," said Anderson. "These are very talented incoming players, along with being tremendous students in the classroom. Troy (Larson) and Matt (Puhl) are both great athletes who will help solidify our program up the middle for the future, while Austin (Lubinsky) is a pitcher who has a chance to come in next year and contribute to our program. JT (Canakes) gives us a left-handed outfield bat with big upside. Kurt (Schlangen) is a versatile athlete who could come in and help us behind the plate, or could serve our program in a variety of different ways either on the mound or in the field. Overall, this class is a good blend of players who want to be part of this program, and should combine with the young group of players we have in the program right now to provide a great foundation for the future success of the Gopher baseball program."
Recruit Pos. B-T Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)
JT Canakes OF L-R 6-3 200 Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie HS)
Troy Larson SS/2B R-R 6-0 165 Oakdale, Minn. (Hill-Murray HS)
Austin Lubinsky RHP R-R 6-2 190 LaCrosse, Wis. (Logan HS)
Matt Puhl SS R-R 6-5 195 Maplewood, Minn. (North St. Paul HS)
Kurt Schlangen C/P/OFR-R 6-1 190 Albany, Minn. (Albany)
JT Canakes (on Coming to Minnesota) - "I am looking forward to joining an outstanding program with a great tradition at the University of Minnesota. I think the main reason I choose to play at Minnesota was the coaching staff. It is a great group of coaches that are very organized, and have a great track record of success. I am looking forward to playing Division I baseball, and facing the challenging schedule that Minnesota puts together year in and year out to help you get better as a player."
Rob Fornasiere - Minnesota Assistant Head Coach (Recruiting Coordinator) on JT Canakes -
"J.T. is an emerging talent with big upside. He plays in a tough conference, and is an all-around athlete who is very intelligent. We like his bat and he fills a need we will have for left hand hitting in the outfield."
Troy Larson (on Coming to Minnesota) - "I am excited to attend an institution with a good academic reputation, as well as joining a great baseball program at the University of Minnesota. I like the coaches a lot, and am looking forward to working with them to continue to improve as a player as I progress in my baseball career at Minnesota."
Rob Fornasiere - Minnesota Assistant Head Coach (Recruiting Coordinator) on Troy Larson - "We noticed Troy in the Siebert Fall League, where he displayed his great speed and hitting ability. He is a great student, a solid person and has just scratched the surface of what he can do."
Austin Lubinsky (on Coming to Minnesota) - "One of the main reasons I chose to go to the University of Minnesota is the fact that it is a great academic institution. I also really liked the coaching staff when I visited. They are a laid back group, but they do a great job of teaching the game of baseball. I am looking forward to learning from them and improving as my career progresses with the program. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the campus, and around the baseball program. I am looking forward to playing for a program with such a great tradition, and a top-notch coaching staff."
Todd Oakes - Minnesota Pitching Coach on Austin Lubinsky - "Austin is a consistent strike thrower with the foundation for three competitive pitches. He knows how to compete, is a very good student and is very athletic. The athletic skills and character he has shown will allow him to grow and mature as a college pitcher."
Matt Puhl (on Coming to Minnesota) - "I am excited to join the Minnesota baseball program. I was very familiar with the coaching staff, and I have a lot of respect for the accomplishments that they have had with the program. I am happy to go into a situation where I can play close to home, and have friends and family be able to come and watch me play. I also like the fact that I know the coaches and what they are about. It makes playing for the program feel like the right choice and I am excited to be part of the home state university."
Rob Fornasiere - Minnesota Assistant Head Coach (Recruiting Coordinator) on Matt Puhl - "We are very excited to have Matt join our team. He is a great person, has solid grades and is very athletic. He has been a clutch performer in high school and summer ball and has steadily improved. Matt is a very good fit for our program."
Kurt Schlangen (on Coming to Minnesota) - "It is exciting to come from a small town where I am from, and to be able to play for a Division I program with the tradition of the University of Minnesota. When I visited the coaches were straight with me, and that left me with a good feeling about the program. I also like the fact that I am also playing close enough to home to allow my friends and family to come and watch me play during my career. I am excited about joining Golden Gopher program next year."
Rob Fornasiere - Minnesota Assistant Head Coach (Recruiting Coordinator) on Kurt Schlangen - "Kurt is a fantastic person with a great attitude, work ethic and leadership skills. He is tough, has a great arm and is very versatile. We felt he was a great match for our program. He is also a superior student."
