Spartan Baseball Completes Recruiting Class
8/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 23, 2007
Michigan State head baseball coach David Grewe has finalized his 2008 recruiting class with the addition of community college standouts Scott Heithusen and A.J. Shindler. The pair brings the Spartans' new crop of players to nine.
"Adding Scott and A.J. to this recruiting class is very exciting for Spartan baseball. Both players fit the mold that we are looking for in recruiting," Grewe said. "They are extremely talented and are high character people."
Heithusen, a 6-2 pitcher/outfielder, comes to MSU after playing the 2007 season at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan. He went 3-3 with a 4.10 ERA for the Dragons last year while also hitting .303 with four home runs and 24 RBI. Heithusen captured first team all-state accolades in 2006 after leading Free State High School in Lawrence, Kan., to a state title.
Shindler hit .351 with six home runs as an infielder last year at Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa. He led the Warriors in hits, triples and walks en route to first team NJCAA All-Region XI honors. Shindler was also a part of three state championships at West Des Moines High School in Iowa.
"Coach Kyle Crookes at Hutchinson and coach Cam Walker at Indian Hills both do an outstanding job with their players and we are excited to be able to attract players like Scott and A.J. from those programs," Grewe said. "The experience they have gained at those programs should allow them to fit in well at Michigan State."
Heithusen and Shindler join seven other future Spartans in the class of 2008, including:
A.J. Achter (RHP/OF, Oregon, Ohio/Clay HS)
Jeffrey Holm (OF/1B/LHP, St. Charles, Ill./North HS)
Brandon Eckerle (OF/RHP, Durand, Mich./Corunna HS)
Tyler Newsome (LHP/OF, Palos Hts., Ill./Marist HS)
Jonathan Roof (SS, Paducah, Ky./St. Mary's HS)
Andrew Webb (RHP, Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park HS)
Seth Williams (C/RHP, Alexandria, Va./Edison HS)
In addition to recruiting, it was a busy off-season for the Michigan State baseball program, as two 2007 Spartans and three members of the 2008 recruiting class were drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Junior catcher Kyle Day (19th round, Chicago Cubs) and senior pitcher Jon Kibler (30th round, Detroit Tigers) were selected in the draft as well as incoming freshmen Kyle Kaminska (25th round, Florida Marlins), Jonathan Roof (39th round, Boston Red Sox) and Tyler Newsome (49th round, Baltimore Orioles).
Kibler, who was a third team All-Big Ten pick last year, signed with the Tigers organization and Kaminska inked a contract with the Marlins. Day, Roof and Newsome will all suit up for the Spartans in 2008.
In addition, Day was named to the all-star team this summer while playing for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Day played in 40 of the team's 42 games, leading the team with 21 runs and finishing tied for second with 35 hits. He also led the team with 54 total bases while posting a .347 on-base percentage.
