Baseball America ranked Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor's recruiting class the eighth best in the country yesterday.
The Cavaliers lost 11 members from last season's team, including All-American pitcher Danny Hultzen, catcher John Hicks and third baseman Steven Proscia. The team revamped its roster, however, with a 13-member group which ties the 2006 class as Virginia's highest rated in program history. Ten freshmen and three junior college transfers join a lineup which already features 20 returning lettermen.
Four of Virginia's newest players were drafted during this year's Major League Baseball draft. The Los Angeles Angels took freshman left fielder Derek Fisher during the sixth round and freshman right fielder Mike Papi during the 30th round, while freshman center fielder Brandon Downes and junior pitcher Joel Effertz went during the 43rd round. Both Fisher and Papi homered during Game 5 of the Orange & Blue World Series, Virginia's annual intra-squad competition.
The series concluded last Sunday with the Blue edging the Orange in four of five games.
-compiled by Ashley Robertson
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