Baylor Baseball Inks 11 to 2022 Signing Class

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – November 10, 2021

Baylor Baseball Inks 11 to 2022 Signing Class
Bears welcome 11 players from California and Texas
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball inked 11 players to its 2022 signing class on Wednesday, as announced by head coach Steve Rodriguez.

The incoming Bears represent both California and Texas. The group is a mix of three infielders, two outfielders, two utility players, one catcher and four pitchers, including a two-way player. All 11 signees will join the Bears prior to the spring 2023 season.

“We are very excited about this recruiting class. It is a very well-balanced class with talented pitchers, speed, power and athletic defenders,” Rodriguez said. “I think we have done a great job executing a plan that brings quality athletes and young men to Baylor University.”

Caleb Bergman | OF | Parker, Texas | Plano East HS | R/R | 5-9 | 165
Three-year letterwinner at Plano East High School in Plano, Texas … Hit .353 in junior season for the Panthers with 26 runs scored, 12 RBI and 17 stolen bases … Plays club ball for Dallas Tigers … Hit .330 in summer 2021 with two home runs, 32 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 32 runs scored … Two-time First-Team All-District outfielder … Third-Team All-State selection … Named a MaxPreps All-American outfielder … Earned a spot on the 2021 WWBA All-Tournament Team … Three-time team captain and two-time team MVP … Two-time Academic All-District honoree … Parents, Jennifer and Brett, are both Baylor alumni.

Charlie Bower | LHP | Austin, Texas | Lake Travis HS | L/L | 6-7 | 235
Letterwinner at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas … Missed junior season due to injury … PBR Futures Game Team Texas alumni … Member of National Honor Society.

Kolby Branch | INF | Lucas, Texas | Lovejoy HS | R/R | 5-11 | 180
Three-year letterwinner at Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas … Led Leopards to fourth round of 2021 playoffs … Hit .355 with two home runs, 22 RBI and nine stolen bases … 2021 First-Team All-District 10-5A … 2021 Second-Team All-Area … Voted 2021 Defensive Player of the Year by his teammates … 2019 Newcomer of the Year … Two-time Academic All-District honoree … Member of National Honor Society … Father, Rusty, played tennis at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Ethan Calder | OF/1B | Austin, Texas | Lake Travis HS | L/L | 6-0 | 175
Three-year letterwinner at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas … 2021 state quarterfinalist with the Cavaliers … Hit .340 with 19 RBI and seven stolen bases as a junior in 2021 … Added 5-1 record and 1.30 ERA in 39 innings pitched with 50 strikeouts … Hit .410 in summer 2021 with 35 RBI over 105 at-bats, with 1.08 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched … First-Team All-District selection … Voted Team MVP for the 2021 season … A/B Honor Roll member … Parents, Carole and John, are both Baylor alumni … Grandfather, Billy, played football at Baylor.

Tanner Duke | RHP | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | San Juan Hills HS | R/R | 6-2 | 155
2021 letterwinner at San Juan Hills High School in Ladera Ranch, Calif. … Posted 6-0 record with 2.37 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 44.1 innings for the Stallions as a junior … His six wins were the third-most all-time in a single season at SJHHS … Second-Team All-League selection … Named 2021 Rookie of the Year … Received 2021 Scholar Athlete Award … Three-time Principal’s Honor Roll member.

Bode Grieve | OF | La Jolla, Calif. | The Bishop’s School | R/R | 6-3 | 185
Hit .280 with three home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases at The Bishop’s School … Ranked a top-20 outfielder and top-100 overall player in the state of California by PBR and Perfect Game … Named a top-500 player in the nation by PBR and Perfect Game … Son of former MLB All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve.

Zach Mazoch | C | Georgetown, Texas | Georgetown HS | L/R | 6-1 | 195
Three-year letterwinner at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, Texas … Hit .361 for the Eagles with one home run, 10 RBI and one stolen base … 2021 First-Team All-District catcher … Academic All-District honoree … A/B Honor Roll member … Parents, Laurie and Ivan, are both Baylor alumni … Brother, Matthew, played baseball at UMHB.

Collin McKinney | RHP | Nassau Bay, Texas | Clear Creek HS | R/R | 6-6 | 220
Two-year letterwinner at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas … Posted a 4-4 record with a 2.38 ERA in 53 innings pitched for the Wildcats in 2021 … Added 77 strikeouts and just 27 walks in junior campaign … 2021 First-Team All-District Pitcher … 2021 Second-Team All-Galveston County Pitcher … Also competed in the discus throw in high school and was a 2019 district finalist.

JoJo Medellin | INF | League City, Texas | Bay Area Christian HS | S/R | 6-1 | 175
Three-year letterwinner at Bay Area Christian High School in League City, Texas … 2021 State Champion with the Broncos … Hit .371 in junior season with 2 home runs, 38 RBI and three stolen bases … Also contributed 9-1 record with 0.89 ERA in 47 innings pitched … Named 2021 TAPPS 4A State Male Athlete of the Year … Voted Bay Area Christian HS Athlete of the Year … 2021 First-Team All-State and All-State MVP … Named to 2021 TAPPS All-State Tournament Team … Member of All-Greater Houston Baseball Team and named All-Greater Houston Hitter of the Year … First-Team All-Galveston County … First-Team All-District and District MVP … 2020 Texas Rangers Area Code Underclass Team … Led Area Code games in hits and was named to All-Tournament Team … Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, being named Second-Team All-State.

Walker Polk | C/INF | Coppell, Texas | Coppell HS | S/R | 6-3 | 225
Three-year letterwinner at Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas … Hit .322 in junior campaign with one home run, 31 RBI and three stolen bases … Led Cowboys to state quarterfinals … All-District and All-State selection … Also played two seasons of varsity football … Was named an All-American football player … Plays for Dallas Tigers club team for head coach and father, Chad Polk, a former Baylor baseball letterman (1997-98) … Parents, Jennifer and Chad, are both Baylor alumni … Brother, Hudson, plays baseball at Oklahoma.

Danny Valadez | RHP/INF | Round Rock, Texas | Cedar Ridge HS | R/R | 6-3 | 215
Three-year letterwinner at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas … Career .335 hitter with two home runs, 62 RBI and 15 stolen bases across three seasons as a Raider … Also compiled a 21-1-1 career record on the mound with a 2.10 ERA over 149.2 innings pitched … Named 2021 First-Team All-District and District MVP … Earned 2021 Pitcher of the Year honors … Second-Team All-State pitcher and Third-Team All-State as a third baseman … Ranked top-200 player in the state across 6A schools … 2019 Newcomer of the Year … Also played varsity football.

For the latest news on the Baylor baseball team all season long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_1855905456]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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