PROVO, Utah - BYU baseball head coach Mike Littlewood announced the signing of 11 student-athletes to letters of intent on Wednesday.
"As a staff we feel this is the strongest overall recruiting class we have had since we have been at BYU," Littlewood said. "We have some special arms as well as some very athletic position players. I really believe every single one of these incoming players will battle for quality playing time, if not starting positions, their first year on campus next season.
"I really appreciate the hard work of our recruiting coordinator, Coach Brent Haring, for putting this class together," Littlewood added. "He and Coach Trent Pratt put in endless hours building relationships with these recruits and this class is a result of those efforts."
McKay Barney
OF / 6-1 / 160
Mesa, Ariz. / Mountain View HS
Ranked the No. 2 outfielder in Arizona by Perfect Game, Barney is one of the fastest players in the Class of 2019. Playing in the outfield, Barney helped Mountain View win the East Valley Region title and reach the semifinals of the Arizona 6A State Tournament last season.
Coach Littlewood: “McKay is a tremendous athlete that can really run. He is a plus defender at the centerfield position and profiles as a top-of-the-order hitter.”
Cutter Clawson
LHP / 6-2 / 190
Laguna Beach, Calif. / Laguna Beach HS
Clawson is ranked as the 74th-best recruit in the nation and the second-best left-handed pitcher in the state of California. The cousin of former Cougar Dave Clawson, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 Area Code Games.
Coach Littlewood: “Cutter is one of the best two-way guys on the West Coast. On the mound he’s a crafty left-hander with a low 90’s fastball, and he’s a plus defender at first base.”
Peyton Cole
INF / 6-2 / 170
Las Vegas, Nev. / Palo Verde HS
Cole, the brother of former Cougar and current Los Angeles Angels pitcher Taylor Cole, helped lead his team to the 2018 Nevada state championship. Perfect Game ranks him as the No. 3 shortstop in Nevada.
Coach Littlewood: “Peyton is another great two-way player who I believe can stay at the shortstop position in college and beyond.”
Tyson Heaton
RHP / 6-2 / 205
Yucaipa, Calif. / Yucaipa HS
Heaton is the reigning Inland Empire Player of the Year and played for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 Area Code Games. He's ranked the No. 18 right-handed pitcher in California and 327th player nationally by Perfect Game.
Coach Littlewood: “Tyson is a big right-handed power pitcher that we believe can come in and pitch right away.”
Hayden Leatham
OF / 6-0 / 195
Rexburg, Idaho / CSI
A transfer from College of Southern Idaho, Leatham was the Region 18 Player of the Year and was named an All-American, leading his team to a third-place finish in the JUCO World Series where he was placed on the All-Tournament team.
Coach Littlewood: “Hayden comes to us from the College of Southern Idaho and will bring a wealth of experience with him. He has a big-time bat that we expect to be a middle-of-the-order-type guy for us.”
Cy Nielson
LHP / 6-3 / 204
Spanish Fork, Utah / Spanish Fork HS
Nielson joins the Cougars ranked as the top player in Utah, the 13th-best left-handed pitcher in the country and the 143rd-best player overall nationally. A 2018 All-State selection, he played for the Cincinnati Reds in the 2018 Area Code Games and is coached at Spanish Fork by former Cougar Gub Nelson.
Coach Littlewood: “Cy is an incredibly talented left-handed pitcher from right down the road. Cy also has the potential to be another two-way player for us. He is a guy we expect to come in and earn quality innings for us his freshman year.”
Sean Rimmer
INF/OF / 6-3 / 210
Mesa, Ariz. / Mountain View HS
Rimmer is rated the 265th best player in the country and as the best first baseman and sixth-best player in Arizona. Playing multiple positions, Rimmer helped Mountain View win the East Valley Region title and reach the semifinals of the Arizona 6A State Tournament last season.
Coach Littlewood: “Sean has raw power and we expect him to be guy that can contribute his freshman year.”
Bryce Robison
RHP / 6-1 / 175
Las Vegas, Nev. / Palo Verde HS
Robison is the No. 7 right-handed pitcher and No. 12 player in the state of Nevada. He helped lead Palo Verde to last year's Nevada state title.
Coach Littlewood: “Bryce is another two-way guy who I feel will help us immediately on the mound. He has great mound presence and command of three different pitches.”
Carter Smith
RHP / 6-3 / 175
Lehi, Utah / Skyridge HS
Smith played for the Cincinnati Reds in the 2018 Area Code Games and is ranked the No. 2 player and No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Utah. He was named to the 2018 All-State First Team by Deseret News.
Coach Littlewood: “Carter has electric stuff and will help us immediately. He’s been well coached by former Cougar Ryan Roberts as well as his dad, Craig, who also played at BYU. I believe Carter has one of the more dynamic arms in the 2019 graduating class.”
Hunter Swapp
OF / 5-11 / 170
Sandy, Utah / Jordan HS
Swapp led Jordan High School to the 2018 Utah state championship. Named to the Deseret News All-State First Team, Swapp is ranked the No. 13 player and No. 5 outfielder in Utah.
Coach Littlewood: “Hunter is a great athlete who is extremely physical. He has the ability to be a legitimate five-tool player as he develops his skills. I expect Hunter to make an immediate impact with us next year.”
Brock Watkins
INF / 6-0 / 185
Pleasant Grove, Utah / Pleasant Grove HS
Ranked as the No. 3 player and No. 1 shortstop in Utah, Watkins was also an All-State selection by the Deseret News and All-Valley First Team by the Daily Herald.
Coach Littlewood: “Brock is a guy we have been recruiting since his freshman year at Pleasant Grove High School. He has big-time pop in his bat, is a plus defender at shortstop and can play all three infield positions.”