Baseball Announces Early Signing Class

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head baseball coach Skip Johnson announced the signing of 15 high school seniors and four junior college transfers on Wednesday, the first day of the November early signing period.

The new class of Sooners for the fall of 2022 is comprised of 11 pitchers (Bauer Brittain, Will Carsten, Will Clements, Julien Hachem, Mason McGwire, Brennan Morgan, Gabe Murrell, Christian Smith-Johnson, Carson Turnquist, Eric Van Valkenburg and Adam Walker), two catchers (Easton Carmichael and Jaxon Gless), three infielders (Morgan, Noah Kang and Caden Powell) and five outfielders (Smith-Johnson, Rocco Garza-Gongora, RJ Jimerson, Bryce Madron and Tavion Vaughns).

"We are continuing to build our program on athleticism, speed, power and arm strength, and this signing class reflects all of those areas," Johnson said. "We signed a larger class than normal this fall because we expect to see several of our current players move on to professional baseball next summer. The athletes in this class should help us keep competing at a high level into the future, and we are excited to welcome them to the Sooner family. Our staff, led by recruiting coordinator Clay Overcash and assistant coach Clay Van Hook, did a tremendous job of putting together this group of players."

Of the 19 members of the early signing class, 11 are ranked among the top 25 prospects in their respective states and all 15 high school athletes are rated among the top 500 players in the nation, according to Perfect Game.

Bauer brittain

RHP | Shawnee, Okla. | Shawnee HS

A right-handed pitcher from Shawnee High School in Shawnee, Okla. … rated as the No. 9 prospect overall and the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in the state of Oklahoma and a top-500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … also rated as the No. 16 overall recruit and No. 7 right-handed pitcher in Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … competed at the 2020 PG Underclass All American Games … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U National Elite Championship and at the 2020 WWBA World Championship … posted a 0.95 ERA and batted .431 during his junior season, earning Big All-City First Team honors as a second baseman by The Oklahoman … one of only five sophomores recognized as a NHSBCA Preseason All-American in 2020 … high school coach is Kevin Paxson … also plays football at Shawnee High School.

easton carmichael

C | Prosper, Texas | Prosper HS

A catcher from Prosper High School in Prosper, Texas … rated as the No. 154 overall prospect and No. 10 catcher nationally by Prep Baseball Report … also ranked as the No. 25 prospect overall and No. 2 catcher in the state of Texas by PBR … rated by Perfect Game as a top-450 player nationally and 47th overall (No. 3 catcher) in the state of Texas … 2021 MLB Prospect Development Pipeline participant … a three-year letterwinner at Prosper High School … batted .377 with six home runs, five doubles, three triples, 34 RBIs and 33 runs scored as a junior in 2021 … earned second-team class 6A all-state honors from the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and class 6A all-state honorable mention from the Texas Sportswriters Association … high school coach is Scott Holder … brother Braden currently plays for OU and father Darby played for the Sooners from 1992-93.

will carsten

RHP | San Antonio, Texas | McLennan CC

A right-handed pitcher from McLennan Community College … a native of San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Ronald Reagan High School … as a freshman at McLennan in 2021, he made 16 appearances and 15 starts, registering two complete games, a 10-1 record, 3.63 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched, and helped the Highlanders to the NJCAA national championship … earned NJCAA all-academic third team honors … represented McLennan at the Texas/New Mexico Junior College Baseball Coaches Association All-Star game in September … rated as a top-500 prospect nationally out of high school by Perfect Game … went 10-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 78 strikeouts over his last two high school seasons (including the COVID-shortened 2020 season) and earned Texas UIL Class 6A academic all-state honors … also competed in basketball at Ronald Reagan High School, earning three all-district and two all-region honors … high school coach was Chans Chapman … junior college coach is Mitch Thompson.

will clements

RHP | The Woodlands, Texas | McLennan CC

A right-handed pitcher from McLennan Community College … a native of The Woodlands, Texas, where he attended The Woodlands College Park High School … in his first year at McLennan … spent his first collegiate year at Angelina College, where the program did not compete in 2021 … was a three-time letterwinner at The Woodlands College Park High School and earned second-team all-district honors as a sophomore … rated as a top-500 prospect nationally out of high school by Perfect Game … high school coaches were Jason Washburn and Mike Faherty … junior college coach is Mitch Thompson.

rocco garza-gongora

OF | Laredo, Texas | John B. Alexander HS

An outfielder from John B. Alexander High School in Laredo, Texas … rated as the No. 224 overall prospect and No. 44 outfielder nationally, and is ranked No. 32 overall (No. 3 outfielder) in the state of Texas by Prep Baseball Report … also rated as the No. 30 outfielder in Texas and a top-500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … 2021 Area Code Games participant … competed at the 2021 WWBA World Championship … hit .448 with three doubles, five triples, 15 RBIs and 28 runs scored as a junior in 2021, earning first-team All-District 30-6A honors … batted .440 with two extra base hits, five RBIs and seven runs during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and registered a .429 OBP and scored five runs in limited action as a freshman … high school coach is Fernando Lemus.

Jaxon gless

C | Blanchard, Okla. | Blanchard HS

A catcher from Blanchard High School in Blanchard, Okla. … rated as the No. 18 overall prospect and No. 3 catcher in the state of Oklahoma and a top-500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … also rated as the No. 3 catcher (32nd overall) in Oklahoma and a top-450 prospect (No. 37 catcher) nationally by Prep Baseball Report … earned Oklahoma 2021 All-State baseball honorable mention from The Oklahoman … received 2021 All-City baseball honors from The Oklahoman … batted .495 with 68 RBIs and 15 home runs, and produced a 7-1 record on the mound as a junior in 2021 … claimed all-tournament honors at the 2021 17/18U PGBA Oklahoma Championship … high school coach is Joshua Rainey.

Julien hachem

LHP | Oak Park, Ill. | Mount Carmel HS

A left-handed pitcher from Oak Park, Ill. … attends Mount Carmel High School … rated as the No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 left-handed pitcher in the state of Illinois by Perfect Game … rated as a top-280 overall prospect and No. 37 left-handed pitcher nationally by Perfect Game … also ranked as the No. 20 recruit and No. 2 left-hander in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … earned all-tournament team honors at the 2021 WWBA World Championship after striking out 10 batters in six shutout innings … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U World Series after notching six strikeouts in four frames … high school coach is Brian Hurry … also plays football and basketball at Mount Carmel.

RJ Jimerson

OF | Springfield, Ill. | Sacred Heart Griffin HS

An outfielder from Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield, Ill. … rated as the No. 16 prospect overall and No. 5 outfielder in the state of Illinois by Perfect Game … also rated as a top-430 overall prospect and top-85 outfielder nationally by Perfect Game … rated No. 29 overall and as the No. 6 outfielder in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 WWB World Championship after hitting .333 and scoring three runs in six contests … received all-conference honors as a junior in 2021 … started in right field as a freshman and hit five home runs … high school coach is Nick Naumovich.

Noah kang

IF | Edmond, Okla. | Edmond Memorial HS

An infielder from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Okla. … rated as the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 4 shortstop in the state of Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … also rated as a top-365 overall prospect and top-70 shortstop nationally by PBR … ranked 13th overall (No. 4 shortstop) and a top-500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … competed at the 2020 PG Underclass All American Games … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U National Select Championship … as a senior this fall, has batted .417 with 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored … earned 2021 Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference second-team all-conference honors and was selected to the 2021 Oklahoma State Games … batted .317 with six doubles, five triples, 34 RBIs and 41 runs scored at the plate and posted a 4-0 record with a 2.36 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29.2 innings as a junior in 2021 … high school coach is J.P. Holliman.

bryce madron

OF | Blanchard, Okla. | Cowley CC

An outfielder from Cowley College in Kansas … a native of Blanchard, Okla., where he attended Blanchard High School … rated as the No. 4 outfielder in Oklahoma for the class of 2020 by Prep Baseball Report … in his first year at Cowley College, he batted .415 with 81 hits, 63 RBIs, 87 runs scored, 22 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 48 walks and 16 stolen bases in 56 games, helping the Tigers to a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA World Series … he earned NJCAA Region VI second-team honors and was an NJCAA Region VI Gold Glove selection … batted .446 with nine homers while helping Blanchard High School to an undefeated season (39-0) and the Oklahoma Class 4A state championship in 2019 … also lettered three years in football … high school baseball coach was Joshua Raney … junior college coach is Darren Burroughs.

mason mcgwire

RHP | Irvine, Calif. | Capistrano Valley HS

A right-handed pitcher from Capistrano Valley High School in Irvine, Calif. … rated as the No. 89 prospect and the No. 20 right-handed pitcher nationally by Perfect Game … also rated by Perfect Game as the No. 12 prospect overall and the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in the state of California … the No. 45-ranked prospect overall and the No. 19 right-handed pitcher in California and a top-465 prospect nationally by Prep Baseball Report … 2021 Area Code Games participant … played in the 2021 Perfect Game All-American Classic, held in at Petco Park in San Diego … named to the all-tournament team at the 2021 PG 17U World Series after pitching six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts over two outings … high school coach is Adam Sorgi … brother Max currently plays for OU … father is former Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire … uncle Dan McGwire was an NFL quarterback from 1991-95.

brennan morgan

RHP/IF | Marlow, Okla. | Marlow HS

A right-handed pitcher and infielder from Marlow High School in Marlow, Okla. … rated as the top third baseman and No. 17 prospect overall in the state of Oklahoma by Perfect Game … also rated as a top 500 prospect and top 100 third baseman nationally … as a junior in 2021, he batted .455 with 34 RBIs, 47 runs scored, eight home runs, 12 doubles, 29 walks, 18 stolen bases and put up a .606 OBP and a .812 slugging percentage … on the mound, posted a 9-1 record and 1.60 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 56 innings … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U National Elite Championship … as a sophomore, he notched five doubles and 11 RBIs in eight games before the season was ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic … high school coach is John Morgan … also plays football at Marlow High School.

gabe murrell

RHP | Edmond, Okla. | Edmond North HS

A right-handed pitcher from Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla. … rated as the No. 11 overall prospect (No. 5 right-handed pitcher) in the state of Oklahoma and a top-500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … also rated No. 11 overall and No. 4 pitcher in Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … competed at the 2021 WWBA World Championship and earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U National Elite Championship … earned 2021 Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference all-conference honorable mention … high school coach is Gary Bandy.

caden powell

IF | Clinton, Okla. | Clinton HS

An infielder from Clinton High School in Clinton, Okla. … rated as the No. 122 overall prospect nationally (No. 28 infielder) and No. 3 overall (No. 2 infielder) in the state of Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … also rated as a top-430 overall prospect (top-95 shortstop) nationally and No. 6 overall (No. 2 shortstop) in Oklahoma by Perfect Game … 2021 Area Code Games participant … competed at the 2021 PG National Showcase and earned all-tournament honors at 2020 WWBA 17U South Championship … was selected to play in the 2021 Oklahoma State Games all-star event … high school coach is Kelly Gaunt … has also lettered three years in basketball.

christian smith-johnson

OF/RHP | North Richland Hills, Texas | Richland HS

An outfielder and right-handed pitcher from Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas … rated as a top-285 prospect overall and No. 53 at his position nationally, and No. 37 overall (7th at his position) in the state of Texas by Prep Baseball Report … also rated as a top-500 overall prospect nationally and top-100 in Texas (No. 20 outfielder) by Perfect Game … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U World Series and the 2021 PG 17U National Elite Championship … high school coach is Steve Foster … also plays football and earned Texas Class 6A all-state honors from the Associated Press in 2019.

Carson turnquist

RHP | Paso Robles, Calif. | Paso Robles HS

A right-handed pitcher from Paso Robles High School in Paso Robles, Calif. … rated as the No. 172 overall prospect and No. 49 right-handed pitcher nationally by Perfect Game … ranked the No. 28 overall recruit and No. 8 right-hander in the state of California by Perfect Game … also rated as a top 300 overall prospect nationally and 34th overall (No. 12 RHP) in California by Prep Baseball Report … 2021 Area Code Games participant … as a junior, went 6-1 with a 1.40 ERA, registering 68 strikeouts in 40 innings, and batted .400 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs at the plate … hit .333 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and posted a 2.12 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 33 innings while batting .308 with a homer and five RBIs during his freshman season … high school coach is Jonathon Thornhill.

eric van valkenburg

RHP | Solana Beach, Calif. | Torrey Pines HS

A right-handed pitcher from Torrey Pines High School in Solana Beach, Calif. … rated as a top-90 pverall prospect and top-35 pitcher in the state of California by Prep Baseball Report … also rated as a top-500 overall prospect nationally and top-60 right-handed pitcher in California by Perfect Game … earned all-tournament honors at the 2021 PG 17U World Series and competed at the 2021 WWBA World Championship … posted a 1.80 ERA and a .148 opponent batting average during his junior season, a 13 to 2 strikeout to walk ratio and a 0.00 ERA during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and notched a 0.89 ERA as a freshman … high school coach is Tommy Simis.

tavion vaughns

OF | Grand Prairie, Texas | Cedar Hill HS

An outfielder from Cedar Hill High School in Grand Prairie, Texas … rated as the No. 139 overall prospect and No. 32 outfielder nationally by Perfect Game … also the No. 12-ranked overall prospect and No. 3 outfielder in the state of Texas by Perfect Game … rated by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 66 outfielder nationally and No. 9 outfielder (No. 43 overall) in Texas … competed at the 2021 WWBA World Championship and was named to the top prospect team at the 2021 PG National Showcase … hit .377 with a .518 OBP, seven doubles, two triples, nine RBIs, 15 runs scored and six stolen bases as a junior at Cedar Hill High School … batted .528 with 15 RBIs as a sophomore during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and hit .311 with nine extra base hits, 17 RBIs, 24 runs scored as a freshman … high school coach is Travis Collins.

ADAM Walker

RHP | Woodland, Calif. | Dodge City (Kan.) CC

A right-handed pitcher from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College … a native of Woodland, Calif., where he attended Woodland High School … spent his first collegiate year (2020-21) at UC Davis, where he was on the roster but did not play … is in his first year at Dodge City CC … earned all-metro second team honors as a utility player and All-Golden Empire League Academic Team honors as a junior at Woodland High School … played shortstop and outfield in addition to pitching at Woodland High … also played basketball in high school … high school baseball coach was Joe Whitehead … junior college coach is Brett Doe

Oklahoma 2022 Early Signing Class
Name	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Hometown/Current School
Bauer Brittain	RHP	6-0/180	Shawnee, Okla./Shawnee HS
Easton Carmichael	C	6-1/189	Prosper, Texas/Prosper HS
Will Carsten	RHP	6-7/235	San Antonio, Texas/McLennan CC
Will Clements	RHP	6-5/215	The Woodlands, Texas/McLennan CC
Rocco Garza-Gongora	OF	6-1/175	Laredo, Texas/John B. Alexander HS
Jaxon Gless	C	6-0/190	Blanchard, Okla./Blanchard HS
Julien Hachem	LHP	6-8/260	Oak Park, Ill./Mount Carmel HS
RJ Jimerson	OF	5-11/183	Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin HS
Noah Kang	IF	6-1/185	Edmond, Okla./Edmond Memorial HS
Bryce Madron	OF	5-9/180	Blanchard, Okla./Cowley CC
Mason McGwire	RHP	6-4/190	Irvine, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS
Brennan Morgan	RHP/IF	6-1/195	Marlow, Okla./Marlow HS
Gabe Murrell	RHP	6-1/180	Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS
Caden Powell	IF	6-3/208	Clinton, Okla./Clinton HS
Christian Smith-Johnson	OF/RHP	6-1/165	North Richland Hills, Texas/Richland HS
Carson Turnquist	RHP	6-5/225	Paso Robles, Calif./Paso Robles HS
Eric Van Valkenburg	RHP	6-3/190	Solana Beach, Calif./Torrey Pines HS
Tavion Vaughns	OF	6-2/250	Grand Prairie, Texas/Cedar Hill HS
Adam Walker	RHP	6-3/190	Woodland, Calif./Dodge City (Kan.) CC