TUCSON, Ariz.--- Arizona baseball's 2015 recruiting class has been ranked 20th in the nation, according to D1Baseball.com's annual evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The ranking is fourth best among Pac-12 schools, while the placing is right in line with Collegiate Baseball's ranking. The organization placed Arizona at No. 19 in its 2015 recruiting class rankings released back in September.
Seven true freshman and five junior college transfers make up the Wildcats' 12-man class, while three members turned down Major League Baseball contracts for an opportunity to instead play college baseball at the University of Arizona. Junior transfer Kevin Ginkel was drafted by the Boston Red Sox (26th Rd, 771st overall pick), freshman Austin Rubick was drafted by the Cleveland Indians (27th Rd, 814th overall pick), and freshman Randy Labaut was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays (37th Rd, 1112th overall pick).
Eight of the 12 recruits are from California, while Illinois, Nevada, Arizona, and Canada are each represented. All five Southern California products were named to all-conference squads, highlighted by sophomore junior college transfer catcher Ryan Haug who was the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year and a Junior College All-American.
Five of the seven incoming freshman played in 2014 Area Code games, while three were named to all-state teams.
A breakdown of Arizona's class is listed below:
LOUIS BOYD
SS | Cochise College (AZ)
Boyd makes his way to UA from Cochise College in Douglas, Ariz. He put together a spectacular final season at Cochise College, as he recorded a .343 batting average, accumulating 85 knocks in 248 at bats, while driving in 38 runs and scoring 52. His 248 at bats were tops in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, while his hits and runs scored both ranked third. Before Cochise College, Boyd played his high school baseball at Sutherland Secondary in Vancouver, BC. While there he was named a 2011 and 2010 Perfect Game Honorable Mention.
JC CLONEY
LHP | College of the Canyons (CA)
During his sophomore campaign at College of the Canyons, Cloney compiled a 7-4 record and boasted a 2.40 ERA while striking out 64 batters in 78.2 innings pitched. He was named the 2014 Western State Conference Pitcher of the Year and earned all-conference honors. Before College of the Canyons, Cloney played varsity baseball at West Ranch High School. He was named to the All-Foothill League First Team in 2011 and 2012.
JOEY CZARSKE
1B/3B | Agoura HS (CA)
Czarske comes to Arizona from Westlake Village, Calif. where he played four seasons of varsity baseball at Agoura High School. He was named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American California-All Region Second Team member, a 2014 Underclass High Honorable Mention, and an all-conference team member.
CODY DEASON
RHP | Nordhoff HS (CA)
Deason was a three-year varsity letterwinner at Nordhoff High School. While at Nordhoff, he sported a 2.77 ERA, while striking out 81 batters in 73.1 innings pitched. He posted a miniscule 0.78 ERA during his senior season. Deason was an all-conference performer and was named a 2015 Perfect Game Third Team All-American (California).
MICHAEL FLYNN
RHP | Servite HS (CA)
Flinn pitched and played outfield for Servite High School. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native was named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American (California), an all-conference performer, and a 2015 Area Code Games participant.
KEVIN GINKEL
RHP| Southwestern College (CA)
Drafted by Boston Red Sox in 2015 (26th Rd, 771st overall pick)
Drafted by San Francisco Giants in 2014 (16th Rd, 478th overall pick)
Ginkel comes to Tucson as a transfer from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif. The right-hander was drafted by the Boston Red Sox as the 771st overall pick in the 26th round of the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft, while he was also taken by the San Francisco Giants as the 478th overall pick in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
During his sophomore season at Southwestern College, Ginkel recorded a 2.67 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. The Lakeside Calif. native also put together an impressive freshman junior college campaign, as he compiled an 8-3 record, while boasting a 2.76 ERA and fanning 58 batters in 88 innings pitched. He earned First Team All-Pacific Coast League honors and helped guide SWC to a 29-14 record and a second place finish in the Pacific Athletic Coast Conference.
RYAN HAUG
C | Santa Rosa JC (CA)
Haug comes to Arizona from Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was named the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year and a Junior College All-American. He batted .368, collecting 133 hits in 172 plate appearances, while recording 19 RBI. His .479 on-base percentage led the conference, while his average ranked second. He recorded 17 multi-hit performances in 36 total games played last year.
TRENT JOHNSON
RHP | Metamora HS (IL)
Johnson pitched two seasons for Metamora High School, recording a 0.84 ERA during his time there. He also played first base and batted .407, collected 56 RBI, nine home runs, and scored 43 runs. Johnson was named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American (Central) and earned spots on the 2014 Underclass Second Team and 2013 Underclass Third Team.
RANDY LABAUT
LHP| Downey High School (CA)
Drafted by Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 (37th Rd, 1112th overall pick)
Labaut comes to Tucson as a true freshman from Downey High School in Downey, Calif. The lefty was a three-year letterwinner at Downey and put together a spectacular senior campaign where he set career bests in wins (7), ERA (2.00), innings pitched (80.1), opponent batting average (.201) and strikeouts (93).
The 6-foot-1 hurler finished his high school career with 19 wins, a 2.05 ERA and 209 punch outs in 180.2 innings pitched. He was named a 2015 Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention and California Region Honorable Mention. Labaut was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 37th round of this year's MLB Draft.
KYLE LEWIS
INF | Sierra College (CA)
Lewis comes to Arizona as transfer from Sierra College, where he batted .300, recorded 20 RBI, scored 25 runs, and swiped six bases. Last season he strung together a hit streak as long as 12 games and two hit streaks as long as 11 in 41 games played.
AUSTIN RUBICK
RHP| Buena High School (CA)
Drafted by Cleveland Indians in 2015 (27th Rd, 814th overall pick)
Rubick joins the Wildcats as a true freshman from Buena High School in Ventura, Calif. The right-handed hurler was taken by the Cleveland Indians as the 814th overall pick in the 27th round of this year's MLB Draft.
He compiled 21 wins and boasted a 1.34 ERA, while totaling 229 strikeouts in 177 innings pitched during his three-year varsity career at Buena High School. He recorded six complete games during his time there and is coming off a senior season where he compiled an 8-2 record for a career-best winning percentage of .800 to go along with a 1.28 ERA and 95 punch outs in 65.2 innings pitched.
CESAR SALAZAR
C | Sahuaro HS (AZ)
Salazar is a hometown favorite as he played his high school baseball at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. He's been ranked No. 26 according the Baseball America's top Arizona prospects list. Salazar is coming off a senior season where he hit .613, collecting 62 hits in 69 plate appearances. He also recorded 16 RBI, four homers, nine doubles, and scored 26 runs in 18 games played. He was also named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American (West).
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