COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies added four players to the roster for the 2016 campaign, head coach Rob Childress announced on Monday.
Since their initial fall signing class, the Aggies have inked three high school pitchers and a junior college catcher to join the squad next season.
The Maroon and White added right-handed pitchers Hunter Spaeth (Lubbock) and Mitchell Kilkenny (Houston) from the Lone Star State and left-handed pitcher Dakota Klein (Suamico, Wisconsin), in addition to catcher Dayne Sommer (Fort Worth), who excelled as a freshman at North Texas Community College.
“I like the addition of these four young men,” Childress said. “Not only are they going to make an impact on the field, but they are going to make an impact in the community and the classroom. In addition to being very talented young men, they have great character as well.”
The four will join eight players who signed NLIs in November as newcomers on the roster. In 2016, the Aggies will look to extend their school-record string of NCAA Tournament appearances to 10 seasons after their 50-14 campaign in 2015.
2014-15 Texas A&M University Baseball signing class (as of June 22, 2015)
Alan Campero – INF – Laredo, Texas (Laredo Alexander HS) – 5-10, 165
Joel Davis – INF – Midwest City, Oklahoma (Midwest City HS/Seminole State College) – 6-3, 200
Tyler Ivey – RHP – Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Heath HS) – 6-4, 200
George Janca – INF – Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown, HS) – 6-2, 175
Trey Jimmerson – OF – Tomball, Texas (Concordia Lutheran HS) – 5-10, 175
Mitchell Kilkenny – RHP – Houston, Texas (Houston Christian HS) – 6-4, 195
Dakota Klein – LHP – Saumico, Wisconsin (Bay Port HS) – 6-4, 180
Stephen Kolek – RHP – Shepherd, Texas (Shepherd HS) – 6-3, 215
Tristan Metten – INF – Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Academy) – 6-1, 185
Dayne Sommer – C – Fort Worth, Texas (Boswell HS/North Texas Community College – 6-1, 210
Hunter Spaeth – RHP – Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS) – 6-5, 210
Coll Stanley – OF – Houston, Texas (Strake Jesuit HS) – 6-3, 185
Mitchell Kilkenny – RHP, 6-4, 195 – Houston, Texas (Houston Christian High School)
· Named Perfect Game USA Preseason All-Central Region in 2015
· Tabbed H5AB.com’s Houston 5A Pitcher of the Year in 2014
· Earned H5AB.com All-Greater Houston 5A First Team status each of his last three seasons
· Garnered H5AB.com Preseason All-Greater Houston 5A First Team recognition in 2014 and 2015
· Named Perfect Game USA Underclassman Preseason All-America Honorable Mention in 2014
· A three-time All-Southwest Preparatory Conference selection
Assistant Coach Justin Seely on Mitchell Kilkenny: “Mitchell is one of the better pitchers in the Houston area and has been for the last two years. He can command all three pitches. He’s a guy that could see the mound for us very early.”
Dakota Klein – LHP, 6-4, 180 – Suamico, Wisconsin (Bay Port High School)
· Named Perfect Game USA Preseason All-Central Region in 2015
· Led squad to a WIAA Division I state tournament for the fifth time in six seasons in 2015
· Notched a 3-1 record with a 3.32 ERA on the mound and batted .346 (9-for-26) with six RBI in 18 games at the plate as a senior
· Selected Fox River Classic Conference Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 2014
· Chosen to play for Team Wisconsin at the 2014 Midwest Classic in Plainfield, Illinois
· As a junior went 6-0 in league play with a 0.87 ERA, striking out 57 in 40.2 innings, leading Bay Port to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament and the Fox River Classic Conference title
Assistant Coach Justin Seely on Dakota Klein: “Dakota is a left-handed kid, long lanky guy from Wisconsin. He needs some strength as well but he’s going to throw strikes and command three pitches. We are excited about him.”
Dayne Sommer – C, 6-1, 210 – Fort Worth, Texas (Boswell High School/North Texas Community College)
· Spending this summer playing for the Kitsap BlueJackets of the West Coast League
· Played for his freshman season at North Texas Community College where former A&M volunteer assistant Austin Knight is an assistant coach
· Appeared in 38 games for NTCC, batting .320 with a .404 on-base percentage, 25 runs, 41 hits, five doubles, two home runs and 20 RBI
· Four-year letterwinner at Boswell High School in Fort Worth
· Played for the North Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game as a senior in 2014
· Garnered All-State honors from the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (Third Team Class 4A) and the Texas Sports Writers Association (Class 4A Honorable Mention) in 2014
· Named District 6-4A Most Valuable Player and All-District 6-4A First Team as a senior
· Hit .353 as a junior, logging two doubles, four triples, one home run and 29 RBI in 30 games
· Picked up All-District 6-4A First Team honors as a catcher during his junior campaign in 2013
· Batted .231 with five doubles, two triples and 14 RBI in 29 games as a sophomore
· Was also a standout in football at Boswell
· Logged 99 tackles, including 72 of the solo variety as a senior in 2013 to earn All-District 6-4A First Team recognition as an inside linebacker
· Tallied two interceptions as a junior in 2012
· Earned All-District 5-4A Second Team recognition as a safety during his sophomore campaign in 2011
· Son of TCU Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Don Sommer
Assistant Coach Justin Seely on Dayne Sommer: “Dayne is a physical catcher. He’s a guy that can really receive, catch and throw. He’s going to be a very good defender. At some point in his career he’s is going to be a really good hitter. We are very fortunate to have him”
Hunter Spaeth – RHP, 6-5, 210 – Lubbock, Texas (Monterey High School)
· Selected to play in the Greater West Texas Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game as a senior
· Named All-District 2-6A First Team as a first baseman and All-District 2-6 Second Team as a pitcher and outfielder as a senior in 2015
· Tabbed a Perfect Game USA Preseason All-America Honorable Mention in 2015
· Earned All-District 2-5A Second Team recognition as a junior in 2014
· Batted .262 and posted a 6-1 record on the mound as a junior
· Selected All-South Plains Third Team as a pitcher in 2014
· Also played quarterback, punter and receiver at Monterey
· Named an All-District 2-6A First Team punter as a senior in 2014
· Garnered All-State Football Academic Honorable Mention from the Texas High School Coaches Association as a senior in 2014
Assistant Coach Justin Seely on Hunter Spaeth: “Hunter is a big projectable right-hander. He’s going to fill up the zone with strikes. He needs development and strength, but he’s a guy that we think at some point is going to fit right into the mold of the guys we’ve been able to develop here before.”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics