ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington baseball and head coach Darin Thomas have announced the 2020 recruiting class, consisting of 15 student-athletes that have signed their National Letters of Intent. The 15 new Mavericks consists of both high school and junior college players.
 
Cason Gregory | SS | 5-11 | 165 | Cleburne High School
Gregory is a Top 10 player to watch in 5A for the 2019 season after earning Honorable Mention All-State, District Defensive Player of the Year, Star Telegram DFW Area Defensive Player of the Year and Team MVP awards as a junior. He is rated in the Top 50 of this season's Texas shortstop recruits by both Perfect Game (#47) and PBR (#25).
 
Coach Thomas on Gregory…
"Outstanding athlete, plus defender and outstanding competitor. He has great baseball instincts. His best days are ahead of him."
 
Sam Crowell | C/1B | 6-1 | 200 | Rockwall Heath High School
Crowell was the MVP of the WWBA Perfect Game event in Atlanta.  As a junior, he garnered 11-6A All-District, SportsDay 2019 All-Area, Texas High School Baseball Coaches' Association 6A All-State and Texas Sports Writer's Association 6A All-State honors.  He hit .400 with 12 doubles and four home runs.  Perfect Game has him ranked as the #20 catcher in Texas.
 
Coach Thomas on Crowell…
"Sam is a big, strong catcher that can really hit the ball.  Offensively, he will come in with an advanced skill set."
 
Zach Henry | CF | 6-0 | 185 | Rockwall High School
During Henry's junior season, he was named All-State, First Team All-District, 2019 District Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Tournament Team in the Perfect Game Super 25 National Championship.
 
Coach Thomas on Henry…
"Zach is an outstanding two-sport athlete that hits from the left side.  He is very physical and has an advanced skill-set offensively."
 
Zach Peters | RHP | 6-5 | 205 | Joshua High School
Peters was named Second Team All-District and County, while garnering All-State Honorable Mention honors. He is ranked as the #76 right-handed pitcher in Texas by Perfect Game and the #66 right-handed pitcher in Texas by PBR.
 
Coach Wente on Peters…
"Peters is a strong young mand with tremendous upside. He will have the ability to pitch for the Mavericks early in this career."

Cade Citelli | RHP | 6-3 | 195 | Prosper High School
Citelli was is a four-year varsity starter.  He was named an All-District catcher at Frisco High School.  Perfect Game has his ranked as the 60^th overall Texas player and the #32 right-handed pitcher.
 
Coach Thomas on Citelli…
"Cade has tremendous upside on the mound after making the transition from catcher to full-time pitcher.  We are very excited to get him in our program and get to work with him."
 
Jack Hagan | RHP | 6-3 | 185 | McKinney Boyd High School
Hagan is a two-time First Team All-District selection.  He pitched in the state semifinals and was the MVP pitcher for the AABC Connie Mack Tournament.
 
Coach Wente on Hagan…
"Jack can really pitch.  He is very competitive and throws four pitches for strikes.  He is a great two-way athlete who played football as well"
 
Jackson Blue | RHP | 6-5 | 175 | The Woodlands Christian Academy
Blue is a highly rated pitcher, ranking as the 34^th overall recruit and 13^th best pitcher in the state of Texas according to Perfect Game.  PBR also has him in the Top 100, ranking him as the 85^th overall and 35 best pitcher in the state.
 
Coach Wente on Blue…
"Jackson's another RHP with great upside. He has a live fastball and a quality breaking ball. He reminds me a lot of former UTA great closer and current Kansas City Royal DJ James."
 
Will Thomas | LHP/OF | 5-11 | 160 | The Woodlands High School
Thomas is an Underclass Under Armour All-American and has been named to the Perfect Game All-Tournament team three-times.  He played in the Premier Baseball Futures Baseball last summer.
 
Coach Wente on Thomas…
"A very athletic two-way guy who has a chance to do both at this level. He's a great outfielder and very competitive on the mound."
 
JD Wadleigh | OF/LHP | 6-1 | 185 | South Mountain Community College
Wadleigh is ranked as the 80^th overall recruit and 13^th best outfield in the state of Arizona according to Perfect Game.  He was an All-Region and All-Conference Selection while at SMCC.  In high school, he was a USA Today All-American and two-time First Team All-State selection (Colorado, Arizona).
 
Coach Wente on Wadleigh…
"JD's an ultra-competitive two-way player who can really play the outfield and has a plus arm. JD has a love for the game that is infectious and will have advanced offensive skills that play well."

Brayden Brooks | RHP | 6-1 | 205 | South Mountain Community College
Perfect Game has Brooks rated as the 38^th overall and 18^th best right-handed pitcher in Colorado.  In 2019, he finished with a 3.98 ERA with 33 strikeouts and just six balls over 40.2 innings pitched at SMCC.
 
Coach Wente on Brooks…
"Brayden is a quality arm that has a good 4 pitch mix that can truly command the zone with all four pitches. He can control the game & will work hard both on/off the field. Excited to get Brayden in the program."
 
Jarod Seals | LHP | 6-0 | 180 | North Central Texas College
Seals won the 2018 Texas State Championship while playing at Eaton High School, while playing with current Maverick Cade Winquest.
 
Coach Wente on Seals…
"Jarod is a very quality LHP who can throw a quality breaking pitch from the left side with command."
 
Steven Saunders | 1B/OF | 6-2 | 210 | Cochise College
Saunders played in 56 games at Cochise a season ago, finishing with a .333 batting average, seven home runs and 43 runs batted in.
 
Coach Wente on Saunders…
"Steven has hit in the middle of the order for a quality junior college and should have the same opportunity here. He's a great young man who should be a leader both on and off the field for us."
 
Zach Norris | RHP | 6-1 | 210 | Paris Junior College
Norris was named First Team All-Conference at PJC and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa.  He finished the season with a 2.57 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 70 innings pitched.
 
Coach Wente on Norris…
"Really excited to add Zach to the family. There were many schools recruiting him because he is a quality arm and a hard worker. We are lucky to be adding him to the Mavericks."
 
Tad Thompson | OF | 5-11 | 190 | Weatherford College
Thompson redshirted in 2019, so he will be a redshirt sophomore at UTA for the 2020-21 campaign.
 
Coach Wente on Thompson…
"Tad will come in with an advanced swing from the left side with the ability to hit for average and power."
 
Matt Novis | OF/RHP | 5-0 | 175 | Yavapai College
Novis was Named First Team All-Region and All-ACCAC during his freshman campaign at Yavapai, while also showing up in the classroom, earning NJCAA Academic Third Team. He played 55 games, batting .307 with 12 doubles, 26 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases.  As a pitcher, he finished with a 7-4 record with a 1.67 ERA. He struck out 52 batters in 59.1 innings pitched.
 
Coach Wente on Novis…
"Matt is a quality two-way guy that is from a great JUCO program. He is a good contact hitter and an ultra-strike thrower on the mound. Matt will make an immediate impact in our program"
 
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SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are available for baseball for $75, while softball is $25.  All seating is general admission. Individual tickets for both baseball and softball will $6, except for the March 24 baseball contest against TCU, which will be $10. Children aged two and under, as well as UTA students with an ID, get in to all games for free.