2008 Recruiting Class Ranked 14th Nationally by Baseball America

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia baseball program has once again been honored for a strong recruiting class. The Cavaliers’ 2008 incoming class was rated 14th nationally by Baseball America in its rankings which were released Friday. UVa’s class was the second highest among ACC programs, just behind No. 13 Clemson.

“It is always nice to see a publication rank our recruiting class,” head coach Brian O’Connor said. “Our assistant coaches, Kevin McMullan and Karl Kuhn, have done another outstanding job attracting quality talent to UVa. Many of these players will be ready to contribute to the success of our program this year. We are looking forward to watching them develop over the next four years.”

The incoming class is highlighted by two members of Baseball America’s 2008 High School All-American Team. Pitcher Danny Hultzen (Bethesda, Md.) was a First-Team All-American, while infielder Steven Proscia (Suffern, N.Y.) was a Second-Team All-American.

Five of the incoming freshmen, including Hultzen and Proscia, were selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, the largest number of any class during O’Connor’s six seasons. Catcher John Hicks (Sandy Hook, Va.) and pitchers Scott Silverstein (Olney, Md.) and Will Roberts (Richmond, Va.) also were 2008 MLB draftees.

The class also includes outfielder/pitcher Shane Halley (Burke, Va.), infielder Jared King (Radford, Va.), pitcher Blake Forslund (Lynchburg, Va.), pitcher/catcher Justin Thompson (Danville, Va.), pitcher Chad O’Connor (Chesapeake, Va.) and infielder/catcher Keith Werman (Vienna, Va.).

This marks the fifth-consecutive season that a UVa recruiting class has been ranked among the nation’s best. The 2004 class was ranked 12th nationally, while the 2005 class rated 10th, the 2006 group eighth and the 2007 class 13th.

Top 25 Baseball America 2008 Recruiting Classes
1. Arizona State
2. Vanderbilt
3. Georgia
4. Kentucky
5. Florida
6. Texas A&M
7. UCLA
8. Arkansas
9. Texas Christian
10. Oregon
11. Mississippi
12. Texas
13. Clemson
14. Virginia
15. Cal State Fullerton
16. Wichita State
17. Fresno State
18. Stanford
19. Oklahoma State
20. Louisville
21. Pepperdine
22. Southern California
23. North Carolina State
24. Florida State
25. Duke