we just can't help ourselves

Not sure if this one has been announced previously or not, but Will Karp from D3 Haverford College is transferring to Rice as a grad transfer. He's a 6-0 SS with a really good glove and great speed. And even though he was D3, he had super stats and accolades there (hit .377 as a junior and .489 as a senior before their season ended after just 12 games). He also had 82 steals (in 94 attempts).

https://www.haverfordathletics.com/sport..._will_rp6p

(05-17-2020 06:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Not sure if this one has been announced previously or not, but Will Karp from D3 Haverford College is transferring to Rice as a grad transfer. He's a 6-0 SS with a really good glove and great speed. And even though he was D3, he had super stats and accolades there (hit .377 as a junior and .489 as a senior before their season ended after just 12 games). He also had 82 steals (in 94 attempts).

https://www.haverfordathletics.com/sport..._will_rp6p

So he and the LSU transfer will fight it out for the vacant SS position? Great. Competition is always a good thing during Fall Ball and Spring intrasquads. Would appear to be a much better hitter than the LSU kid, but then again, he wasn't facing SEC-caliber pitching. I do like the speed and basestealing ability, however.

First, nothing against the two grad transfers. I hope they put up good numbers for Rice. Also, i can understand there can be good players in D3, especially kids from small towns. I am aware of a kid from a small town in Texas who has started 4 years at SS for a D3 school in Texas with a career .367 average. Even with individual accolades and a state title in HS, and playing football and basketball also, he flew under the radar. I know D1 schools often recommend that these kids go to JC if they want a shot at D1, as that makes it easier to be seen by D1 schools. Of course he would not have the same stats in D1.

Having said that, does it say something in that there is excitement for 2 grad transfers (in a sport where the best players leave after their junior year) competing at short stop to replace a player who should be a high pick in this year's draft? I admit I have not really looked at the kids who previously signed (and honestly cannot say anything just based on seeing some stats), but several on this board have stated that it is perhaps the best recruiting class in a long time. If so, shouldn't there be a strong candidate out of high school to come in and take the position?

Furman is cutting their program.

I wonder if there is anyone on their roster we could poach.

(05-18-2020 01:45 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  First, nothing against the two grad transfers. I hope they put up good numbers for Rice. Also, i can understand there can be good players in D3, especially kids from small towns. I am aware of a kid from a small town in Texas who has started 4 years at SS for a D3 school in Texas with a career .367 average. Even with individual accolades and a state title in HS, and playing football and basketball also, he flew under the radar. I know D1 schools often recommend that these kids go to JC if they want a shot at D1, as that makes it easier to be seen by D1 schools. Of course he would not have the same stats in D1.

Having said that, does it say something in that there is excitement for 2 grad transfers (in a sport where the best players leave after their junior year) competing at short stop to replace a player who should be a high pick in this year's draft? I admit I have not really looked at the kids who previously signed (and honestly cannot say anything just based on seeing some stats), but several on this board have stated that it is perhaps the best recruiting class in a long time. If so, shouldn't there be a strong candidate out of high school to come in and take the position?

The 4 elite high school players in the 2020 recruiting class are 2 pitchers, a catcher and an outfielder.

So elite or not, going into a season where 2B and 3B were seniors and SS was likely a high draft pick junior, there is no one in the best recruiting class in years who would be a prime candidate to take over at SS as a freshman? If a recruiting class had 8 to 10 kids, I would expect there to be at least one SS who could challenge for playing time right away every year (maybe at 2B or 3B if there is an incumbent) at an elite school (2 if there are 15 recruits).

(05-18-2020 04:41 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  So elite or not, going into a season where 2B and 3B were seniors and SS was likely a high draft pick junior, there is no one in the best recruiting class in years who would be a prime candidate to take over at SS as a freshman? If a recruiting class had 8 to 10 kids, I would expect there to be at least one SS who could challenge for playing time right away every year (maybe at 2B or 3B if there is an incumbent) at an elite school (2 if there are 15 recruits).

Bulman, who played LF this year, is a natural 3B, where he played in high school and JUCO.

Freshman C/LF is leaving the program to attend Grayson JUCO...

Quote:Mark Berman
@MarkBermanFox26
freshman catcher Tyler LaRue, son of former Big League catcher Jason LaRue, has decided to leave the Owls program and continue playing at Grayson College (
@GraysonBaseball
) in Denison,Tx. Jason played 12 years in MLB with the Reds (8 years), Royals and Cardinals...

...told Berman the decision was based on playing time and the logjam in D1 next year with kids getting eligibility back. [Note-- Collins will be returning and we have an incoming recruit who is one of the Top 3 catching prospects in Texas.]

Berman also reports that Gneiting has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, but hasn't ruled out returning to Rice. My guess is the odds are at least 50-50 Bradley will be back on campus in the Fall.

Best of luck to him.

(05-18-2020 03:19 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Furman is cutting their program.

I wonder if there is anyone on their roster we could poach.

Looks like we are interested in Stone Simmons, a rising sophomore at Furman who went to Kinkaid.

"Simmons earned a spot in the Paladins’ opening weekend rotation as a true freshman. By week two, he was the Friday night starter. In three series-opening starts, Simmons yielded five earned runs in 16 2/3 innings."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-s...o-19450049

(05-23-2020 02:02 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(05-18-2020 03:19 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Furman is cutting their program.

I wonder if there is anyone on their roster we could poach.

Looks like we are interested in Stone Simmons, a rising sophomore at Furman who went to Kinkaid.

"Simmons earned a spot in the Paladins’ opening weekend rotation as a true freshman. By week two, he was the Friday night starter. In three series-opening starts, Simmons yielded five earned runs in 16 2/3 innings."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-s...o-19450049

Would be a very nice get. He was a true Freshman this past Spring, starting all 4 games: 2.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 6 BBs, 17 Ks. At 6'3" 220 lbs he's the perfect build for a power pitcher. I would think he has good upside.

Wonder if we just landed Simmons, as Barton just posted his animated dancing owl tweet.

(05-23-2020 02:40 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-23-2020 02:02 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(05-18-2020 03:19 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Furman is cutting their program.

I wonder if there is anyone on their roster we could poach.

Looks like we are interested in Stone Simmons, a rising sophomore at Furman who went to Kinkaid.

"Simmons earned a spot in the Paladins’ opening weekend rotation as a true freshman. By week two, he was the Friday night starter. In three series-opening starts, Simmons yielded five earned runs in 16 2/3 innings."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-s...o-19450049

Would be a very nice get. He was a true Freshman this past Spring, starting all 4 games: 2.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 6 BBs, 17 Ks. At 6'3" 220 lbs he's the perfect build for a power pitcher. I would think he has good upside.

Heck. With those numbers, he should be one of our weekend starters. (No lectures please about Furman’s competition — he touches 93 and has two off speed pitches)

(04-30-2020 09:44 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 08:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Let me remind you that this is a baseball recruiting thread.

Tangents - one thing at which the Parliament excels.

The response to 'tangents' --- Nothing like getting a rise over a run to a derivative topic.

(05-25-2020 08:30 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 09:44 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 08:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Let me remind you that this is a baseball recruiting thread.

Tangents - one thing at which the Parliament excels.

The response to 'tangents' --- Nothing like getting a rise over a run to a derivative topic.

I'll sign off on that.

(05-25-2020 10:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(05-25-2020 08:30 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 09:44 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 08:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Let me remind you that this is a baseball recruiting thread.

Tangents - one thing at which the Parliament excels.

The response to 'tangents' --- Nothing like getting a rise over a run to a derivative topic.

I'll sign off on that.

I'll sine too.

(05-26-2020 01:15 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  

(05-25-2020 10:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(05-25-2020 08:30 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 09:44 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 08:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Let me remind you that this is a baseball recruiting thread.

Tangents - one thing at which the Parliament excels.

The response to 'tangents' --- Nothing like getting a rise over a run to a derivative topic.

I'll sign off on that.

I'll sine too.

Wouldn't that be a cosine?

HUGE, huge get for Bragga, Barton and Janish...

Quote:Kendall Rogers
@KendallRogers
·TRANSFER UPDATE: Former
@OleMissBSB
SS Connor Walsh, the No. 27 ranked player out of HS by
@prepbaseball
, is headed to
@RiceBaseball
for the 2021 season. Walsh didn’t get PT for #RebsBSB this spring, but is certainly surpremely talented. #Rice #CUSA

That's the 3rd SS transfer we have coming in next year, but clearly the best prospect of the group, and with the full 4 years of eligibility remaining since he redshirted as a true Freshman. He didn't play his Freshman year this past season-- and redshirted-- because Ole Miss' starting Jr SS was ranked by D1baseball as the #2 ranked SS in the country, who hit .390/.575/.695 in their 17 games played in 2020.

Walsh is from Niceville, FL. He was a high school all-american-- the #27th ranked HS player and #9 ranked SS (per Pefect Game). I believe that makes him the most highly regarded recruit we've landed since Joe Savery. Here's his bio: https://olemisssports.com/sports/basebal...walsh/2473

He’ll likely have to sit unless they undo the transfer rule next January.

Great pickup nonetheless.