Michigan State Baseball Announces 2025 Signing Class

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr., announced the first members of MSU's 2025 signing class, signing a dozen future Spartans for the 2027 roster.

Of the 12 signees, nine are natives of the state of Michigan, along with two from Illinois and one from Georgia.

MSU's 12-player 2025 signing class includes Zane Caves (LHP • Minooka, Ill. / Minooka HS), Maddux Kipling (RHP • Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake HS), Brayden Loquasto ("Low-Quas-Toe") (LHP • Roswell, Ga. / Blessed Trinity HS), Jack Manzella (RHP • Fraser, Mich. / Fraser HS), Cole Novara ("Nuh-Varra") (OF • Dexter, Mich. / Dexter HS), Cam Pallo ("Pal-low") (RHP • Ada, Mich. / Forest Hills Eastern HS), Paddy Roth (RHP • Chicago, Ill. / Saint Patrick HS ), Xan Scheinfield ("Zan Shine-feld") (LHP • Franklin, Mich. / Wylie E. Groves HS), Bennett Thompson (C/INF • Brighton, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central HS), Matt Toeppner ("Tepp-ner") (OF • Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams HS), Andrew Tribul ("Tribal") (INF/OF • Beverly Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) and Paul Van Dam (RHP • East Lansing, Mich. / East Lansing HS).

"We are very excited to welcome this new group of Spartans to our baseball family here at Michigan State," Boss said. "Our recruiting coordinator, Coach (Graham) Sikes, our pitching coach, Coach (Mark) VanAmeyde and our newest addition to the coaching staff, Coach (Taylor) Grzelakowski, have all worked tirelessly in putting together a top-notch signing class. They've done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail. This class features a great balance of terrific talent, several of whom have the opportunity to contribute immediately, and they all fit the mold that we have established here with everything it takes to be a Spartan baseball player. It's a group of fantastic young men who have well-decorated portfolios of success on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. We're excited to watch them develop as they continue those successes and chase their dreams here at Michigan State University."

ZANE CAVES • LHP • MINOOKA, ILL. • MINOOKA HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Minooka HS for coach Jeff Petrovic ... Earned All-Southwest Prairie Conference and All-Area honors as a junior ... Rated as the No. 1 pitcher/first baseman and No. 12 overall player in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, as well as the No. 27 pitcher/first baseman in the nation ... Named to Perfect Game's Top Pitchers Performers from 17U list ... Garnered both Prep Baseball Illinois and Minooka News Athlete of the Week recognition after firing a nine-strikeout, one-hit shutout outing in seven innings over Lincoln-Way West ... Played summer league for Cangelosi Sparks Black, chalking up 30 Ks in 23.0 IP, yielding just 12 hits and 15 walks, while holding opposition bats to just a .146 BAA, and posting a 2.13 ERA ... Also played football and basketball at Minooka HS, and was a two-time team captain for both teams, and helped lead both teams to the playoffs ... Earned All-Southwest Prairie Conference and All-Area in football at quarterback as a junior in 2024, as well as a two-time SPC All-Conference and Joliet Herald News All-Area honoree in basketball in both 2024 and 2025 playing shooting guard and small forward positions ... Set the Minooka HS single-season rebounding and steals records ... Nominated for the Above The Line Student-Athlete Leadership group.

PERSONAL: Son of Rebecca and Ron Caves ... Has five sisters and one brother ... Father, Ron, played basketball and football for two years at Wisconsin Stevens Point and also played basketball and football for three years at Wisconsin-Platville ... Two sisters, Maizy and Kinzie, play softball at University of The Cumberlands, while older sister, Zoey, played softball at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (2018-21), and younger sister Jerzie, plays volleyball at Minooka HS and for Sports Performance VB Club, and younger sister, Paizley, plays soccer for Chicago Rush South Club ... younger brother, Cruz, plays baseball and football at Minooka HS ... Lists greatest athletic experience as his junior year of high school baseball season, posting a 33-3 record and the most fun he'd ever had playing baseball ... Chose MSU over Butler, Illinois, Maryland, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Western Kentucky and Xavier ... Intends on majoring in business at MSU.

MADDUX KIPLING • RHP • SPRING LAKE, MICH. • SPRING LAKE HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a three-year letterwinner at Spring Lake HS for coach Bill Core ... A two-time All-Conference and All-District honoree as both sophomore and junior, while earning All-Region and All-State accolades as a junior, in addition to Academic All-State in baseball as a junior ... Helped the Lakers to a 30-4 record in junior season ... Ranked as the No. 23 RHP and No. 48 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for Arsenal Indiana and Grand Rapids Diamonds, with intentions of playing for the Muskegon Clippers next summer ... Also a three-year letterwinner for both basketball and tennis at Spring Lake HS ... Earned Academic All-State in basketball.

PERSONAL: Son of Betsy and Eric Kipling ... Father, Eric, played baseball at Central Michigan (1996-99) ... Older sister, Annie, plays lacrosse at Hope College ... Lists his father as his biggest baseball influence because he's been his coach his entire life and he looks up to him ... Lists greatest athletic experience from his sophomore season when he was the starting pitcher in the MHSAA State Finals on Michigan State's field and was inspirational and motivational to him to put in the work to become the player and pitcher he wanted to be ... Chose MSU over Ball State, Brown, Central Michigan, Columbia, Dartmouth, Eastern Illinois, Northwood and Ohio ... Undecided on future major at MSU.

BRAYDEN LOQUASTO • LHP • ROSWELL, GA. • BLESSED TRINITY HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a three-year letterwinner at Blessed Trinity High School for coach Jamie Wagner ... Helped lead the Titans to the GHSA AAAA State Championship in 2025, registering a 33-9 record ... Named second-team GHSA AAAA All-State ... Recipient of the Coaches Award ... Ranked as the No. 17 LHP and No. 130 overall player in the state of Georgia by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for East Cobb Astros ... Also a two-year letterwinner for the Blessed Trinity HS basketball team, playing point guard.

PERSONAL: Son of Courtney and Lou Loquasto ... Father, Lou, played basketball at University of West Georgia ... Younger brother, Cael, also plays baseball and basketball at Blessed Trinity HS ... Lists LA Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw as biggest baseball influence because he was the first left-handed pitcher he ever saw throw and has been motivational and inspirational to him throughout his baseball career ... Lists greatest athletic experience as closing their state championship game because of excitement of coming back and taking lead in the eighth and getting to close it out after the comeback ... Chose MSU over Boston College, Chipola, NC State, VMI and Wofford ... Intends on majoring in business at MSU, with a professional career in business sales after his baseball career is concluded.

JACK MANZELLA • RHP • FRASER, MICH. • FRASER HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a three-year letterwinner at Fraser High School for coach Rob Townsend ... Earned All-District, All-County and All-Region in junior season, helping Fraser HS to the MAC Blue Division championship, the Ramblers first league title in seven years ... Chalked up 65 strikeouts in 39 IP, with a 1.42 ERA, in holding opponents to a .156 BAA ... Named Michigan Pitcher of the Week by Prep Baseball Michigan after firing 15 strikeouts in 7.0 IP in a no-hitter against Lakeview, finishing week with 17 K in 10 IP with only one run and three hits allowed on the week ... Threw a 5-inning perfect game with 10 K in 5.0 IP helping Ramblers to 10- win over Huron ... Ranked as the No. 4 RHP/SS and the No. 9 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for Detroit Prospects-Sadowski 18U.

PERSONAL: Son of Danielle and Ryan Manzella ... Older brother, Aidan, played at Oakland University and is currently at Macomb CC ... Lists his older brother, Aidan, as biggest baseball influence because of watching him overcome difficulties and continuing to chase his dreams, and Aidan always pushed him to his limits to be best player he could be ... Lists greatest athletic experience as throwing back-to-back no hitters in his junior season, with the second one coming against the top team in division and helping Fraser HS clinch league championship and to have both grandfathers in attendance made it extra special to him ... Chose MSU over Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State and Western Michigan ... Intends on majoring in business or marketing at MSU.

COLE NOVARA • OF • DEXTER, MICH. • DEXTER HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Named to the MHSBCA Baseball Dream Team as a junior, also earning Division 1 All-State, All-Region and All-District accolades as a junior ... Also garnered All-Southeastern Conference recognition, along with being named to the first-team MLive Ann Arbor Area Dream Team ... Set three Dexter HS school records by swiping 50 stolen bases, scoring 49 runs and drawing 26 walks in junior season, and also setting the Dreadnaughts' career stolen base record with 87 ... Named MVP of the Perfect Game MLK East Tournament and also selected to the Prep Baseball Report Futures Game ... Ranked as the No. 2 OF/RHP and the No. 15 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for the Michigan Monarchs last summer, after previously playing with the Legacy Adidas Tousa Travel team ... Also a three-year letterwinner for Dexter HS football team, helping Dexter to its first state championship appearance ... Set MHSAA record for receptions (128), receiving yards (2,162) and receiving touchdowns (28) in 2025 ... Earned first-team Detroit Free Press Dream Team and also earned All-Southeastern Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior, and also named to the first-team MLive Ann Arbor Area Dream Team ... A Top 10 finalist for the Michigan HS Football Player of the Year award ... Earned Academic All-Region and All-District accolades as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Recipient of Dexter HS Scholar-Athlete Award for both baseball and football.

PERSONAL: Son of Meegan and David Novara ... Older brother, Wyatt, is pitcher at Michigan ... Lists his older brother, Wyatt, as his biggest baseball influence because of his support and help provided to him and his teammates throughout his baseball career ... Lists greatest athletic experience as traveling to the WWBA Tournament in Georgia during his 16U season and winning, 6-5, on a walk-off against a highly-ranked opponent, including hitting a home run off the starting pitcher early in game to set tone for team and closed out win on the mound ... Undecided on his major at MSU.

CAM PALLO • RHP • ADA, MICH. • FOREST HILLS EASTERN HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Forest Hills Eastern High School for coach Ian Hearn ... Helped the Hawks to the MHSAA Division 2 State Championship, finishing with a 42-1 record, including a 41-game win streak, including out-scoring opponents, 37-14, in the state tournament on the way to winning their second state title in four years ... Earned All-Conference and All-District accolades ... Named to the MLive Dream Team Named team captain as a junior ... Ranked as the No. 10 RHP/2B and the No. 21 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Selected to the Prep Baseball Report Futures Game ... Also lettered for the Forest Hills Eastern HS basketball team.

PERSONAL: Son of Amy and Mike Pallo ... Older brother, Jacob, is a pitcher at Hillsdale College ... Lists his older brother, Jacob, as biggest baseball influence because he taught him about the importance of hard work ... Lists greatest athletic experience as winning state championship with his childhood best friends ... Chose MSU over Akron, Charleston Southern, Duke, Eastern Kentucky, Grand Valley, Indiana, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Western Michigan and Yale ... Intends on majoring in business at MSU, with career aspirations of being a CEO of a company once his baseball career is completed.

PADDY ROTH • RHP • CHICAGO, ILL. • SAINT PATRICK HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Saint Patrick High School for coach Chris Haas ... Earned first-team All-Conference ... Team captain as a junior ... Fired 10 Ks in complete game shutout, and also drove in lone run of the game in first inning, in a 1-0 win over DePaul in sectional championship final ... Ranked as the No. 5 RHP/OF and No. 21 overall player in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for Top Tier Americans ... Also letterwinner on the Saint Patrick HS football team, playing defensive end ... Named to the SPHS Honor Roll.

PERSONAL: Son of Julie and Steven Roth ... Grandfather played baseball at MSU ... Father and uncle played college football, while brother played college baseball ... Cousin to MLB Hall of Famer Bob Feller ... Lists biggest baseball influence as Nolan Ryan, because of how he always played the game at 100 percent and his full-on attack mentality ... Lists greatest athletic experience as beating arch-rival in the sectional championship and throwing two-hit complete game shutout ... Chose MSU over Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Charleston, Clemson, Illinois, UIC, Kentucky, Purdue, Texas A&M and Xavier ... Undecided on major at MSU.

XAN SCHEINFIELD • LHP • FRANKLIN, MICH. • WYLIE E. GROVES HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Wylie E. Groves High School for coach Shawn Morrison ... Helped the Falcons win the district championship ... Had highlight of firing eight Ks in 3.0 IP without a hit or walk in early-season outing ... Ranked as the No. 5 LHP/OF and No. 51 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Earned Academic All-State accolades ... Also a member of the Wylie E. Groves HS National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Son of Rebecca Lincoln and Adam Scheinfield ... Aunt played softball at Michigan State, while grandfather played football at Michigan, and great-grandfather played both football and wrestling at Michigan and has cousins that played Division I lacrosse ... Lists biggest baseball influence as his parents because they were both athletes and have been supportive of him throughout his entire career ... Lists first greatest athletic experience as playing in the PG WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Florida, where he played against and in front of elite athletes and coaches, and was closer in upset win of No. 1 team in country, while his second greatest athletic experience is mentoring and coaching youth players ... Intends on majoring in finance at MSU, with career aspirations of being an entrepreneur when his baseball career is completed.

BENNETT THOMPSON • C/INF • BRIGHTON, MICH. • DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Detroit Catholic Central for coach Ryan Rogowski, playing catcher, several infield positions and pitcher ... Helped the Shamrocks to the district championship in freshman season ... A two-time All-Catholic League selection after hitting .340 as a sophomore ... A two-time team captain ... Ranked as the No. 1 C/INF and the No. 16 player overall in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Named to ZT Elite Midwest Prospects 17U roster ... Played summer league for Midland Redskins North with fellow Spartan signee Matt Toeppner ... Earned All-Academic accolades.

PERSONAL: Son of Teri and Tedd Thompson ... Father, Tedd, played football at Ferris State (1988-91) ... Cousin, Mitchell Ghelfi, played at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers (2015), and other cousin, Drew Ghelfi, who played baseball at the University of Minnesota and also drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers (2013), with both Ghelfi's logging lengthy minor league tenures ... Lists father, Tedd, as biggest baseball influence for always pushing him to be the best while learning good work ethic and good leadership characteristics ... Lists first greatest athletic experience at playing for Team Michigan in the 2024 PBR Futures Game, for the surreal experience of getting to represent his home state at the highest level of baseball, and second greatest athletic experience as being an 8-year old kid in the stands at Michigan Stadium for the football game and the Victory for MSU over Michigan on a fumbled punt recovery for a touchdown as time expired ... Chose MSU over Brown, Cincinnati, Indiana, Oakland, Ohio and Western Michigan ... Intends on majoring in finance at MSU, with career aspirations as a business owner, or involved with investment banking or wealth management when baseball career is completed.

MATT TOEPPNER • OF • ROCHESTER HILLS, MICH. • ROCHESTER ADAMS HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Rochester Adams High School for coach Andrew Lamkin ... Helped the Highlanders to back-to-back district and OAA Red titles ... Earned first-team All-State, All-Region, All-OAA Red League and All-District accolades after hitting .436 with a .573 slugging percentage, with 51 hits, 25 RBI and scoring 39 runs ... Named team Co-Offensive Player of the Year ... Ranked as the No. 4 OF/2B and No. 31 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for Midland Redskins North with fellow Spartan signee Bennett Thompson and Midland Redskins National ... Also a three-year letterwinner for the Rochester Adams football team, playing WR/RB/OLB and earning All-Region accolades after amassing 1,610 all-purpose yards on 662 receiving, 584 rushing and 364 kick return yards, with 15 total touchdowns ... Helped Rochester Adams to the regional championship ... Earned All-State, All-Region, All-League and All-District honors, as well as collecting team Offensive MVP award.

PERSONAL: Son of Robin and Steve Toeppner ... Sister was competitive gymnast ... Lists baseball influence as the love of the game of baseball, for teaching many lessons about baseball being more than a sport and teaching so many lessons to carry on in life, especially with the mental side of baseball ... Lists greatest athletic experience as the Ripken Experience camp in Tennessee when he was 12, for spending week with best friends playing the sport they love and going far in the tournament and creating memories ... Chose MSU over Cincinnati, Grand Valley, Northwood, Oakland, Saginaw Valley, Wayne State and Western Michigan ... Intends on majoring in finance at MSU with career aspirations of working in finance or banking after completing baseball career.

ANDREW TRIBUL • INF/OF • BEVERLY HILLS, MICH. • ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY'S HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Orchard Lake St. Mary's for coach Nick Diponio, where he earned All-District and All-Region accolades for the Eaglets, helping OLSM to a 26-13 mark and falling in the state semi-finals ... Played for Team Elite Baseball this summer, with highlights including hitting three HR at WWBA Tournament, including two HR in one game ... Ranked as the No. 2 3B/OF and the No. 35 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report.

PERSONAL: Son of Raquel and Matthew Tribul ... Both parents were student-athletes at Canisius, as father, Matthew, played basketball and mother, Raquel, played softball ... Had uncle play in MLB from 1998-2000, while grandpa played in the Mexican Professional Baseball League ... Lists his grandpa as biggest baseball influence from teaching him how to play the game and inspiring him to follow in his and his uncle's footsteps ... Lists greatest athletic experience as playing summer ball on one of the top teams in the country and playing against some of the top competition and talent in the country, and making memories with great teammates ... Intends on majoring in business at MSU.

PAUL VAN DAM • RHP • EAST LANSING, MICH. • EAST LANSING HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a four-year letterwinner at East Lansing High School for coach Mark Pendred ... Earned All-CAAC Blue All-Conference accolades as a sophomore and junior ... Named All-District as a junior ... During junior season on the mound, registered a 3-3 record and posted a 2.01 ERA, chalking up 57 Ks in 41.2 IP, with 18 BB and at the plate, hit .304 with 21 RBI, including six doubles, four triples and one home run ... Ranked as the No. 17 RHP/1B and the No. 34 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report ... Played summer league for Legacy Adidas 18U, firing 38 Ks in 35.1 IP on the mound, posting a 1.59 ERA, allowing 21 hits and 18 walks, while limiting opponents to a .168 BAA, while at the plate, hit .349 with 21 RBI and scored 17 runs ... Also a two-year letterwinner on the ELHS basketball team, helping the Trojans to the 2024-25 MHSAA Division 1 basketball state title ... A three-time CAAC All-Academic honoree in baseball and a two-time CAAC All-Academic award recipient in basketball ... Earned MHSAA Academic All-District and All-Region as a junior ... Helped the Trojans earn the MHSAA Academic All-State team award in both 2024 and 2025.

PERSONAL: Son of Paula and Anthony Van Dam ... Lists his pitching coach Kevin Schafer as his biggest baseball influence because of working with him for seven years and helping him develop as a pitcher and person ... Lists greatest athletic experience as winning the MHSAA Division 1 basketball state championship at the Breslin Center in junior season ... Undecided on a major at MSU.

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