RECRUITING '21: IT'S NATIONAL SIGNING DAY AND BEAVER BASEBALL RE-LOADS!

Today we honor our Veterans who have sacrificed so much for America. It is also National Signing Day for Mitch Canham and his Beaver Baseball program. The signing period begins today and continues through August 1st, 2021. It is expected the Beavs will welcome five Preps and two JC transfers in the 2021 pitching group. Six of the seven are right handed. Kmatz, Hambey, Quinn, and Carpenter are power pitchers relying on lively fastballs in the mid-90’s to set up and retire opposing hitters. Case, Nelson, and Hibbard rely more on secondary stuff and location to record their outs. The risk of a 2021 draft loss isn’t a big concern but there is always some exposure with every class. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of our future chuckers.


Jacob Kmatz RHP 6-4, 207 Albuquerque, New Mexico – Sandia HS

Big durable frame. Power pitcher with high ¾ arm slot. Has a rhythmic delivery with good balance. Sits on a 91-93 mph fastball with good life. Has a 3 pitch mix. Nasty 78 mph CB with MLB spin level of 2,547 RPM. Averaged 1.57 K/IP as HS Sophomore. All 5A-District 2 and All State New Mexico Selection. Has 64 K’s and 16 BB (K:BB Ratio of 4:1) in 50 1/3 career IP through his Sophomore year. Texas Rangers Scout Team. Cincinnati Reds Area Code Team. Prep Baseball Report Ranked # 130 nationally, and the # 19 RHP. The # 1 Pitcher and # 1 player in New Mexico. Perfect Game rankings have ranged from # 247-323 and the # 71-119 RHP nationally. Ranked the # 1 Pitcher and # 1 Player in New Mexico by PG.


Dominic Hambey RHP 6-3, 223 Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)– Belmont Secondary School

Power pitcher that camps on 92-93 mph and can dial it up to 95 when needed (has touched 96). Fastball can be overpowering with more in the tank. Throws a 12-6 curve ball with bite. Made rapid strides with velocity in the last year. Avid weightlifter. Plays summer ball for Victoria Eagles, Member of B.C. Province 18u team. Pitched for Canadian National U/C Team. Prep Baseball Report (U.S.) Rankings: Ranked # 383 nationally and the # 137 RH pitcher. Ranked the # 2 pitcher in B.C. and the 2nd best prospect overall. Perfect Game Rankings: Ranked the # 187 RH Pitcher and # 500 overall.


Victor Quinn RHP 6-1, 202 Lake St. Louis, Missouri - Wentzville-Liberty HS

Athletic and physical pitcher with a plus arm. Easy motion produces 93-95 mph fastballs that explode on the hitter. Touches 97 frequently. Shows a filthy slider and straight change. Slider is a plus put-away pitch. High rate of swing and miss on both pitches. An accomplished outfielder and good hitter with power. All 5A-District 7 and All Missouri 5A selection in 2019. Plays summer ball for St Louis Cardinals Scout Team and Gator Baseball Academy. Ranked # 116 RH Pitcher and # 333 nationally by Prep Baseball Report. The # 2 ranked RH Pitcher in Missouri and the 4th best prospect in the state. Perfect Game Rankings: # 252 nationally and # 90 RH Pitcher. Ranked # 2 pitcher in Missouri and # 4 player in the state by PG.


Cole Nelson RHP 6-4, 192 Lynwood, Washington – Meadowdale HS

Long, angular frame with more height projected. Athletic two-sport star in basketball and baseball. Lost part of 2019 season and all of 2020 with serious basketball injuries (ankle and shoulder), and the Pandemic schedule fallout. Prep and summer baseball activity has been limited. Has a 3 pitch arsenal. FB has good late life 87-89 mph. Low ¾ arm slot-a sidewinder. Loose, fluid motion. Competes in 3A Wesco Conference. Hasn’t pitched at Meadowdale HS since freshman year in 2018 – had 11 K, 5 BB in 8 2/3 IP. Prep Baseball Report Rankings have him # 500 nationally. Ranked the # 6 pitcher and 19th best player on the Washington Top-60. Perfect Game Rankings range from # 406 - # 500 nationally, and the # 8 pitcher and 19th overall on the Washington Top-50. Ranked the # 10 prospect on the Washington Top-42 by Baseball Northwest. 2021 should be a breakout year when he finally gets to pitch. High ceiling prospect.


David Case LHP 6-1, 173 Los Angeles, California – Loyola HS

Athletic player– has some quickness. Also plays 1B. Loose ¾ arm stroke. Deceptive (like Brandon Eisert), momentarily hides the ball behind lead leg. Has 4 polished pitches. FB sits in 87-89 range with heavy run in on LH hitters. Scouts say velo holds up for 7 innings. 12-6 curve, and circle change at 75 mph. Excellent command – high K:BB ratio. Throws an 80 mph 2-8 slider on any count, in any situation – his punch-out pitch. Scouts emphasize one word with Case – “efficient”. Loyola competes in the strong Mission League in Los Angeles. As a Sophomore in 2019, he had 15 k’s 5 BB in 11 2/3 IP. Has spent years training with Garciaparra Baseball Academy. Summer ball with elite GBG-Marucci – Navy (Garciaparra Baseball Group). Prep Baseball Report ranks him # 497 and the # 49 LHP nationally. Ranked # 144 in California and the # 8 LHP. Perfect Game ranks him # 454 nationally and the # 54 lefty. Ranked # 50 and the # 5 LHP in California.


DJ Carpenter RHP 6-7, 192 Riverside, California – ML. King HS / Coolidge, Arizona - Central Arizona CC

Large frame, long limbs and athletic. Long, fluid throwing motion. High ¾ arm slot. Throws 3 pitches with command. FB velo is mid 90’s – 93 to 95. Reaches 96-97 on demand. FB has late life run. Slider and Curve Ball are quality pitches. Works the corners hard with the FB – establishes location with velo early. Played summer ball for CBA-Marucci (California Baseball Academy) and Inland Empire Express Travel. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 18th round out of high school. Established a school record for K/IP (strikeouts per inning pitched) at CACC with 1.46, or 13.1 K’s per 9 inning game. Frontline starter on the 2019 National Junior College Champion, CACC Vaqueros. Was previously committed to University of Hawaii. Enters OSU with 3 years to play 2.


Jayson Hibbard RHP 6-4, 241 Nampa, Idaho - Skyview HS / Twin Falls, Idaho - College of Southern Idaho

Big Frame, with some athleticism. Front-line starter in CSI rotation. Has command of 3 pitch mix. Fastball is a steady 88-90 with some run and sink. Throws a CB and tumbling change-up at 80 mph. Pitch to contact approach. Pounds the lower half of the zone with everything. Induces an inordinate amount of ground balls as a % of BPIP. Smart and poised under pressure. Last 4 seasons had 5.5:1 K to BB ratio. Starred in basketball at Skyview HS. All Southern Idaho twice at Skyview HS. All Region at CSI in 2019. Summer ball – Nampa-Caldwell-Kuna American Legion, Walla Walla Sweets in WCC League in 2019, LaCrosse, WI. Timberjacks in the Northwoods League in 2020. Was previously committed to CSU-Bakersfield. Enters OSU with 3 years to play 2.