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E-mail StoryCSUB baseball team signs seven JC players
| Friday, May 9 2008 6:25 PM
Last Updated: Friday, May 9 2008 6:36 PM
The first-ever Cal State Bakersfield baseball roster is rounding into shape.
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CSUB coach Bill Kernen has signed seven junior college players to letters-of-intent since the spring signing period began in mid-April, giving the Roadrunners 21 players as they move toward the university's inaugural baseball season next spring.
And he's not finished.
"I've got room for about three more guys," Kernen said. "Two more pitchers and a middle infielder."
During the November early signing period, Kernen signed 14 players who are all completing their senior years in high school this spring.
But the latest signings give Kernen more experience. All seven of the recent signings will enter CSUB as juniors with two years of eligibility remaining.
Four are from Phoenix Community College in Arizona: right-handed pitcher Erik Draxton, left-handed hitting first baseman Derek Geisinger, center fielder Joey Mills and third baseman J.J. Henry.
Also signing is right-handed pitcher and second baseman Nick Shannon, who's from Phoenix but plays for Chandler-Gilbert Community College; and two pitchers from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, right-hander Mickey Jannis and left-hander Sam Jones.
Draxton led Phoenix CC with 12 saves and was a first-team All-NJCAA -- the National Junior College Athletic Association.
"I'm going to convert him (into a starting pitcher)," Kernen said. "He's a guy 6-foot-4 who throws 90-plus who should be a starting pitcher in my opinion."
Geisinger is a power-hitting first baseman who Kernen said should be a middle-of-the-order hitter. Geisinger was recently named MVP of a regional tournament that Phoenix CC won, Kernen said.
Mills batted .350 for Phoenix, Kernen said, and has great speed. He could wind up as CSUB's leadoff batter.
"I clocked him at 3.83 (seconds) from the right side, so he can really fly," Kernen said, referring to the time it took Mills to reach first base out of the batter's box.
Henry also runs well and has good athletic ability, Kernen said.
"He's not just going to play third base for us," Kernen said. "He will play utility. I'll look to use him in different roles. I'll have a better idea once he gets here."
Shannon is listed as a second baseman and pitcher but will probably see most of his action at pitcher, Kernen said. Shannon was the state of Arizona's high school Player of the Year as a senior, Kernen said, adding that Shannon is a straight-A student.
Kernen called Hancock's Jannis the best closer "by far" in the Western State Conference, the same league Bakersfield College plays, although a different division.
"He's got a good arm, a good slider," Kernen said. "I want him to be a starter. I saw him pitch in the seventh and go to the 15th in extra innings. Going eight innings in relief shows me he has the ability to start."
Jannis signed with CSUB two days after making a visit to Fresno State, Kernen said. "I'm proud of Mickey Jannis for that," he said.
Jones is more of a finesse pitcher, Kernen said.
"He won't light up the radar gun for the scouts if you're looking for stuff like that," Kernen said. "He's a very competitive, hard-nosed guy."
Kernen added: "I found out this year, that on the JC level, quality left-handed pitching was very rare. We're fortunate to find someone who will contribute right away for us."
Kernen's roster could be impacted by Major League Baseball's amateur draft in early June.
"We have some vulnerability to the draft," Kernen said. "Maybe a half-dozen could get taken somewhere in the draft. I don't envision any being taken in the top five rounds. We'll just see how that shakes out."