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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Baseball Recruits Ranked Fourth in Nation
September 20, 2011 | Baseball
Sept. 20, 2011
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NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma baseball team's incoming 2012 class, the largest recruited in the Sunny Golloway era, was tabbed fourth by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, as released by the publication on Tuesday. It marks the highest ranking for the Sooners in the publication since the 2007 newcomers were also slotted No. 4.
It is tied for the second highest ranking in program history with the 2006 class and the newcomers from 1986 and 1987. OU's highest ranking came in 1985, the third season that Collegiate Baseball ranked recruiting classes (see complete listings from 1983-present below).
Click here to access videos of Coach Golloway talking about the newcomers, which also includes practice footage from individual workouts.
“Needless to say, we're excited about this class,” said Golloway. “However, it's still about their development throughout their time in our program and going out and performing. But the high national ranking speaks volumes for their ability and the hard work put in by our coaching staff. They did a remarkable job, especially when you consider we had a first, second, fifth and 16th rounder from the state of Oklahoma sign professionally.”
Oklahoma, which has 24 newcomers that are competing in the fall (13 junior college transfers and 11 freshmen), was one of two schools from the Big 12 Conference ranked in the top 25 by Collegiate Baseball. Texas was ranked No. 12, while Oklahoma State (No. 27), Texas A&M (No. 38) and Kansas (No. 40) followed.
The group of newcomers is joined by 15 returners from the 2011 squad that finished 41-19 overall and third in the Big 12 standings. The class is highlighted by seven players that were drafted since completing their prep careers, including six from the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
Junior right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray (pictured above) leads the group after the New York Yankees selected him in the 10th round out of Eastern Oklahoma State. Freshmen Adam Choplick (LHP) and Hunter Lockwood (C) follow Gray as a pair of 17th-round picks by the Arizona Diamonbacks and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, respectively.
The list of draftees from 2011 also includes junior right-handed pitcher Chris Burgess (30th round - Tampa Bay Rays), junior left-handed pitcher Steven Okert (33rd round - Milwaukee Brewers) and freshmen infielder Drake Roberts (49th round - Minnesota Twins).
Okert was also drafted in 2010 by the Brewers in the 43rd round while junior right-handed pitcher Damien Magnifico was taken in the fifth round of the 2009 draft by the New York Mets.
“This group is probably the most talented group that we've had in my seven years as the head coach at OU,” added Golloway. “We feel its strong because of the balance of right and left-handed pitchers, infielders and outfielders and speed and power at the plate.”
The Sooners began team practices for the fall on Sept. 19.
OU's past rankings by Collegiate Baseball:
2011: 4
2010: 31
2009: 23
2008: 32
2007: 35
2006: 4
2005: Received Votes
2004: 10
2003: 9
2002: Received Votes
2001: 11
2000: 17
1999: 29
1998: 9
1997: Received Votes
1996: 16
1995: 7
1994: 7
1993: 23
1992: 9
1991: 16
1990: 12
1989: 10
1988: 19
1987: 4
1986: 4
1985: 2
1984: 6
1983: 10
Thursday, August 20
Monday, August 17
Saturday, July 11
Thursday, June 25
