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Meet the Pokes' Newcomers for the 2016 Baseball Season

The Pokes welcome 13 newcomers to an already talented group that should compete for both a Big 12 championship and a berth in the College World Series. To introduce you to the new faces, here is the full list of the Cowboy newcomers for 2016:

#1 Alex Shaver

Position: Outfielder

Height: 5-11

Weight: 189

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas

High School: George Ranch HS

High School Honors: 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Honorable Mention Texas All-Region, 2015 District 24-5A Offensive Player of the Year, 2015 first-team all-district, 2014 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American, 2013 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American

Why He Chose OSU: Because it was his best opportunity to grow as a player and win championships.


#2 J.R. Davis

Position: Infielder

Weight: 187

Class: Jr.

Hometown: Vallejo, California

Previous School: Contra Costa CC

High School: St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS

High School Honors: 2011 and 2012 Bay Shore Athletic League MVP

Why He Chose OSU: Because it’s a family-oriented program.


#7 Garrett Benge

Position: Infielder

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200

Class: So.

Hometown: Yukon, Oklahoma

Previous School: Cowley County CC

High School: Yukon HS

Junior College Honors: 2015 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year, Selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 22nd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft

High School Honors: All-State performer at Yukon High School, 2014 Perfect Game All-West Region Honorable Mention, 2013 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American


#14 Ben Leeper

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 5-11

Weight: 193

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Southlake, Texas

High School: Southlake Carroll HS

High School Honors: 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region Second Team, 2014 Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American Third Team, Named to the 2014 TSWA All-State Baseball Team and was District Pitcher of the Year


#16 Collin Theroux

Position: Catcher

Height: 6-1

Weight: 223

Class: Jr.

Hometown: San Mateo, California

Previous School: San Joaquin Delta CC

High School: Junipero Serra HS

Junior College Honors: 33rd-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft

High School Honors: First-team All-West Catholic Athletic League, First-team CIF-Central Coast Section, All-Daily News prep first-team, San Jose Mercury News first-team, Perfect Game California Region Honorable Mention

Why He Chose OSU: Because of the tradition, awesome coaches and the family feeling this team brings.


#17 Baylor Rowlett

Position: Catcher

Height: 6-0

Weight: 198

Class: Fr.

Hometown: College Station, Texas

High School: College Station HS

High School Honors: 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region Honorable Mention, Named a 2015 THSBCA Class 5A-6A First-Team All-State performer, 2014 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American, 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American

Why He Chose OSU: Because it’s where he felt most comfortable and it felt like home.


#18 Colin Simpson

Position: Catcher

Height: 5-9

Weight: 227

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma

High School: Memorial HS

High School Honors: 2015 OCA All-State performer

Why He Chose OSU: Because the coaching staff is the best in the nation and his teammates are super friendly.


#23 Bryce Verplank

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6-4

Weight: 223

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas

High School: Marcus HS

High School Honors: 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team


#26 Luke Matheny

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6-2

Weight: 199

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Chesterfield, Missouri

High School: Westminster Christian HS

High School Honors: 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Central Region Second Team, 2014 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American,

#34 Jensen Elliott

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6-6

Weight: 206

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Coppell, Texas

High School: Coppell HS

High School Honors: 2015 Louisville Slugger High School All-America Second Team, 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team, 2014 Perfect Game Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American and District 7-6A Pitcher of the Year


#38 Nick Gallo

Position: Infielder

Height: 5-10

Weight: 181

Class: Jr.

Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida

Previous School: Palm Beach State CC

High School: Palm Beach Gardens HS

Junior College Honors: First-team all-conference performer as a sophomore at Palm Beach State College


#42 Jake Cowan

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6-1

Weight: 201

Class: So.

Hometown: Mangum, Oklahoma

Previous School: Cowley County CC

High School: Mangum HS

High School Honors: Three-time all-conference performer and 2014 All-State selection, 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American,  2014 OCA All-State honors

Why He Chose OSU: Because it’s a blue-collar program with an attitude to work hard and be successful.


#46 Joe Lienhard

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6-4

Weight: 239

Class: Fr.

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

High School: Kapaun Mt. Carmel HS

High School Honors: Named to The Wichita Eagle 2015 All-Metro team, All-state performer as a junior and senior

Why He Chose OSU: Because his father played here and it’s a great baseball program.