Gophers Announce Seven Signees

Jan. 20, 2015

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The University of Minnesota baseball coaching staff has announced the signing of seven student-athletes. Eddie Estrada, Ben Humbert, Nick Lackney, Cole McDevitt and Ben Mezzenga signed National Letters of Intent, while Jordan Kozicky and Jake Stevenson each signed an Acceptance of Admission. All seven will be eligible to compete starting in the 2015-16 season.

"I think our staff, led by assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Rob Fornasiere and pitching coach Todd Oakes, did an outstanding job of identifying people that fit our needs for this recruiting class," head coach John Anderson said. "It's an outstanding group of young men that believe in our vision. I think they're good fits for our culture here at the University of Minnesota, and have the skills and potential to be very good players. We look forward to having this outstanding group join our program in the fall of 2015 and believe that they can help us continue our strong history and tradition in baseball."

Eddie Estrada (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) - IF | 6-1 | B/T: L/R

Estrada was tabbed as the No. 1 player in Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report last fall. As a junior for Litchfield, he batted .500 with a .589 on-base percentage and .904 slugging percentage. He tallied five doubles, three triples and five home runs during the Dragons' season. Estrada has earned All-Wright County Conference accolades as well as all-area honors. In the summer, he has been named to the Legion all-tournament team three times. Estrada also played on Litchfield's football team.

Assistant head coach Rob Fornasiere: "Eduardo is a top prospect in our region because he has superior hitting ability, speed and overall athleticism. He is a multi-sport athlete with solid leadership qualities. Eduardo is a high energy player. We project him as an infielder with a high ceiling."

Estrada: "As a kid, I've dreamt of playing for the Golden Gophers. It's a blessing to be able to further my education and baseball career at the University of Minnesota."

Ben Humbert (International Falls, Minn./International Falls) - P | 6-3 | B/T: R/R

Humbert, the 2014 Arrowhead Conference Athlete of the Year, owns a career 11-3 record on the mound for the Broncos. As a junior, he held an 0.59 ERA, struck out 62 batters and walked 20 in 35 1/3 innings pitched. Humbert batted .488 with two home runs and 17 RBIs. He earned all-conference and team MVP honors, and was named to the News Tribune Alll-Area Team. Humbert went 9-0 with an 0.67 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings for Legion Post 66 over the summer. A three-time all-conference basketball player, he holds Falls' career rebounding and scoring records. In addition to captaining the baseball team, he also served as a captain for the Broncos' football team and was all-conference as a junior.

Fornasiere: "Ben is an emerging talent with a strong arm and athletic body. He is a strike thrower with a high ceiling. Ben is the first player to sign with the Gopher Baseball team from International Falls in the John Anderson era."

Humbert: "I chose Minnesota because of the long, rich history of athletically and academically driven successful people, with opportunity to achieve greatness. Another reason is the great coaching staff and the beautiful Siebert Field."

Jordan Kozicky (Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) - IF | 6-0 | B/T: R/R

Kozicky hit .463 with 18 runs, nine doubles, a triple, three home runs and 20 RBIs as a junior for Southwest. He walked six times and struck out only four times, with a .514 on-base percentage. Kozicky is a two time all-section player and two-time All-Minneapolis City Conference selection. He batted .464 with 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 23 RBIs in 2014 summer Legion ball. Kozicky is an honor roll student and also an all-conference football player for the Lakers.

Fornasiere: "Jordan is the first Minneapolis City Conference player to sign with the Gopher baseball team in 30-plus years. He is very athletic, has a strong arm and is very aggressive with the stick. Jordan has played all over the diamond, but projects as a middle infielder and will help fill the void left with the graduation of current senior infielders on the Gopher roster."

Kozicky: "I chose the University of Minnesota primarily because I grew up wishing I could play there some day. I also love Minneapolis and like the idea of staying close to home. Other than great baseball, the academics are also good and will make me successful for my future. The campus and dorms I will be staying in are lovely and the overall environment is attractive."

Nick Lackney (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) - P | 6-4 | B/T: L/L

Lackney has started for Whitefish Bay since his freshman year. As a junior, he pitched five complete games, including three shutouts. Lackney posted a 1.08 ERA and struck out 82 batters while walking only 18. He earned all-state honorable mention, All-North Shore Conference, All-Suburban and academic all-state recognition. Lackney was an all-conference honorable mention first baseman as a freshman, and a second-team all-conference utility player and honorable mention all-state pitcher as a sophomore. He also plays basketball for the Blue Dukes.

Fornasiere: "Nick is rated as one of the top pitching prospects in Wisconsin for 2015. He is athletic, has a quick arm and a huge upside with his frame. He fills a need for left-handed pitching help on the Gophers' roster."

Lackney: "The first time I visited the U of M everything felt right for me, from all the baseball aspects to the school atmosphere as a whole. That is why I chose the University of Minnesota."

Cole McDevitt (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) - C | 5-11 | B/T: R/R

McDevitt, the younger brother of current Gopher pitcher Ty McDevitt, is an All-South Suburban Conference and All-Section 3AAA player for the Lightning. During his junior season, he batted .415 with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. McDevitt played for the Eastview Legion Team in the summer. He also quarterbacked Eastview's football team as a senior and has played hockey since his sophomore year.

Fornasiere: "Cole was the top catcher we saw in this graduating class. He has a very good swing, with power. He can throw out runners stealing bases and has shown the receiving, blocking and pitch-calling skills we look for. He is a competitor and a multi-sport athlete."

McDevitt: "I chose the U because it's been a goal since the beginning to play a college sport, and playing baseball for the Gophers was just a perfect fit for me. Historically it's been known to be a great baseball school along with good academics. It offers everything I wanted for playing at the next level."

Ben Mezzenga (Shoreview, Minn./Totino-Grace) - OF | 6-0 | B/T: L/R

Mezzenga had a .539 batting average and 17 stolen bases during his junior season with the Eagles. He received All-Northwest Suburban recognition. Mezzenga excelled with the Tri-City Legion team during the summer. In 34 games in 2014, he batted .550 and stole 32 bases on the way to being named district MVP. Mezzenga previously received Legion all-district honors after his freshman year. On the football field, he scored four touchdowns to help the Eagles advance to the 2014 Prep Bowl. He earned all-state, all-metro and all-conference acclaim last year and was named the conference's special teams MVP. Mezzenga is an honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society.

Fornasiere: "Ben was very highly recruited because of his game-changing speed, hitting ability and overall athleticism. He is also a multi-sport athlete with great energy and competitiveness. We have seen Ben play for several years and targeted him as the top outfielder in the 2015 graduating class in Minnesota."

Mezzenga: "I chose the University of Minnesota because I am a Minnesota boy, it's as simple as that!"

Jake Stevenson (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) - P | 6-4 | B/T: R/R

Stevenson held a 7-1 record and 0.92 ERA during his junior season. He struck out 64 batters and surrendered just 15 walks and 20 hits in 53 1/3 innings pitched. Stevenson also batted .403 with 16 runs, 17 RBIs and eight walks during a season that saw him earn All-Wright County Conference and all-section honors. As a sophomore, he had a 1.19 ERA, 30 strikeouts and two saves in 17 2/3 innings and batted .371 with 12 runs and 15 RBIs. Stevenson played two years of varsity soccer, including one state tournament appearance, and four years of basketball for the Wildcats. He is an NHS member and a four-time academic letterwinner and honor roll student.

Fornasiere: "Jake is a very athletic pitcher with a smooth, repeatable delivery. He has a good fastball with a sharp slider and developing change. He is a strong student and follows fellow Waconia High School grad and current Gopher pitcher Dalton Sawyer to the program. Jake is another multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and baseball."

Stevenson: "I chose The University of Minnesota for a lot of reasons such as the academics of the school and the way the baseball program has established itself. The coaching staff made me feel like part of the family. Coach Anderson has been doing an amazing job for a long time and I'm excited and honored to be a part of his team. It has always been a dream of mine to play for the Gophers and being from Waconia my parents can come and watch me play."

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Players Mentioned

Ben Humbert

Jordan Kozicky

Nick Lackney

Cole McDevitt

Ty McDevitt

Ben Mezzenga

Dalton Sawyer

Jake Stevenson

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