Wichita State baseball stocks up on pitchers in recruiting class

Wichita State’s weekend pitching rotation appears set for next spring and it is full of draft prospects.

While that is comforting for 2016, it means turnover is coming and WSU’s fall recruiting class is counted on for replacements. The Shockers announced the addition of 13 players, nine pitchers, on Thursday.

Projected weekend starters Sam Tewes, Willie Schwanke and Chase Williams are likely draft picks, as is closer John Hayes. Juniors such as Reagan Biechler and newcomer Tyler Gibson could be picked. Sophomore Chandler Sanburn is draft-eligible.

“We have a chance to lose quite a few experienced pitchers,” WSU coach Todd Butler said. “Pitching is first and foremost again. The majority of our scholarships are in pitching, and, hopefully, it will pay off.”

▪  LHP Trent Allen (6-foot-5, 200 pounds), Southlake (Texas) Carroll — No. 20 lefty in Texas by Perfect Game scouting service.

▪  RHP Tommy Barnhouse (6-4, 225), Leavenworth — No. 5 right-hander in Kansas by Perfect Game.

▪  RHP Joe Dittmar (6-2, 210), Richmond (Ill.) Burton Community — 60 strikeouts in 41 innings last spring.

▪  LHP Drake Durham (6-3, 205), Fort Mill (S.C.) Nation Ford — Perfect Game ranks him No. 3 lefty in Wisconsin, where he lived last year.

▪  LHP Nathan Hawkins (6-2, 165), Sunnyvale (Texas) — All-Class 3A with 114 strikeouts in 59 innings and a 0.81 ERA.

▪  SS Alex Jackson (6-0, 175), Dallas Marcus — Ranked No. 96 player in Texas by Perfect Game.

▪  OF/1B Jacob Katzfey (6-1, 185), Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West — Hit .355 with five doubles last spring.

▪  RHP Adam Keller (6-2, 205), Seward County Community College — Transfer from West Virginia, where he went 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA as a freshman.

▪  RHP Preston Minor (6-2, 175), Frisco (Texas) Wakeland — 2016 UnderArmour Preseason All-American.

▪  OF Logan Sisson (6-2, 195), Omaha Millard North — Second team Nebraska Super State pick after hitting .418 as a junior.

▪  RHP Preston Snavely (6-6, 195) Fort Collins (Colo.) — No. 7 right-hander in Colorado by Perfect Game.

▪  3B Maison Stites (6-2, 195), Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North — Hit .265 with eight doubles last spring.

▪  RHP Matt Whalen (6-6, 210) Cisco (Texas) College — Fractured elbow cost him his senior year in high school and last season at WSU.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Wichita State baseball stocks up on pitchers in recruiting class."