University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Baseball Adds Two To 2016 Class
11/22/2015 4:01:00 PM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team have signed two more players to a national letter of intent for the 2017 season, with the additions of Tyler Stover (Vacaville, Calif.) and Handsome Monica (Mandeville, La.), head coach Tony Robichaux announced on Sunday.
"We feel that these two, in addition to the guys that we have already signed, fill the needs that we will have going into next year," Robichaux said. "What you try to do is to fill the projected voids that you'll have either due to the draft and graduation. These two come in at a very good time for us. They do nothing but compliment the original class that we brought in.
"We were glad that we got to a point where we could get them in before early signing period ended, so that now we don't have to go back out. We know where we are, and now we just need to wait till the MLB Draft in June and see how things turn out. We are going to be losing some very good outfielders, and a good catcher. I think these two players fit exactly what our needs are for the future."
Stover and Monica join Josh Aguilar (Dallas, Texas), Caleb Armstrong (Monroe, La.), Oliver Campbell (Monroe, La.), Haden Erbe (Lafayette, La.), Eric Moll (Kingwood, Texas), Todd Lott (Jacksonville, Fla.), Colten Schmidt (Houston, Texas), Tremaine Spears (Alexandra, La.), and Josh Taylor (Breaux Bridge, La.) on the 11-man 2016 signing class.
Stover, a 6-4 outfielder, hit .291 with five doubles, a triple, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 33 games making 23 starts for Kansas State in 2014. Stover was selected by Colorado in the 40th round (1,189th overall) of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was a three-time letterwinner at Vacaville High School in Vacaville, Calif. under the direction of Abe Hobbs.
Stover was named the co-Player of the Year in the Monticello Empire League (MEL) in his senior year after hitting .370 with 30 hits, seven doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI. In 2013, Stover was also named to the All-Metro Team and All-MEL First Team. Stover helped his team win the MEL championship in his senior season. He also played for the Rockies and Red Sox Scout Teams in the MLB Scout All-Star Game in 2012 and 2013, and was a two-sport star lettering in basketball during his junior year.
Robichaux on Stover
"Tyler is a big physical corner outfielder with plus, plus raw power and arm strength. He is a solid runner who could provide middle of the order production in the line-up. He's a guy that comes to us with D1 experience. He has good bloodlines, as his dad (Scott), who is the head coach at Solano JC, was a prolific power hitter in college on the West Coast. He carries himself extremely well, loves to compete, and is tough minded. He should fit in very well here."
Monica, a 6-1 catcher, spent one season at the University of Arizona where he hit .300 in nine games as a backup catcher. He drove in one run and scored twice with a .462 on base percentage with the Wildcats. Monica prepped at St. Paul High School in Covington, La. where he earned 2014 Perfect Game Third Team All-America honors. He was the third rated prospect in Louisiana coming out of high school and the No. 17 ranked catcher nationally. Monica was name All-State his senior year with St. Paul's.
Robichaux on Monica
"Monica is another very physical player who also brings some D1 experience after spending a year in the Arizona program. He flashes tremendous power at the plate with an advanced understanding of a hitting approach. He's a rock solid receiver and blocker who possess strong leadership qualities that will only make a pitching staff that much better. He was a player that was highly recruited both out of HS and JC."
For updates and info on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow the team on twitter @CajunsBaseball or check RaginCajuns.com.
"We feel that these two, in addition to the guys that we have already signed, fill the needs that we will have going into next year," Robichaux said. "What you try to do is to fill the projected voids that you'll have either due to the draft and graduation. These two come in at a very good time for us. They do nothing but compliment the original class that we brought in.
"We were glad that we got to a point where we could get them in before early signing period ended, so that now we don't have to go back out. We know where we are, and now we just need to wait till the MLB Draft in June and see how things turn out. We are going to be losing some very good outfielders, and a good catcher. I think these two players fit exactly what our needs are for the future."
Stover and Monica join Josh Aguilar (Dallas, Texas), Caleb Armstrong (Monroe, La.), Oliver Campbell (Monroe, La.), Haden Erbe (Lafayette, La.), Eric Moll (Kingwood, Texas), Todd Lott (Jacksonville, Fla.), Colten Schmidt (Houston, Texas), Tremaine Spears (Alexandra, La.), and Josh Taylor (Breaux Bridge, La.) on the 11-man 2016 signing class.
Stover, a 6-4 outfielder, hit .291 with five doubles, a triple, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 33 games making 23 starts for Kansas State in 2014. Stover was selected by Colorado in the 40th round (1,189th overall) of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was a three-time letterwinner at Vacaville High School in Vacaville, Calif. under the direction of Abe Hobbs.
Stover was named the co-Player of the Year in the Monticello Empire League (MEL) in his senior year after hitting .370 with 30 hits, seven doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI. In 2013, Stover was also named to the All-Metro Team and All-MEL First Team. Stover helped his team win the MEL championship in his senior season. He also played for the Rockies and Red Sox Scout Teams in the MLB Scout All-Star Game in 2012 and 2013, and was a two-sport star lettering in basketball during his junior year.
Robichaux on Stover
"Tyler is a big physical corner outfielder with plus, plus raw power and arm strength. He is a solid runner who could provide middle of the order production in the line-up. He's a guy that comes to us with D1 experience. He has good bloodlines, as his dad (Scott), who is the head coach at Solano JC, was a prolific power hitter in college on the West Coast. He carries himself extremely well, loves to compete, and is tough minded. He should fit in very well here."
Monica, a 6-1 catcher, spent one season at the University of Arizona where he hit .300 in nine games as a backup catcher. He drove in one run and scored twice with a .462 on base percentage with the Wildcats. Monica prepped at St. Paul High School in Covington, La. where he earned 2014 Perfect Game Third Team All-America honors. He was the third rated prospect in Louisiana coming out of high school and the No. 17 ranked catcher nationally. Monica was name All-State his senior year with St. Paul's.
Robichaux on Monica
"Monica is another very physical player who also brings some D1 experience after spending a year in the Arizona program. He flashes tremendous power at the plate with an advanced understanding of a hitting approach. He's a rock solid receiver and blocker who possess strong leadership qualities that will only make a pitching staff that much better. He was a player that was highly recruited both out of HS and JC."
For updates and info on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow the team on twitter @CajunsBaseball or check RaginCajuns.com.
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