SAN JOSE, Calif. - San José State head coach Brad Sanfilippo announced today the additions of 23 newcomers to the Spartan baseball program.
"We feel that we have addressed our needs in both the class of 2021 and through the transfer portal," says Sanfilippo. "We have added some arm strength on the mound that we were lacking in addition to some athleticism and depth on the position player side. Recruiting coordinator Thomas Walker has done tremendous work assembling the class of freshmen and transfers this summer. Our pitching coach - Seth Moir - has done a great job of attracting talent with his expertise and experience both in college baseball and at the pro level. We are very much looking forward to getting going on the field and are optimistic about this group of newcomers in combination with the players we are returning."
The group of student-athletes will compete for SJSU beginning in the 2022 season, Sanfilippo's fifth at the helm. 20 of the new Spartans are in-state products while the states of Oregon, Arizona and Washington each have one representative.
2022 NEWCOMERS
Trey Brooks (OF - Encino, Calif.)
- Shined offensively and in the outfield at Windward HS in Los Angeles.
- Played club ball for the California Baseball Academy.
- Father - Bucky - enjoyed a five-year NFL career and won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers.
Nathan Cadena (INF - Placentia, Calif.)
- Competed at El Dorado HS in Placentia, Calif.
- Was named to the 2019 Orange County Register All-Crestview League Team, one of just two sophomores to earn the honor.
- Hit .353 on the 2021 campaign with the Golden Hawks, notching 15 RBI and three home runs.
- Played primarily in the hot corner on defense, ranking as one of the top third basemen in Southern California.
Joseph Cammarata (RHP - Scottsdale, Ariz.)
- Transferring in from Washington State.
- One of four Washington State transfers in this class of newcomers and one of 11 Division I transfers in total.
- Graduated from Mountain Pointe HS, garnering preseason All-American West Region First Team and Arizona 6A All-Region Team honors as a senior.
Hunter Dorraugh (UTIL - Vacaville, Calif.)
- Competed at Vacaville HS.
- Hit .400 in his senior season with the Bulldogs.
- Spent the last two seasons at Sacramento State and is one of 11 Division I transfers in this class of newcomers.
- Totaled 16 RBI and three home runs in 33 appearances with the Hornets.
Aaron Eden (RHP - Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Transferring in from San Diego State.
- One of two San Diego State transfers in this class of newcomers and one of 11 Division I transfers in total.
- Has spent three seasons with the Aztecs, notching 74 strikeouts in 114.2 innings while compiling a 7-3 record.
- Received 2018 Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention recognition while dominating both on the mound and as a designated hitter at Norco HS in Corona, Calif.
- Brother - Chandler - played baseball at Oregon State before being taken in the 25th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
AJ Esperanza (C - Orange, Calif.)
- Competed at El Modena HS in Orange, Calif.
- Was named North Hills League MVP while with the Vanguards.
- Spent the last two seasons at Cuesta College while playing at Cal Poly as a freshman.
- Totaled 17 RBI and one home run in 21 appearances with the Cougars.
Stephen Espinoza (3B - Lompoc, Calif.)
- Dominated both at the plate and the hot corner while at Lompoc HS.
- Ranked as one of the state's top third basemen in his senior season.
Kimo Fukofuka (OF - Union City, Calif.)
- Competed at James Logan HS in Union City, Calif.
- Played club ball for Hit Club.
- Transferring in from Cañada College after spending two seasons with the Colts.
- Appeared in 36 games at Cañada College, hitting .344 while notching 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases and three home runs.
Daniel Garcia (INF/RHP - Oakland, Calif.)
- Competed at San Leandro HS.
- Shined both throughout the infield and on the mound for the Pirates.
- Played club ball for Bercovich Baseball.
Omar Gastelum (C - Oxnard, Calif.)
- Competed at Saint Bonaventure HS in Ventura, Calif.
- Was a four-time all-league, three-time defensive player of the year and two-time all-county selection.
- Spent last season at UC Santa Barbara and is one of 11 Division I transfers in the class of newcomers.
Gary Hall (RHP - Windsor, Calif.)
- Competed at Windsor HS and impressed on the mound for the Jaguars.
- Also shined at shortstop while at Windsor.
- Was his team's ace in the shortened 2020 season, posting a 1.47 ERA and 24 strikeouts in the process.
Carter Heninger (RHP - El Dorado Hills, Calif.)
- Competed at Oak Ridge HS in El Dorado Hills, Calif.
- Played club ball for NorCal, one of the top programs in the Bay Area.
- Struck out 31 in 26.1 innings of work as a senior.
Brady Hill (OF - Spokane, Wash.)
- Competed at Mt. Spokane HS in Mead, Wash.
- Was named MVP of the Greater Spokane League as a senior after hitting .400 with a league-leading 24 stolen bases.
- Drafted in the 39th round by the Colorado Rockies out of high school.
- Transferring in from Washington State after two seasons with the Cougars; is one of four Washington State transfers in this class of newcomers and one of 11 Division I transfers in total.
- Hit .302 at the dish as a freshman in Pullman.
Jeriah Lewis (OF - Alameda, Calif.)
- Transferring in from USC after one season with the Trojans; is one of 11 Division I transfers in the class of newcomers.
- Competed at Encinal HS in Alameda, Calif.
- Earned all-league honors in final two seasons of competition with the Jets.
- Hit .405 while notching 21 RBI on the 2018 campaign.
Trent Nielsen (UTIL - Carlsbad, Calif.)
- Competed at Carlsbad HS and impressed at multiple different positions for the Lancers.
- Hit .353 with 28 RBI and five home runs in his senior season.
- Played club ball for the San Diego Show.
Makana Olaso (C - Temecula, Calif.)
- Competed at Murrieta Mesa HS in Murrieta, Calif.
- Shined both behind and at the plate for the Rams.
- Hit at a .379 clip with six RBI, five doubles and one home run in nine games in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
Ethan Ross (LHP - El Centro, Calif.)
- Transferring in from Washington State; spent the last two seasons in Pullman.
- Appeared in 11 games for the Cougars while making four starts.
- Tallied 12 strikeouts, one win and one save on the bump.
- One of four Washington State transfers in this class of newcomers and one of 11 Division I transfers in total.
- Was a two-time West Coast League Pitcher of the Week honoree and All-WCL selection over the summer while helping lead the Corvallis Knights to a national championship.
- Graduated from Southwest HS in El Centro, Calif.
- Garnered first team All-Imperial Valley League recognition and Conference Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior, going 6-1 with 96 strikeouts.
Tim Scarlett (RHP - Mission Viejo, Calif.)
- Competed at Capistrano Valley HS in Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Ranked as one of the state's top pitchers while with the Cougars.
- Transferring in from San Diego State; is one of 11 Division I transfers in the class of newcomers.
Casey Spencer (RHP - Arcadia, Calif.)
- Competed at Arcadia HS.
- Went 9-0 as a senior in 2021, capping his final high school season with a complete game victory to clinch the Apaches second straight league title.
- Made three appearances on the shortened 2020 campaign, notching 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.
- Tallied a 5-1 record with an ERA of 1.86 in 2019.
Andrew Stapleton (RHP - Woodland, Calif.)
- Competed at Woodland Christian HS in Woodland, Calif.
- Shined on the mound for the Cavaliers.
- Played club ball for the Chico Aces.
Micky Thompson (LHP - Portland, Ore.)
- Transferring in from Washington State; spent the last two seasons in Pullman.
- Appeared in six games on the 2021 campaign, compiling nine strikeouts on the bump.
- One of four Washington State transfers in this class of newcomers and one of 11 Division I transfers in total.
- Graduated from Century HS in Hillsboro, Ore.
- Garnered preseason All-American West Region Honorable Mention recognition and Pacific Conference Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior, going 8-1 with 98 strikeouts and a 0.88 ERA.
Cade Van Allen (RHP - Atascadero, Calif.)
- Competed at Atascadero HS.
- Was named second team all-conference in 2019 while dominating on the mound for the Greyhounds.
- Transferring in from CSU Bakersfield; is one of 11 Division I transfers in the class of newcomers.
- Spent two seasons with the Roadrunners and struck out five in 4.1 innings on the 2021 campaign.
Danny Zimmerman (UTIL - Redondo Beach, Calif.)
- Competed at Redondo Union HS in Redondo Beach, Calif.
- Was named a Collegiate Baseball High School Preseason All-American in 2017 and compiled 103 RBI and 27 home runs throughout his high school career.
- Transferring in from Michigan after four seasons with the Wolverines; is one of 11 Division I transfers in the class of newcomers.
- Notched 22 RBI, 21 runs scored and seven home runs in 27 starts.
- Was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.