Baseball recruits may be a top-25 class

By Steve Schmidt, University Daily Kansan     Nov 25, 2002

Kansas might have signed a top 25 class – without the help of Roy Williams.

Tanner Munsey and Kenny Falconer will both be eligible to join the team next spring. On Wednesday, Kansas baseball coach Ritch Price unveiled the names of twelve recruits who will make up the class of 2004. Two of the players will suit up in crimson and blue next semester.

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Junior college players and university transfers fill 11 of the 12 slots in the new class. Price said he wanted players who were able to contribute to the squad from game one.

“We came in with some very definite holes that we needed to fill,” Price said. “We focused on junior college players because we feel we have to win immediately. We can’t take two or three years developing high school players.”

He cited losing five seniors after this season and possibly three juniors to the 2003 Major League Baseball draft as key reasons for the sense of urgency.

The coach said he thought this class would be ranked in the top 25 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

The 2004 recruiting class includes Tanner Munsey, who was drafted in 2000 by the Minnesota Twins but opted for the junior college route. He was named All-Region at the Community College of Rhode Island, batting .281 on the year.

“Tanner is a big, strong, physical catcher with an outstanding throwing arm. He will add much needed depth behind the plate for us,” Price said.

Kenny Falconer has also been recruited to add to the Jayhawks’ arsenal.

“We expect Kenny to make an immediate impact in our program,” Price said. “He has the potential to be a high draft pick in the upcoming professional draft.”

Two signed players should help add power in particular to the heart of the lineup next year. Price said Andy Scholl and Mike Dudley will probably bat in the third and fourth spots.

  • Mike Dudley, first baseman from Garden City Community College
  • Travis Dunlap, third baseman from Porterville College
  • Kenny Falconer, pitcher from University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Can.
  • John Fumagalli, pitcher from Neosho County Community College
  • Jacob Jean, pitcher Cosumnes River College
  • Sean Land, pitcher from Lee’s Summit High School in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
  • Tanner Munsey, catcher from Community College of Rhode Island
  • Sean Richardson, catcher from Palomar Community College in San Diego
  • Clint Schambach, pitcher from Elgin Community College
  • Andy Scholl, outfielder, from Lamar Community College
  • Jared Schweitzer, infielder from University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Can.
  • Justin Sibley, outfielder from Community College of Southern Nevada

Scholl took home New Mexico High School Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 45th round last summer but decided to play for Lamar Community College. There he hit finished hitting .401 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs.

“Andy is one of the finest junior college hitters in the country,” Price said.

Dudley was crowned the 2001 Colorado 4A Player of the Year Colorado as a senior in high school. He hit .349 with three home runs and 22 RBIs at Garden City Community College last year.

“Mike is one of the top offensive junior college players in the country,” Price said, adding, “We expect him to make an immediate impact in the Big 12.”

Aside from scoring runs, Kansas picked up several players known for defending them.

John Fumagalli put up a 2.99 ERA at Neosho Community College last season after transferring from the University of Illinois.

“John is considered one of the top lefthanded junior college pitchers in the state of Kansas,” Price said. “We expect him to be in our starting rotation next year. He has the potential to be a quality Division I pitcher.”

Sean Richardson was a 2001 and 2002 draftee by the Detroit Tigers. While playing catcher last season for Palomar Community College in San Diego, he was named first team All-Pacific Coast Conference and the team’s MVP.

“Sean is considered by many baseball scouts to be the top junior college catcher in the state of California,” Price said. “He is a tremendous athlete and a great sign for our program. We expect him to be a team leader and a great player in the Big 12.”

Price said much of the reason of landing such a promising class was because of the tireless efforts of his assistants, especially recruiting coordinator Ryan Graves. Graves hit the road often during the last couple of months and signed recruits from eight states.

“We did a lot of traveling this fall,” Graves said. “We like the talent level of these guys. The game plan was trying to get quality junior college players that come in and help us immediately. We feel we needed guys to come and step up next year.”

Price said the players played an important role talking up the Kansas team.

“The reason we just signed a top 25 class is because of the players,” Price said. “They’ve been fabulous in selling the program.”

Note:

The team is still doing four on four drills, Price said, and he liked the progress his players were making. In addition, the squad has been lifting weights four times a week with morning conditioning. Jan. 11 marks the first day of full practice.

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