SEATTLE — Seattle U baseball head coach Donny Harrel and his staff signed five players to the National Letters of Intent for the 2021-22 academic year.
"We are excited with the group of young men we were able to sign," said Harrel. "Coach Greg Goetz and Coach Wes Long put in a lot of time during this very unique period with the pandemic and the inability to see a lot of recruits in person. With the extended careers of our current roster, we had to make sure we got this class nailed down since it is a smaller number compared to regular years. The professional baseball draft is always tricky and with the lack of rounds last year and again this year coming up, we need to make the right moves to continue to strengthen our organization. We may have to sign a guy or two in the spring if the draft hits us hard, but we feel good about where we currently stand."
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Davis Buckner — LHP | 6-1 | 200 |West Valley HS
Attends Snohomish HS in Snohomish, Wash. … tabbed as a West Region Honorable Mention by Rawlings/Perfect Game as a sophomore … in 2020, served as captain for HS team … earned all-conference honors as a pitcher (first team) and at first base (second team) … plans to major in business economics.
DH: I have gotten good reports from the professional scouts that have been following Davis. He's made a big jump and has created a great relationship with Coach Goetz. Another power arm from the left-side, so there is no doubt he projects to be a top-line arm for us in the future.
GG: Davis will turn some heads as he continues to develop. He has made some terrific strides over the past year with the ability to run his fastball into the 90's. He's got a different gear with runners on base which makes him very tough to beat. When all this is combined with his moxie, we think he has the stuff to work his way to the front end of games. We're excited with the high ceiling of this young man.
Colin Curry — OF | 6-1 | 175 | Redmond, Wash.
Attends Redmond HS in Redmond, Wash. … hit .310 during the first two seasons, appearing in 30 games ... as a sophomore, hit .333 with 16 RBI en route to earning Second Team All-KingCo honors … member of the 2018 16U National Team Identification Series Championship Team hosted by USA Baseball … plans to major in biology.
DH: Colin continues our streak of pure center fielders who can really run and shrink down the big alleys and gaps at Bannerwood Park. We have been very blessed having great defenders in that position and he will add to our overall speed in the lineup and save runs for us defensively. Colin projects as a one/two hitter or a table setter in the nine-hole. He has worked really hard at making his short game a weapon for himself on offense and will be able to give us a threat on the bases any time he gets on base.
WL: Colin has a slender athletic frame and comes with a considerable among of speed. He's consistently gotten better year after year and will continue to improve as he gets stronger. He has the potential to be a top of the linuep hitter and threat on the bases who can play all three outfield positions.
Blake Leaverton — RHP | 6-1 | 200 | Yakima, Wash.
Attends West Valley HS in Yakima, Wash. … named team Rookie of the Year in 2018 … won back-to-back junior American Legion state titles in 2016 and 2017 with West Valley Baseball Club … American Legion state runner-up in 2018 … played for Baseball NW in the 2020 World Wood Bat Association (WWBA) Championships hosted by Perfect Game … son to Jenna and Nic Leaverton … has one brother, Cody … plans to major in secondary education.
DH: Blake seems to have multiple pitches in his arsenal, so that gives us a strike thrower right away that we can rely on. Coaches Goetz and Long have followed his progression and we simply got to the point where we felt Blake was a "must get" type arm that can gobble up innings during any part of the game. I am excited to see him more in the future.
GG: Blake is an exciting one for us. He wants the ball every single day. The competitor in him and the strong brain combined with the jump in velocity he saw this year makes him an immediate candidate for back end innings that are so important. He'll also bring a work ethic that makes everyone better around him. We are excited to get him in a Redhawk uniform.
Jackson Lind — C | 5-10 | 170 | Kennewick, Wash
Attends Kennewick HS … four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Lions … helped his American League team, Kennewick Outlaws, win a state title in 2019 … son to Rachel and Garth Lind … has one brother, Leyton, and one, sister, Makenzie … his father, Garth, was on the track and field team at Central Washington … plans to major in biochemistry.
DH: Lind is a true Redhawk before he even steps on our campus. He has tremendous make-up and his morals and standards toward life is very unique for a young man his age. This guy wants to be great in everything! He will make us better from the first practice he is involved in and will become an incredible leader for our organization. Jackson gives us a consistent left-handed bat in our line-up that can go gap to gap to all fields."
WL: Jackson is one of the top all-around players in the Northwest area. He has a compact and strong frame with a top-end arm and explosive line drive swing. His mobility is excellent and he should develop into one of the top catchers in the WAC. He also has great leadership capabilities.
Jackson Reed —UTL | 6-1 | 215 | Boise, Idaho
Attends Capital HS in Boise, Idaho … two-sport athlete that also earned lettered in football … top-ranked HS position player in Idaho by Baseball Northwest and Prep Baseball Report … on the diamond, has appeared in 58 games … has a .386 career batting average and 42 RBI … hit .400 with 33 runs, 25 RBI and stole 27 bases as a sophomore en route to earning First Team All-State honors … plans to major in business.
DH: Reed is a physical presence and has the tools and make-up to reach professional baseball by the time his career ends at Seattle U. He is an absolute stud on the football field and he brings us a mentality of toughness right away. Jackson is a middle of the order type of hitter and gives us left-handed power that can help enhance our line-up immediately as a freshman.
WL: He's probably the top baseball and football player coming out of the state of Idaho this year. A very competitive and fiery player, Jackson has a muscular/physical frame with pro-tools across the board; similar player to Jay Bruce. He comes with a lot of upside including bat speed and speed on the base path and should be a threat in the lineup right away.