Nov. 26, 2013
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Head baseball coach Rich Hill of the University of San Diego baseball team has announced the signing of nine players to National Letters of Intent to play baseball for the Toreros beginning in the 2015 season. Signing their NLI's are Riley Adams (Encinitas, Calif., Canyon Crest HS), Bryson Brigman (San Jose, Calif., Valley Christian High School), Gary Cornish (Scottsdale, Ariz., Palomar College), John Grimsley (Tomball, Texas, Concordia Lutheran HS), twin brothers David Hill and Jacob Hill (Orange, Calif., Orange Coast College), Kevin Padlo (Murrieta, Calif., Murrieta Valley HS), Hunter Parkinson (Santa Cruz, Calif., Soquel HS), and Jonathan Teaney (Palmdale, Calif., Quartz Hill HS).
Adams, a 6-4 catcher from Encinitas, Calif., will join USD in the 2014 season after prepping at Canyon Crest High School. He is a two-time All-Palomar League selection, as he enters his final year in high school. As a junior, he hit .320 with a .446 on-base percentage, while slugging at a .485 clip. He recorded 30 hits, had 10 doubles, and drove in 20 runs as a junior. In his sophomore season, he hit .440 with 34 hits, eight doubles, four triples and had 14 RBI. He was also tabbed the Palomar League Player of the Year runner-up in his sophomore campaign. As a freshman, he hit .348 with 24 hits, six doubles, six triples, and 14 RBI. He was also recruited by Stanford, Vanderbilt, Utah, San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara and Washington, but chose to attend USD because the university is compatible with both his academic and athletic interests, as well as the beautiful campus, great baseball stadium, as well as the coaching staff and players on the team.
"Riley has emerged as one of the top high school prospects in Southern California," stated coach Hill. "He has tremendous tools, an can be an impact player for us right away. He is a great student, has great character, and a strong work ethic."
Brigman comes to USD after a standout career at San Jose's Valley Christian School, where he has been a three-year letter winner for the warriors, entering his final season with the school. As a junior, he hit .311 with 31 hits, three doubles, a triple, one home run and 11 RBI en route to an All-WCAL selection. As a sophomore, he hit .376 with 44 hits, six doubles, one triple and drove in seven runs, while helping lead his team to the California Central Coast Section title. As a freshman, he hit .309 with 30 hits, three doubles, one home run and had 20 RBI. Brigman has been ranked as high as the No. 2 high school prospect in both the Max Preps and Perfect Games class of 2014 rankings. Brigman was a key member of the 2012 Pony Colt Los Gatos world champion team, as he hit .520 during the World Series run that included victories against Mexico, Germany throughout the tournament and Puerto Rico in the championship game. Brigman is currently the only player to have won three World Championships while playing for the USA National teams, as a member of the 2011 USA 16U championship team, and back-to-back 18U championship teams in 2012 and 2013.
"Bryson has a been a high profile guy since his freshman year. Another in a long line of Toreros that have played for Team USA," stated coach Hill. "Bryson is a two-year veteran of the National team with tons of international experience. He is a great defensive player that brings athleticism and gamer mentality to the program. He will be an impact player who demonstrates great leadership qualities."
Cornish, a 6-3 right-handed pitcher from Scottsdale, Ariz., comes to USD by way of Palomar and Saint Mary's College. Cornish played his freshman season at WCC rival Saint Mary's in 2013. In his rookie campaign, he recorded a 2-6 overall record with a 6.71 ERA in 56.1 innings of work for the Gaels. He also managed to record 47 strikeouts, while issuing 27 walks in his freshman campaign. He will attend and play baseball for Palomar College this upcoming spring before transferring into USD. He was also recruited by Arizona, USC, San Diego State, Oklahoma and UC Riverside, but chose to attend USD because of the baseball program, and the location.
"Cornish is a exciting right-hander from Palomar College," said coach Hill. "He throws in the low 90's with a sharp curve. He will be the ace of the top-ranked Palomar staff. I see him as an immediate impact pitcher for USD."
Grimsley, a 5-8 outfielder, comes to USD by way of Concordia Lutheran High School. As a junior, he led the team in stolen bases, runs and home runs, en route to being named first-team All-District and second-team All-State. As a sophomore, he led the team in stolen bases and runs. He also lettered in football. He was also recruited by University of Texas at San Antonio, Houston, Rice, Northwestern State and UC Santa Barbara, but chose to attend USD because he believes the university provides the best opportunity for him to play baseball at one of the nation's top programs, as well as getting his educational goals taken care of. His father Jason Grimsley was a major League pitcher for 16 seasons, and played 20 total season of professional baseball.
"One word comes to mind when I think of John, speed," explained coach Hill. "He can really go and get it in centerfield. He is also a menace on base paths, and an on-base machine. We are excited to have a player of John's talent come to our program. It's great to get a prime-time guy out of the state of Texas. He is also the Godson of former Torero great and ex big Leaguer Jeff Grotewold."
David Hill, a 6-2 right-handed pitcher, played his freshman season, 2013, at Long Beach State and was their Sunday starter. Overall he went 4-2 with a 4.05 ERA, while striking out 31 batters, issuing 31 walks in 66.2 innings of work. He was drafted in the 17th round out of high school by Philadelphia. In high school, he was rated the No. 188th draft prospect out of high school by Baseball America.
"David is one of the better JC pitchers in the country," stated Rich Hill. "He was Long Beach State's Sunday starter as a freshman. He was drafted out of high school. David has a great arm with tremendous upside. He is a great student with work ethic that is unmatched."
Jacob Hill, a 6-2 left-handed pitcher, comes to USD after a standout career at Orange Coast College. In his freshman season at OCC, he made nine appearances, starting in four games, while posting a 2-2 overall record with a 3.38 ERA in 21 innings of work. He recorded 12 strikeouts, and issued 12 walks. He was also recruited by UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, and Houston Baptist University.
"Jacob is a lefty JC pitcher that is just coming into his own," stated coach Hill. "He is a late bloomer who is said by his pitching coach to be further along than CJ Wilson or David Huff at this point in their careers. He has a good breaking ball and life on fast ball."
Padlo, a 6-1 third baseman/right-handed pitcher, comes to USD after a standout career at Murrieta Valley High School, where he has earned two varsity letters. As a junior, he hit .378 with 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs and had 28 RBI. On the mound, he posted a 3-3 overall record with 27 strikeouts in 28.0 innings of work. He was an All-Inland Empire and All-Southwestern League selection. As a sophomore, he hit .305 with two doubles, four stolen bases and 14 RBI, while earning All-Southwest League honors. He has also earned three letters in basketball, while at Murrieta Valley High School.
"Kevin has big-time power that you don't see often at the high school level. We've been spoiled having Kris Bryant, but Kevin's moon shots in batting practice draw comparison," explained coach Hill. "Great athlete who will step in and compete immediately. He is an Area Code guy, an honors student, and was up to 92 mph as a closer this summer on mound."
Parkinson, a 6-2 right-handed pitcher from Santa Cruz, Calif., comes to the Toreros by way of Soquel High School. While playing for the Knights, he has taken home one second-team All-league selection in his junior year after posting a 6-1 record, with 52 strikeouts, and a 2.91 ERA in 50.1 innings of work. As a sophomore, he went 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA, while racking up 46 strikeouts in 35 innings of work. As a freshman, he went 3-2 with a 3.61 ERA, and he recorded 26 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. He was heavily recruited by Notre Dame, Fresno State, Boston College and South Carolina, but chose to attend USD because of the academic reputation, the amazing baseball program and the San Diego weather.
"Parkinson-is a lefty from Santa Cruz that has huge upside. He hit in the high 80's as a junior, while developing a breaking pitch that can be a plus pitch at times. He has great character and work ethic," said coach Hill.
Teany, 6-2 right-handed pitcher, makes his way to USD via Quartz Hill High School, where he is a standout on the baseball team. In his junior season, he posted an overall record of 11-3, while bolstering a 2.01 ERA. He struck out a total of 80 batters in 55.2 innings of work. On the offensive side of things, he hit .407 with 35 hits, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 22 RBI. He was a first-team All-Alley selection, a first-team All-Golden League, and an All-State nominee in his junior season. As a freshman, he hit .367 with 33 hits, nine doubles, two triples, one home run and 16 RBI en route to an All-Valley honorable mention, and a second-team Al-Golden League distinction.
"Jonathan is a high profile right-handed pitcher from Palmdale, Calif. He is an area code guy, who throws in the low 90's with excellent stuff," stated Rich Hill. "One of the top RHP's in the So Cal area, and on top of that he is a great student, who will make an immediate impact as a freshman."
