Michigan State University Athletics
Baseball Signs Seven For Next Season
11/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State baseball team will add seven players in the fall of 2016, it was announced today (Nov. 17) by head coach Jake Boss. Sam Benschoter (Tecumseh, Michigan/Tecumseh), Danny Gleaves (Homer Glen, Illinois/St. Rita), Bryce Kelly (Rockford, Michigan/Rockford), Mike Mokma (Zeeland, Michigan/Holland Christian), Joe Stewart (Portage, Michigan/Portage Central), Mitchell Tyranski (Birmingham, Michigan/Brother Rice), and Mason Erla (Cass City, Michigan/Cass City) signed National Letters of Intent to join the Spartans next season.
"We are extremely excited to add these seven outstanding student athletes to the Spartan baseball family," said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. "This class addresses several needs as we move forward thinking of the 2017 season and beyond not only on the mound, but in the outfield as well. Each of these seven young men is very athletic with a tremendous upside, and it is exciting to think about the future of Spartan baseball with them in the fold. The talent level of this class is a direct reflection of the hard work put in by recruiting coordinator Graham Sikes and pitching coach Skylar Meade. Those two coaches worked tirelessly over the past few years to put a class together that is extremely talented on the field, very diligent in the classroom, and undoubtedly of the highest character; and they should be commended for an outstanding job."
Sam Benschoter | Tecumseh, Michigan | Tecumseh | 6-3, 195 | L/R | RHP
Will be a four-year letterwinner for head coach Tom Bullinger at Tecumseh High School where he will captain the team this spring … Two-time all-conference honoree … Posted a 1.03 ERA in 49 innings as a junior last season, going 5-2 with 80 strikeouts and 27 walks … At the plate, he had a .382 batting average with 19 extra-base hits … Named the 2015 Lenawee County Pitcher of the Year … Has garnered all-district, academic all-district and all-region honors … Rated the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and No. 14 player in Michigan by Prep Baseball Report … Selected MSU over Michigan, Toledo and Central Michigan.
Meade on Benschoter: "Sam is an athletic pitcher, who maintains an easy delivery. His two solid off-speed pitches will afford him the ability to pitch early in his career at MSU. One thing Sam possesses that cannot be taught is a quick arm, and his moves like lightning."
Danny Gleaves | Homer Glen, Illinois | St. Rita | 6-0, 190 | R/R | OF
Will be a three-year letterwinner at St. Rita High School for Mike Zunica … Illinois All-State honoree as a sophomore when he set the school record with a .519 batting average … Two-time All-Catholic League honoree … As a junior, he hit at a .387 clip with two home runs and 27 RBI … Earned a varsity letter in football as a sophomore … Ranked as the No. 4 outfielder and the No. 14 overall player in Illinois, according to Prep Baseball Report … Selected MSU over Purdue, Maryland, Kent State and Army-West Point.
Sikes on Gleaves: "Danny is an impressive person in every way. His academics are at the top of his class, his makeup and character are impressive and his athleticism is elite. He comes from a very good St. Rita program that also produced Spartan infielder, Marty Bechina. Danny is another of the Chicago area recruits that was a very talented football player and brings a toughness with him. He will remind Spartan fans of some of the speedy outfielders we've had over the past few years and I look forward to seeing him develop his complete game."
Bryce Kelley | Rockford, Michigan | Rockford | 6-2, 205 | L/L | LHP/OF
Will be a four-year letterwinner at Rockford High School for Matt Vriesenga … All-Conference honoree ... Earned second team All-State honors as a junior last season, helping Rockford to a 28-10 record … On the mound, he posted a 1.28 ERA with eight wins and 64 strikeouts as a junior … At the plate, he hit .446 with two home runs and 31 RBI … Picked up all-district and all-region honors, as well as being named team MVP as a junior … Named the No. 1 outfielder and No. 2 left-handed pitcher in Michigan, according to Prep Baseball Report … Selected MSU over Michigan, West Virginia, Oakland, Wichita State, Minnesota and Evansville.
Meade on Kelley: "Bryce will remind a lot of people here of Brandon Hughes with his skill set. On the mound he is aggressive with his fastball, and can also spin a nice curveball to compliment. We look for Bryce to vie immediately for innings here at MSU during the 2017 season."
Sikes on Kelley: "Bryce is a dynamic athlete. He is fast but can play even faster because of his instincts and will. Bryce has a great makeup and comes from a very good program at Rockford where he played for former MSU volunteer assistant coach, Ian Hearn. Bryce can play all over the outfield and can pitch as well. He is another outfielder that has that speed/power combo potential and I am excited to see him continue to develop."
Michael Mokma | Zeeland, Michigan | Holland Christian | 6-7, 215 | R/R | RHP
Will be a four-year letterwinner at Holland Christian for Jim Caserta … Two-time Perfect Game All-American High Honorable Mention as a sophomore and a junior … Posted a 1.56 ERA with 36 strikeouts on the mound as a junior … Hit at a .371 clip with a home run and 22 RBI as a junior … As a sophomore, he had a 0.65 ERA with 78 strikeouts and six wins, while hitting .449 with two RBI … Three-time All-Area honoree … Garnered all-league and all-district honors as a sophomore and junior … Named Area Co-Player of the Year as a sophomore … Rated the No. 2 right-handed and No. 4 overall player in Michigan by Prep Baseball Report … Chose MSU over Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Ohio.
Meade on Mokma: "Mike was the earliest commit in this class, a true Spartan at heart. He is 6-foot-7, possibly still growing, and creates tons of angle on the baseball. Mike has all the makings of a durable, reliable, and physical starter in the ultra-competitive Big Ten."
Joseph Stewart | Portage, Michigan | Portage Central | 6-4, 195 | R/R | OF
Will be a here-year letter winner at Portage Central for Brandon Baker … All-conference honorable mention selection last season … Named to the Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament team in 2015 … Hit .333 with three triples, two home runs and 24 RBI as a junior … Rated as the No. 2 outfielder and No. 11 overall player in Michigan, according to Perfect Game … Selected MSU over Michigan, Cincinnati, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Indiana State and Illinois State.
Sikes on Stewart: "Joe is just beginning to tap into his baseball potential. Joe was the latest commitment in the 2016 class and he just really exploded this past year. He is already 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and is going to continue to grow. He has experience all over the diamond (OF/C/1B) and his athleticism and versatility are going to be very useful. The things that stood out to me watching Joe was that he was ‘big and fast.' He also has a makeup that will allow him to keep getting better. I look forward to seeing Joe develop."
Mitchell Tyranski | Birmingham, Michigan | Brother Rice | 6-2, 210 | L/L | LHP
Will be a three-year letterwinner for Bob Riker at Birmingham Brother Rice … Went 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 55 innings with 46 strikeouts as a junior … As a sophomore, went a perfect 5-0 with a 0.62 ERA in 34 innings with 21 stikeouts … Ranked as the No. 2 left-handed pitcher and No. 9 overall player in Michigan by Perfect Game … Rated as the No. 4 left-handed pitcher Prep Baseball Report … Selected MSU over Western Michigan and Indiana.
Sikes on Tyranski: "Mitchell has just gotten better and better and better. Each time I see him he pitches better. Mitchell comes from the very strong program at Brother Rice and he just continues to improve. Mitchell is a tremendous kid in every way and I know he will maximize his potential. When watching him in HS, he reminded me of a cross between former Spartan lefties Jeff Kinley and Anthony Misiewicz."
Meade on Tyranski: "Mitchell is a guy who continues to get better and better every time we see him. His velocity has spiked from 82 mph in February, to 89 over the course of the summer. He also has a swing-and-miss breaking ball that should allow him to be in the mix to pitch early in his Spartan career."
Mason Erla | Cass City, Michigan | Cass City | 6-4, 200 | R/R | RHP
Will be a four-year letterwinner for Josh Stern at Cass City … Two-time first-team All-Conference … Named All-State as a hitter his sophomore year … Picked up All-State honors as a junior for his work on the mound … Earned six wins with 111 strikeouts, while posting a 0.39 ERA as a junior … Earned all-district honors all three years and all-region as a sophomore and junior … Rated as the No. 3 RHP and No. 5 overall player in Michigan by Prep Baseball Report … Chose MSU over Central Michigan, Oakland and Saginaw Valley State.
Meade on Erla: "Mason is a small town kid, with big time stuff. He will get up to 92 mph with the fastball, and has a two-plane breaking ball that will play immediately. Mason is a heck of a football player as well, and we expect him to bring that mentality to the mound immediately when he sets foot on campus next fall."
