SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball made big moves in the offseason with the addition of 22 newcomers to help fill in the gaps on the roster. Of those 22, head coach Brad Sanfilippo added nine position players who will look to fill the gaps in areas of need. The Spartans lost several starters off of last year's squad including MLB fifth-round pick Kellen Strahm and four-year starter Aaron Pleschner. Here's a look at this year's newcomers.
Alec Ackerman, Infielder, Junior, College of San Mateo:
A native of Parker, Colo., Ackerman played last season for the College of San Mateo where he led the team in home runs with seven. In 44 games, he laced 60 hits, including 12 doubles and four triples, and plated 38 runs with 36 RBI while averaging .343 for the season. He also swiped eight bases, had a .577 slugging percentage and .420 on-base percentage. Ackerman was a first team all-conference and second team all-region selection. He also earned second-team all-league honors at Chaparral High School in Parker, Colo., where he as a three-year letter winner in baseball and two-time winner in football.
Dalton Bowling, Infielder, Freshman, John F. Kennedy HS:
Bowling joins the Spartans after a prolific high school career at John F. Kennedy High in Fremont in which he was a four-time first team All-Mission Valley Athletic League pick, two-time MVAL MVP, two-time All-Bay Area and a first team all-state by Prep Baseball Report as a senior. Bowling held a .418 career batting average and .496 on-base percentage. He tallied 132 hits, 94 RBI, 90 runs scored and 15 home runs in his career. In his brilliant senior season, he batted .536 with 33 runs, 33 RBI, 12 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Michael Carnazzo, Infielder, Freshman, Monterey HS:
Carnazzo played four seasons of varsity ball at Monterey High in Monterey, California, and was named both the Gabilan League and Monterey County MVP after his senior year in 2019. He batted .524 as a senior with 43 runs scored, 44 hits, 17 RBI, 11 doubles and four homers and was named the Monterey Herald All-County Player of the Year. He was also a first team selection for the MaxPreps California Medium School All-State Team.
Robert Hamchuk, Outfielder, Freshman, Leigh HS:
Four-year starter at Leigh High in San Jose where he garnered first team all-league honors in each season. He was named the 2019 Blossom Valley Athletic League MVP as he led the team to a 12-2 record and the league championship title. Was named the BVAL Junior of the Year in 2018 and was Freshman of the Year in 2016. He also picked up all-state honors from CalHiSports and MaxPreps and was a first team member of the All-Bay Area News Group team as a senior. In his career, Hamchuk batted .363 with nine home runs and had a .447 on-base percentage and .560 slugging percentage. He also swiped 13 bases in his career. Hamchuk also played club ball for the California Bulldogs where he played in the 15U Perfect Game World Series and the 2016 Under Armour So Cal Classic.
Reece Hernandez, Infielder/Outfielder, Junior, Grossmont College:
Picked up all-league honors in both seasons he played at Grossmont College. As a freshman, he batted .340 with 40 runs, 53 hits, 13 doubles and 30 RBI. He was a three-year letter-winner at Santee High in Santee, California, where he was named All-Grossmont Valley League in his junior and senior seasons.
Taylor Justus, Catcher, Freshman, Agoura Hills HS:
A team captain at Agoura Hills High, Justus was named a second team all-league catcher. He helped lead the squad to the 2019 Coastal Canyon League Championship.
Ruben Mercado, Infielder, Junior, Cuesta College:
Mercado appeared in 38 games last season at shortstop at Cuesta College. He drove in 20 runs with 24 hits and nine RBI while stealing 10 bases. A two-sport star at Foothill High in Pleasanton, Mercado was an all-league selection at both shortstop and as a receiver where he led the football team to back-to-back conference championships.
Kevin Saenz, Catcher/Outfielder, Junior, Sacramento City College:
Saenz played in 93 career games at Sacramento City College where he was a .270 lifetime hitter with 71 runs, 91 hits, 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 81 RBI and had a .475 slugging percentage. Last season, he belted 10 homers, scored 40 runs, had 51 hits, including 11 doubles and drove in 42 runs while posting a .543 slugging percentage and .292 batting average in 49 games.
Joe Sassi, Outfielder, Freshman, Piedmont HS:
Sassi was a .375 career hitter at Piedmont High in Piedmont, California. A two-time first team all-league selection, he was perfect in the field his senior year with a 1.000 fielding percentage. He batted .357 as a senior with 25 runs, 25 hits, 15 RBI and five doubles.