Seven of the 10 BYU baseball recruits are pitchers from the recent November signing period, including Utahns Austin Deming and transfer Jarod Lessar.
“Over the past few seasons we have been able to sign very athletic guys and this year is no different,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “In the 2018 signing class we have a good mix of pitchers and position players who have been successful at the high school level, and more importantly they all have the drive to get better.”
Deming was a first team all-state pitcher and hitter from Snow Canyon High School in Santa Clara. Lessar pitches for Utah State Eastern College in Price and played football for Southern Utah University.
Another Utah signee is Zack Peterson, from Bluffdale. He was honorable mention all-state as an infielder at Riverton High School.
Joining Peterson as the other two non-pitching recruits are Ryan Sepede, an outfielder, from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and Carson Matthews, an All-CIF and two-time all-league infielder from San Clemente, California.
The five other pitchers joining Deming and Lessar are right-handers Cooper Foss (San Diego), Kyle Hall (Henderson, Nevada), Reid McLaughlin (Scottsdale, Arizona) and Jack Sterner (Laguna Niguel, California); and lefthander Boston Mabeus (Henderson, Nevada).
Austin Deming, Infielder, RHP, 6-0, 180, Snow Canyon HS, Santa Clara, UT
Cooper Foss, RHP, 6-7, 215, Scripps Ranch HS, San Diego, CA
Kyle Hall, RHP, 6-1, 185, Coronado HS, Henderson, NV
Jarod Lessar, RHP, 6-4, 225, Utah St. Eastern/Carbon HS, Price, UT
Boston Mabeus, LHP, 6-2, 213, Coronado HS, Henderson, NV
Carson Matthews, IF, 5-10, 175, Capistrano Valley Christian HS, San Clemente, CA
Reid McLaughlin, RHP, Utility, 5-11, 165, Desert Mtn. HS, Scottsdale, AZ
Zack Peterson, Infield, 6-0, 150, Riverton HS, Bluffdale, UT
Ryan Sepede,OF, 6-0, 205, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
Jack Sterner, RHP, 6-5, 225, Dana Hills HS, Laguna Niguel, CA
Austin Deming, Infielder, RHP, 6-0, 180, Snow Canyon HS, Santa Clara, UT
He was first team all-state and a Max Prep MVP. In 2017 he had a .535 batting average , 45 RBI, nine HR, 14 doubles and a 2-1 record with a 4.90 ERA . He lettered twice in golf. His father played baseball for Southern Utah University. He was recruited by Santa Clara, San Diego State and Duke.
Littlewood on Deming: "Austin is a two-way player with tremendous upside both ways. His fastball will sit around 90 and he has a bulldog mentality on the mound. Offensively, he has the ability to hit with power as well as average."
Cooper Foss, RHP, 6-7, 215, Scripps Ranch HS, San Diego, CA
Captained Scripps Ranch High School varsity baseball team (San Diego). He was on the Tampa Bay Rays SoCal Scout Team in 2015 and 2016, then was on the Oakland A’s SoCal Scout Team in 2017. His father pitched at Santa Ana College and his grandfather played outfield in the Cleveland Indians organization.
Littlewood on Foss: "Cooper is a big right-handed pitcher with big upside. If Cooper continues to work hard during his senior season and throughout the summer he will have a chance to make a big impact his freshman season."
Kyle Hall, RHP, 6-1, 185, Coronado HS, Henderson, NV
He was honorable mention all-state and Second Team All-Southern Nevada. Recruited by Mississippi State, San Diego State, Arizona and UC Santa Barbara.
Littlewood on Hall: "Kyle is a right-handed pitcher that really knows how to pitch. He has thrown in many big games and has great composure on the mound. We expect Kyle to come in and contribute right away."
Jarod Lessar, RHP, 6-4, 225, Utah St. Eastern/Carbon HS, Price, UT
He played football at Southern Utah University as a defensive end in the spring of 2016 before transferring to Utah State Eastern JC. Posted a 20-13 prep pitching record, including an 8-3 record at Carbon High School in 2015 where he also played football and basketball. Pitched for the Utah state championship American Legion baseball teams in 2013 and 2014 and played in the 3A all-star game. He was a team captain for baseball and all-region in football at Carbon High. Recruited by Southern Utah in football and Utah and Colorado-Mesa in baseball.
Littlewood on Lessar: "Jarod is a great athlete evidenced by his playing football at SUU. He has made significant strides on the mound over the last year and will continue to do so. He will bring valuable college experience. We are excited to get him here, the sky is the limit for his potential."
Boston Mabeus, LHP, 6-2, 213, Coronado HS, Henderson, NV
In 2017 he played for the Area Code Reds and in the Perfect Game National Showcase. In 2016 he played for the underclass Area Code Brewers and in the Area Code All-American game. In 2016 he was an honorable mention Perfect Game All-American. His father, Chris, was a right-handed pitcher in the Major League for the A's, Rangers and Brewers and was a two-time All-American at Lewis Clark State. BYU associate head coach Trent Pratt was the catcher for Chris Mabeus in the Alaska League. Mabeus' grandfather played baseball for Yavapai College and Lewis Clark State.
Littlewood on Mabeus: "Boston is a left-handed pitcher with big time potential. One of the best lefty's on the West Coast, he throws 88-90 with a very good breaking ball. Boston will go directly out on his mission but we are looking forward to getting him on campus."
Carson Matthews, Infield, 5-10, 175, Capistrano Valley Christian HS, San Clemente, CA
He was two-time First Team All-San Joaquin League, First Team All-CIF (Division 4) and a team captain. As a junior he had a .422 batting average, with five home runs, 21 RBI and 17 stolen bases. His uncle, Mitch Hoopes, was an All-American punter at the University of Arizona and played in the NFL. He was recruited by Columbia, Stanford, California, Southern California, Virginia and Nebraska.
Littlewood on Matthews: "Carson is a middle infielder from Southern California. He is a smaller guy that plays much bigger than he is. I think he will remind Cougar fans of Dustin Pedroia. Carson will hit with some power and can really run and defend."
Reid McLaughlin, RHP, Utility, 5-11, 165, Desert Mountain HS, Scottsdale, AZ
Batted 361 with 18 RBI and 11 doubles in 2017 and batted .400 with 13 RBI, nine doubles and three triples in 2016. Had a 3-2 pitching record in 44 innings with 34 strikeouts in 2017 and a 5-1 record in 31.2 innings with 15 strikeouts in 2016. Second Team 6A Desert Valley Region 2017 Honorable Mention, 6A Desert Valley Region 2016 , two-time All-City Scottsdale , AZ Junior Sunbelt Team – 2017, Desert Mountain Pitcher of the Year – 2016, and Desert Mountain Hitter of the Year – 2017. Played for Arizona in the Sunbelt Games and the Warriors Baseball Academy where he was coached by former Major Leaguer Damion Easley. Brother, Drew, played baseball at Dixie State. Recruited by Utah, Utah Valley and Grand Canyon.
Littlewood on McLaughlin: "Reid is another two-way guy that we are excited about. He can play both on the infield and in the out field. Reid has great mound presence, commands 3 pitches and should contribute quickly.
Zack Peterson, Infield, 6-0, 150, Riverton HS, Bluffdale, UT
Honorable mention all-state, all-region, Mountain West MVP for his summer league , Riverton High School Player of the Year in 2017 and team captain for 2018. In 2017 he batted .372 with six doubles, two triples and 13 RBI and was a Perfect Game Preseason underclassmen All-American honorable mention, made all-tournament teams in the 2017 17u Perfect Game World Series and the PG fall national championship. Brother, Trevor, played baseball at Salt Lake Community College and currently plays at Utah Valley University. Recruited by Arizona State, Arizona, Utah, Dixie State and Colorado-Mesa.
Littlewood on Peterson: "Zack is a tremendous athlete from right up the road at Riverton High School where he plays shortstop. He can really hit, it seems like he always hits the ball on the barrel. Currently Zack profiles as a college second baseman, but I see him moving to the left side of the infield eventually.”
Ryan Sepede,OF, 6-0, 205, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
In 2017 he batted .333, with 30 RBI, seven doubles, three triples and six home runs. He was academic all-state and a team captain. His father, Garren, played soccer for UNLV and his brother, Cameron, played at Salt Lake Community College and currently plays baseball for UNLV.
Littlewood on Sepede: "Ryan comes to us from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, one of the richest baseball traditions in the country. He is an outfielder that we project as a middle of the order bat right away."
Jack Sterner, RHP, 6-5, 225, Dana Hills HS, Laguna Niguel, CA
Had five wins and a 2.33 earned run average in 54 innings with 58 strikeouts. He was First Team All-Sea View League as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore. He pitched in the National High School Invitational. Brother Justin is a RHP freshman on BYU's current team, who recently returned from a mission to Samoa. Uncle, Garrett Tujague, was an assistant coach and offensive lineman at BYU and is now an assistant coach at the University of Virginia.
Littlewood on Sterner: "Jack is another big right-handed pitcher who we are really excited about. He already has a great idea on the mound and will be really good here at BYU.”