Sport

BYU baseball announces nine signees for 2027

The 2027 baseball class includes eight high school prospects and a junior college transfer.

Author Carter Bentley
BYU baseball announces nine signees for 2027BYU baseball announces nine signees for 2027

PROVO, Utah — BYU head coach Trent Pratt today announced the 2027 baseball signing class that includes eight high school prospects and a junior college transfer. 

“There was a lot of great pitching talent in Utah this year,” Pratt said. “We wanted to sign the best players in the state and keep them home. According to the Prep Baseball Utah rankings, we got five of the top eight so we are very excited about that.”

In addition, the Cougars landed highly rated talent from Arizona and Colorado. 

High school signees include catcher/RHP Deegan Cross (Lake Havasu City, Arizona), RHP Chase Ford (Orem, Utah), Blake Gonzales, infielder/RHP (Casa Grand, Arizona), RHP Ryder Huntsman (Pleasant Grove, Utah), RHP Kayden Lambson (Spanish Fork, Utah), RHP Pratt Morley (Spanish Fork, Utah), RHP Colten Smith (Parker, Colorado) and outfielder Nixon Warren (Spanish Fork, Utah). 

BYU also signed junior college NJCAA All-Region catcher AJ Thomas (Mapleton, Utah) from Salt Lake Community College.

“In addition to pitching we wanted to improve our catching depth, which we did by signing AJ and Deegan,” Pratt said. “With the new NCAA 34-man roster limit we were also looking for versatile players, and we feel like we accomplished all these objectives with this recruiting class. Several guys in the class should be ready to contribute early in their career.”

BYU’s nine newcomers signed with the Cougars over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Missouri, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, TCU, USC, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington State and West Virginia. 

Listed below is a brief bio on each member of the 2027 signing class with comments from Coach Pratt.

DEEGAN CROSS

DEEGAN CROSS

Catcher/RHP | Lake Havasu City, Arizona | Lake Havasu HS

Three-year varsity starter

2026: First-team 5A Arizona All-Region, second-team 5A Arizona All-Conference

2025: Second-team 5A Arizona All-Region, PG WWBA World champion

2024: First-team 5A Arizona All-Region, region champion

“Deegan is a big, physical two-way athlete who can play catcher, the infield corners and has a big upside on the mound. He throws 92-93 mph on the mound and has a power bat with a strong arm.”

CHASE FORD

CHASE FORD

RHP | Orem, Utah | Orem HS

Three-year varsity starter

2026: All-State first team by the Deseret News, All-State second team by Prep Baseball, Region 8 first team, All-Valley first team by the Daily Herald, Perfect Game No. 3-ranked right-handed pitcher in Utah (No. 6 overall), Prep Baseball No. 4-ranked right-handed pitcher in Utah (No. 8 overall)

2025: Region 7 first team, All-Valley second team by the Daily Herald

“Chase really came on as a junior and has a high ceiling. His fastball is 93-94 mph and he is very athletic. He will likely be an LDS mission-first player.”

BLAKE GONZALEZ

BLAKE GONZALEZ

Infield/RHP | Casa Grand, Arizona | Casteel HS

Three-year 6A varsity starter

2026: Perfect Game Fall Nation MVP, High School Nation Championship Team Arizona, Easton Home Run Derby champion

2025: Perfect Game first-team All-American hitter, 6A Premier Region first team, 6A Chandler Unified first team

2024: ADP USA, Perfect Game first-team All-American hitter

“Blake is a big, physical right-handed hitter who can really swing it. He is the No. 2 ranked third baseman in Arizona and will likely play third or first base at BYU. Blake has a chance to be very good on the mound as well. He is throwing 92-93 mph right now and we like his physicality.”  

 

RYDER HUNTSMAN

RYDER HUNTSMAN

RHP | Pleasant Grove, Utah | Pleasant Grove HS

Three-year varsity starter

2026: First-team All-Region 7, second-team All-State (Deseret News), Region 7 champion, Area Code Baseball Upperclass Games participant

“Ryder Huntsman is a super athletic RHP that has been up to 94 mph with his fastball, with the chance to have multiple high-level off-speed pitches. He is a very good athlete staring at football and baseball in high school. Ryder was selected to the area code team last summer and we expect big things from him at BYU.”  

 

KAYDEN LAMBSON

KAYDEN LAMBSON

RHP | Spanish Fork, Utah | Spanish Fork HS 

Three-year varsity letterman

2026: State champion, All-State (Prep Baseball), Region 7 Defensive MVP, second-team All-Valley, first-team All-Region

2025: State champion, second-team All-Region, All-Valley

“Kayden is a big-time RHP that helped lead Spanish High School to back-to-back state titles. He has an athletic arm that can really spin a breaking ball. Kayden is rated the No. 1 pitcher In Utah and is just scratching the surface of his potential. We expect big things from him early in his BYU career.”

 

PRATT MORLEY

PRATT MORLEY

RHP | Spanish Fork, Utah | Spanish Fork HS 

Three-year varsity starter

2026: State champion, first-team All-Valley, first-team 5A All-State, first-team All-Region, candidate for Gatorade Player of the Year

2025: State champion, first-team All-Region, second-team All-Valley

2024: All-Region honorable mention

“Pratt is a physical right-handed pitcher with huge arm talent. He has also developed a slider that has turned into a very good pitch. Pratt was a huge part of the back-to-back state titles for Spanish Fork High School. He is the No. 2 ranked pitcher in Utah, and we expect him to have a huge impact on our program.”

 

COLTEN SMITH

COLTEN SMITH

RHP | Parker, Colorado | Legend HS 

Three-year varsity starter

2026: 5A Regional Champions, 5A Final Four, All-State first team by The Denver Post, Continental League honorable mention

2025: Pitcher of the Year, Legend High School

"Colton is a big physical pitcher who is the No. 8 ranked player in Colorado. He throws 93-94 and has great control. Colton is a very athletic athlete who played in the Futures Game and has a big upside with a high ceiling." 

AJ THOMAS

AJ THOMAS

Catcher/Utility | Mapleton, Utah | SLCC 

2026: NJCAA Region 18 first team at SLCC

2025: First-team 5A All-State, 5A Region 7 MVP

2024: First-team 5A All-State, State Championship MVP

"AJ had a great freshman season last year at SLCC. He is a very good baseball player. We like his versatility — he’s a catcher who can play infield, outfield and is a switch hitter. AJ had great numbers at SLCC and is a tough out."

NIXON WARREN

NIXON WARREN

Spanish Fork, UT | Spanish Fork HS | OF 

Three-year varsity starter

2026: First-team All-Valley, first-team All-Region, first-team All-State, Deseret News Player of the Year, 5A state champion

2025: 15U Team USA alum, first-team All-Valley, first-team All-Region, first-team All-State, 5A Defensive MVP, 5A state champion, Prep Baseball Future Games alum

2024: First-team All-Valley, first-team All-Region, first-team All-State

"Nixon is a natural centerfielder who is very athletic and is the No 6 ranked player in Utah. He also plays football and is one of the best overall athletes in the state. He knows how to win and is very competitive."