Trailblazer Baseball Announces 2023 Signing Class

By: UT Athletics Media Relations

Bailey Chamberlain - UT Athletics

Baseball | 7/28/2023 10:56:00 AM

Utah Tech head baseball coach Chris Pfatenhauer has announced the addition of 18 players to the 2023-24 Trailblazer roster. The class features eight pitchers, four infielders, four catchers, and two outfielders.

Michael Albanese | C | R/R | 6-0 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Faith Lutheran HS

No. 4-ranked catcher in Nevada by Prep Baseball Report
2022 All-Southern Nevada Second Team selection
2022 5A Region First Team selection

Carson Bonus | RHP | R/R | 6-5 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Faith Lutheran HS | College of Southern Nevada

Went 2-1 in 20 appearances in 2023
Posted 22 strikeouts in 22 innings along with six saves

2023 First Team All-SWAC selection
Was named 2023 Scenic West Athletic Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year

Kyden Decker | RHP | R/R | 6-3 | Orem, Utah | Timpanogos HS | USU-Eastern

Two-time state champion at Timpanogos HS (2017, 2020)
Went 3-2 in 11 appearances in 2023
Posted 71 strikeouts in 55 innings along with a 1.76 ERA
Was named Scenic West Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week three times in 2023
Was named Second Team All-Region in 2023
Was named an Academic All-American in 2023

Tyler Fitch | RHP | 6-1 | R/R | Sandy, Utah | Jordan HS | USU-Eastern

Four-year letter winner at Jordan HS
Member of the 2018 state championship team while at Jordan HS
Voted to the all-region team following his senior year at Jordan HS
Made 10 starts for USU-Eastern in 2023, pitching 47.1 innings with 53 strikeouts and a 3.80 ERA

Earned all-academic honors in 2021 & 2022
Named Second Team All-NWAC in 2022 after posting a 3.44 ERA in 70.2 innings with 97 strikeouts
Pitched at Arizona State in 2023, making eight appearances posting a .238 OBA

Jaxon Grimmett | RHP | R/R | 6-1 | Blackfoot, Idaho | Blackfoot HS

No. 6-ranked RHP prospect in Idaho by Perfect Game
Lettered in three sports (football, basketball, baseball)
2022 American Legion state champion
2022 4A all-state auarterback selection
Graduated as his class Salutatorian (3.99 GPA)

Earned KJCCC all-conference honors in 2023
Voted to the 2023 Region 6 all-tournament team
Slashed .349/.513/.620 in 2023 including eight HR's and 43 walks in 166 at bats

Two-time all-state selection at Basic HS, played for Coach Scott Baker
Was named to the Dean's List at the College of Southern Nevada in 2022
Four-time Scenic West Athletic Conference player of the week honoree in 2023
Named first team All-SWAC as an OF in 2023
Honored as the SWAC Player of the Year in 2023, hitting .396 with 20 doubles and 14 home runs

Kyle McDaniel | INF | L/R | 5-9 | Pahrump, Nev. | Pahrump Valley HS

Earned first team all-conference and first team all-region honors in 2022
2022 3A Mountain League Player of the Year
All-state academic honoree
Led Pahrump Valley HS to their first ever state championship in 2023
Named 2023 all-state co-MVP after hitting .554 with 58 RBI, and pitched to an 8-2 record
Named academic all-state and earned 3A Southern Region MVP honors in 2023

Cade Montgomery | RHP | R/R | 5-11 | Farmington, Utah | Davis HS

2021 first team all-state selection
7-0 record, 2.10 ERA, and 86 strikeouts in 2021
Currently serving an LDS Mission

Aaron Morris | RHP | R/R | 6-1 | Washington, Utah | Crimson Cliffs HS

Two-time state champion at Crimson Cliffs HS, played for Coach Justin Abbott (2022, 2023)
Earned a 3.79 cumulative GPA
Honored as the Kinesiology Student of the Year
In 2023 went 6-0 in 12 appearances with 41 strikeouts in 34.1 IP, on his way to second team all-state honors

Cade Nalder | C/OF | R/R | 5-11 | Riverton, Utah | Jordan HS

No. 1-ranked catching prospect in Utah by Perfect Game
2023 first team all-state selection, hitting .458 with 11 2B and five HR
2022 5A Region 8 Player of the Year
2021 6A all-region selection
Jordan HS Senior Class Vice-President
Member of the National Honor Society (3.96 GPA)

Matt Nelson | RHP | R/R | 6-5 | Aliso Viejo, Calif. | Aliso Niguel HS | Orange Coast College

Was on Dean's Honor Roll honors all four years at Aliso Niguel HS
Was on Dean's List all three years at Orange Coast College
Helped lead Aliso Niguel HS to a league title and to the state quarterfinals

Named Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior at Villa Park HS
Led VPHS to a Century League championship in 2021
Fielded .990 in 43 games at first base in 2022
Was named second team all-league in 2023 after hitting .308 with eight home runs at Cypress College

Josh Rojas | C | R/R | 5-10 | Pleasant Grove, Utah | American Fork HS

No. 4-ranked catching prospect in Utah by Prep Baseball Report
2022 second team all-state selection
Hit .404 with five homers and 11 doubles in 2022
Won 2021 & 2023 6A state championships with AFHS, played for Coach Jarod Ingersoll
Named first team all-state in 2023, posting a .398 average with nine doubles and three homers

Ethan Royal | OF | R/R | 5-11 | Arroyo Grande, Calif. | Arroyo Grande HS | Cuesta College

Earned all-area MVP in 2021 at Arroyo Grande HS
Named second team all-league in 2022 for Cuesta College
Earned the Gold Glove Award as an OF in 2023
Named first team all-league in 2023, hitting .320 with 10 doubles and 18 stolen bases

Petey Soto Jr. | INF | R/R | 5-11 | St. George, Utah | Crimson Cliffs HS

No. 6-ranked shortstop prospect in Utah by Prep Baseball Report
Perfect Game Top 500 player
2022 4A first team all-state selection
Two-time state champion at Crimson Cliffs HS, played for Coach Justin Abbott (2022, 2023)
Named 2023 4A State Player of the Year after hitting .467 with 43 hits and 29 RBI

Connor Tallakson | C | R/R | 5-10 | Irvine, Calif. | Woodbridge HS | Irvine Valley CC

Prepped at Woodbridge HS and earned first team Pacific Coast League honors
Pacific Coast League Sportsmanship Award winner
Hit .343 with only eight strikeouts in 119 PA's in 2022 at Irvine Valley CC
Led Orange Empire Conference in caught stealing percentage in 2022 (42%)
Named to Irvine Valley College Dean's List

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