Toledo, Ohio—The Toledo baseball program announced its 2019-20 recruiting class on Tuesday, with seven future Rockets signing national letters of intent to play at UT.

Connor Brandon, Yassir Kahook, Connor O'Donnell, Sam Seeker, Spencer Stanton, Trey Wright, and Jason Young comprise the newest batch of ballplayers for head coach Cory Mee.

"I am extremely happy with this recruiting class," Mee said. "We are adding seven individuals to our program, who I feel will have a huge impact on the future of Toledo Baseball. In the recruiting process, this group displayed the energy and enthusiasm on the field that we want to see in all of our players. I know that each of them are willing to work hard to improve and are committed to doing all what it takes to be a successful student-athlete. It will be exciting to see this class develop over the next four years. I envision them doing some special things during their time at Toledo."

Six of the seven newest Rockets hail from Ohio, with one incoming player from Michigan. Mee and his staff signed four position players and three pitchers, though two of the position player signees will be able to contribute from the mound as well.

"Our recruiting coordinator, Josh Bradford, and assistant coach, Nick McIntyre, deserve a lot of the credit for putting this class together," Mee said. "Year after year, they spend countless hours on the road, scouting and evaluating prospects. They do a fantastic job finding quality individuals who are not only outstanding athletes, but also strong academically. The highest priority we have for each recruiting class is to find prospects that are the perfect fit for our program. With this class, we feel we've done that."

Toledo Baseball's 2019-20 Recruiting Class:

Connor Brandon | RHP | Hebron, Ohio
Connor Brandon is a three-sport athlete from Watkins Memorial High School, lettering in baseball, football, and wrestling. Last season, he hit .282 and helped Watkins to a 17-7 record. His father, Richard, was a three-year letterwinner for Toledo baseball (1986-88).

Coach Mee on Connor: "Connor is a power pitcher with electric stuff.  He has a hard, sinking fastball and a legitimate slider.  Connor is an outstanding athlete and has a very high ceiling as a pitcher. You can see that he loves to compete and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to improve. These traits will definitely serve him well on the baseball field and are part of the reason why I think Connor will have a major impact on our program during his career. I am really looking forward to him working with Josh Bradford and watching him develop. I truly believe that the best is yet to come for Connor, and I couldn't be happier that those days will be spent in a Rocket Uniform."

Yassir Kahook | RHP | Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Yassir Kahook comes to Toledo from Walsh Jesuit High School, where he has lettered in baseball each of his first three seasons. Most recently, he enjoyed a terrific junior season, throwing 35.2 innings and striking out 39 batters to go along with a stingy 1.18 ERA. Yassir was named first-team all-conference and second-team all-state this past season, and he helped lead Walsh Jesuit to an OHSAA Division I district finals appearance.

Coach Mee on Yassir:  "I am very excited about Yassir joining our program. He is a very hard worker and a fierce competitor. He has a great feel for pitching and is an absolute strike thrower. Not only does he have outstanding command of his fastball to both sides of the plate, but he has a great feel for his off-speed pitches as well. I am also impressed with the poise and composure that he displays on the mound, which allows him to excel in big-game, pressure situations. Yassir is already a polished pitcher, but I know with his work ethic he is only going to get better.  I can't wait to watch him pitch for the Rockets the next four years."

Connor O'Donnell | OF/1B| Cleveland, Ohio
Connor O'Donnell will join the Rockets after wrapping up his career at Benedictine High School this spring. He has lettered in baseball each of his first three years, and he owns a robust .395 career batting average to date. Connor has twice been named all-conference in the North Coast League, and he was named a News Herald All-Star this past season.  

Coach Mee on Connor: "Connor is two-sport athlete (football/baseball) who is a strong, physical player and a tough competitor. I am really excited about Connor's potential as an offensive player. He is a right-handed hitter with power who has an outstanding approach at the plate. In watching Connor, we were very impressed with his ability to drive the ball to all fields with power. He is a legitimate threat to do damage every time he steps in the box. On top of that, I love Connor's work ethic. I know he loves to play and he is going to work hard to reach his full potential as a ballplayer. I expect Connor to be a middle of the order hitter and big run producer for us during his career. I am very excited to watch Connor develop into an impact player for the Rockets."

Sam Seeker | OF/LHP | Tallmadge, Ohio
Sam Seeker will come to UT after a stellar three-sport career at Tallmadge High School, where he lettered four years in football, three in basketball, and will earn his fourth varsity letter in baseball this spring. A second-team All-Suburban League honoree in 2018, Sam helped Tallmadge to a 25-7 record and a state championship as a sophomore in 2017. He hit .313 with 19 runs scored and 11 extra-base hits that season.

Coach Mee on Sam: "Sam is an outstanding athlete, I love the fact that he is a three-sport star in high school. His athleticism will allow him to be a two-way player for us. Sam is a very good defensive outfielder and a strong left-handed bat. Right now, he's a line drive hitter with a lot of potential. I love his approach at the plate,  and he shows great discipline which helps him consistently have quality at-bats.   As a pitcher, I think Sam is just scratching the surface of his ability. I'm really looking forward to watching his development on the mound as he works with our pitching coach, Josh Bradford. On top of his baseball ability, Sam brings a winning pedigree to Toledo as well. He played on a state championship team at Tallmadge High School and I believe the experience of playing on a championship team is invaluable. I am really excited about Sam joining our program and can't wait to see him in a Rocket uniform next year."

Spencer Stanton | 1B/LHP | Massillon, Ohio
Spencer Stanton will join the Rockets after completing his career at Jackson High School. A three-year letterwinner in basketball and soon-to-be three-year letterwinner in baseball, Spencer has twice been named All-Stark County during his career. A two-way player, he owns a .320 career batting average and a sparkling 0.62 career ERA on the mound. As a junior last season, he hit .301, led the team with 22 RBIs, and produced a 1.14 ERA in 11 appearances, helping his team to league and district titles for the fifth straight year. He also helped Jackson win an OHSAA State Championship in 2017.

Coach Mee on Spencer: "Spencer is another two-sport athlete (basketball/baseball) who loves to compete and isn't afraid of working hard. He possesses excellent physical tools that will allow him to be a two-way player for us. We're really excited about his ability as a hitter. He has a disciplined approach at the plate that helps him to consistently put up quality at-bats. Spencer is a very good all-around hitter who has the ability to hit the ball to all fields. I believe that, as he matures as a hitter, he will develop into a legitimate power threat. I know we are counting on Spencer to be a big-time run producer and strong physical presence in the middle of our lineup during his career. I am also looking forward to seeing how he develops on the mound. It will be exciting to see the progress he makes as he works with Coach Bradford. One thing I love about Spencer is his even-keeled demeanor, he just keeps playing the game and is not rattled by tough situations. I think he relishes the opportunity to perform in those spots.  This is why I am so excited about Spencer becoming a Rocket."

Trey Wright | C | Massillon, Ohio
Trey Wright joins high school teammate Spencer Stanton in joining the Toledo baseball program. A three-year letterwinner in both baseball and football. He also helped lead Jackson High School to a state championship in 2017. A two-time all-league and all-county honoree, Wright led the Federal League in 2018 with a .458 batting average, adding 13 stolen bases and 29 runs scored to his impressive stat line. Wright struck out just twice in 116 plate appearances as a junior.

Coach Mee on Trey: "I love Trey's approach to the game. A two-sport athlete (football/baseball) and tough competitor, he absolutely loves to play and works hard to improve. Every time I watched Trey he made things happen on the field. Whether it was a big-time defensive play, a clutch at-bat or a heads-up baserunning play, he showed a knack for making big plays at crucial times for his team. I am excited to add someone to our program that has the ability to impact the game in so many different ways. Offensively, Trey is a very versatile player, who is capable of hitting line drives to all fields, getting down a bunt, stealing a base and being a really tough out. Defensively, he is a polished defensive catcher with an above average arm. Most importantly, he recognizes that as a catcher, he must lead his team and be a coach on the field. He understands his top priority is helping the pitching staff perform at a high level.  I am really looking forward to working with Trey, and I expect him to have a big impact in our program during his career at Toledo."

Jason Young | RHP | Brandon, Mich.
Jason Young will wrap up his high school career this spring at Brandon High School before joining the Rockets. He has earned a varsity letter in each of his first three years and he helped his team to a district championship as a sophomore in 2017. Jason was named first-team All-Flint Metro League as a junior this past season.

Coach Mee on Jason: "I am really excited about Jason joining our pitching staff. He is a tireless worker willing to do whatever it takes to be a successful student-athlete. The thing that impressed us the most about Jason as a pitcher was his aggressiveness on the mound and the way he attacks hitters.  He just keeps coming at you relentlessly with strike after strike. His repertoire includes a fastball with great life and an above average breaking ball. I am excited to watch Jason develop as he works with our pitching coach, Josh Bradford. I believe that Jason will be a major force on our pitching staff during his career at Toledo."
 
 

Name	Ht.	Wt.	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Connor Brandon	6-3	195	RHP	Hebron, Ohio/Watkins Memorial
Yassir Kahook	5-10	180	RHP	Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit
Connor O'Donnell	6-3	200	OF/1B	Cleveland, Ohio/Benedictine
Sam Seeker	6-1	190	OF/LHP	Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge
Spencer Stanton	6-3	200	1B/LHP	Massillon, Ohio/Jackson
Trey Wright	5-11	180	C	Massillon, Ohio/Jackson
Jason Young	6-1	175	RHP	Brandon, Mich./Brandon