Josh Holliday
Cowboy Baseball Inks Eight Prep Stars
July 29, 2015 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER, Okla. — Eight high school standouts will join the Oklahoma State baseball program in the fall of 2015 as members of the Cowboys' incoming recruiting class, it was announced by head coach Josh Holliday.
The class includes five prep stars from Texas, along with one each from Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Four pitchers are among the group, as well as a pair of catchers and two outfielders.
"This is a high school class that we think really brings good balance — in addition to being really good players, there are some bright, bright students and some guys that over the course of their time at Oklahoma State will be very good players as well as outstanding performers in the classroom," Holliday said. "It's a group that helps address some needs and provides us continued high-end players to develop throughout the course of their careers."
Jensen Elliott, RHP, 6-6/186 – Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger High School All-America Second Team … 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team … 2014 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … went 9-3 with a 0.88 ERA and 103 strikeouts as a senior at Coppell High School … named the District 7-6A Pitcher of the Year … recorded a 7-5 record and 1.75 ERA as a junior.
Holliday on Elliott: "Jensen was one of the more advanced high school pitchers in the state of Texas. He had an outstanding senior year where he was first-team all-state, which is certainly no small accomplishment in the state of Texas. He has high-level skill for a young pitcher and is an excellent strike thrower with a great frame and great projection. And he's a fantastic student and very mature for his age."
Ben Leeper, RHP, 6-0/185 – Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
A 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region Second Team … 2014 Underclassmen All-American Third Team … as a junior at Southlake Carroll High School went 11-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 106 strikeouts and was named to the TSWA All-State Baseball Team … missed senior season recovering from UCL surgery.
Holliday on Leeper: "Ben comes to us with a strong history of success. He missed his senior year with Tommy John surgery, but we're expecting him to make a full recovery. He has a knack for the strikeout. He was a big-time performer before his injury. He's another big league student. When you look at what he did in the classroom and what he did on the mound, he's a performer — this guy is used to success and we're anxious to get him healthy and get him back out there."
Joe Lienhard, RHP, 6-4/220 – Wichita, Kan. (Kapaun HS)
Was 6-1 with a save and a 1.47 ERA as a senior at Kapaun High School … recorded 57 strikeouts in 43.0 innings … also hit .355 with eight doubles and 22 RBIs … led team to Class 5A Regional title game … named to The Wichita Eagle 2015 All-Metro team … father, Steve, was a four-year letterwinner as a pitcher at Oklahoma State from 1984-84 and played six seasons in the minor leagues.
Holliday on Lienhard: "Joe is a strong pitchability kid from Kansas who has a strong pedigree to pitch — his father, Steve, pitched here. He has advanced feel for throwing his breaking ball for strikes. He loves to pitch and is a big-time competitor. Every time we've seen him, he's grown and gotten better. He's got a big frame to work with and a plus feel for the ball in his hand, and we're looking forward to watching him grow. He's a very mature kid and fantastic student and well advanced for his years."
Luke Matheny, RHP, 6-2/180 – Chesterfield, Mo. (Westminster Christian)
2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Central Region Second Team … went 6-3 with a 1.27 ERA as a senior at Westminster Christian … struck out 70 in 60 2/3 innings and recorded a 0.96 WHIP … started 10 games and tossed five complete games … also hit .313 with two homers and 21 RBIs … 2014 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American … as a junior went 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA and tallied 73 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings … son of St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.
Holliday on Matheny: "Luke is a kid with strong makeup who really came on as a senior. We feel like he's going to be a sponge as far as his ability to learn and apply as he grows through our program. He's a tremendous student of the game with a great baseball background, and his work ethic and attention to detail is a lot of fun to watch. Physically, he projects to have a strong upside throughout his career."
Baylor Rowlett, C, 6-1/180 – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
A 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 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American … hit .445 with eight homers and 51 RBIs as a junior and led College Station High School to Class 3A state championship.
Holliday on Rowlett: "Baylor is a kid that blew his knee out as a junior but had proven to us that he's a hard-nosed competitor and very much a guy that fits our style of player. He was part of a big-time winning program in College Station as well as in his summer experience. Once his knee healed up, he bounced back and had a great senior year so we're excited about what he brings to our team."
Alex Shaver, OF, 5-11/175 – Sugar Land, Texas (George Ranch HS)
2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Honorable Mention Texas All-Region … hit .323 with 11 stolen bases as a senior and led George Ranch High School with a .538 slugging percentage and 21 runs scored … was named the District 24-5A Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous first-team all-district selection … 2014 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American.
Holliday on Shaver: "Alex is a very strong, athletic player who can really run. He's got surprising power for a center fielder. He's a guy that we got on early, and he's a remarkable student – just a very bright, advanced, all-around person. We think he has a chance to come in and fit that role as a pesky outfielder with speed and power from the left side of the plate."
Colin Simpson, C, 5-8/210 – Edmond, Okla. (Memorial HS)
An OCA All-State performer as a senior at Edmond Memorial High School … hit .452 with 10 homers, 13 doubles, seven triples and 52 RBIs … hit in the leadoff spot for the Bulldogs and led them to the Class 6A state tournament … as a junior hit .292 with nine doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs … sophomore season saw him record a .531 batting average to go along with 18 doubles, seven homers and 41 RBIs.
Holliday on Simpson: "Colin is a guy who all he does is hit — he centers the ball up and drives it to all fields. He has a great on-field demeanor, a high-energy player, a tough, strong, versatile player and a guy that has an infectious personality. He can catch and play the outfield, and he makes things happen."
Bryce Verplank, OF/1B/RHP, 6-5/220 – Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus HS)
A 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team … nephew of former OSU and current PGA golfer Scott Verplank.
Holliday on Verplank: "With Bryce, you love the strength and body of this young man — this is a strong, physical kid who can play first base, can run around the outfield and has even shown some ability to pitch. We just like the ability of this young athlete. It's hard to find guys his size that move as well as he does, that have the versatility he has. He has some OSU blood as his uncle Scott was one of our finest athletes of all time. He's a kid with power in his body, power in his arm and we're looking forward to working with that package."
The class includes five prep stars from Texas, along with one each from Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Four pitchers are among the group, as well as a pair of catchers and two outfielders.
"This is a high school class that we think really brings good balance — in addition to being really good players, there are some bright, bright students and some guys that over the course of their time at Oklahoma State will be very good players as well as outstanding performers in the classroom," Holliday said. "It's a group that helps address some needs and provides us continued high-end players to develop throughout the course of their careers."
Jensen Elliott, RHP, 6-6/186 – Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger High School All-America Second Team … 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team … 2014 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … went 9-3 with a 0.88 ERA and 103 strikeouts as a senior at Coppell High School … named the District 7-6A Pitcher of the Year … recorded a 7-5 record and 1.75 ERA as a junior.
Holliday on Elliott: "Jensen was one of the more advanced high school pitchers in the state of Texas. He had an outstanding senior year where he was first-team all-state, which is certainly no small accomplishment in the state of Texas. He has high-level skill for a young pitcher and is an excellent strike thrower with a great frame and great projection. And he's a fantastic student and very mature for his age."
Ben Leeper, RHP, 6-0/185 – Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
A 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region Second Team … 2014 Underclassmen All-American Third Team … as a junior at Southlake Carroll High School went 11-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 106 strikeouts and was named to the TSWA All-State Baseball Team … missed senior season recovering from UCL surgery.
Holliday on Leeper: "Ben comes to us with a strong history of success. He missed his senior year with Tommy John surgery, but we're expecting him to make a full recovery. He has a knack for the strikeout. He was a big-time performer before his injury. He's another big league student. When you look at what he did in the classroom and what he did on the mound, he's a performer — this guy is used to success and we're anxious to get him healthy and get him back out there."
Joe Lienhard, RHP, 6-4/220 – Wichita, Kan. (Kapaun HS)
Was 6-1 with a save and a 1.47 ERA as a senior at Kapaun High School … recorded 57 strikeouts in 43.0 innings … also hit .355 with eight doubles and 22 RBIs … led team to Class 5A Regional title game … named to The Wichita Eagle 2015 All-Metro team … father, Steve, was a four-year letterwinner as a pitcher at Oklahoma State from 1984-84 and played six seasons in the minor leagues.
Holliday on Lienhard: "Joe is a strong pitchability kid from Kansas who has a strong pedigree to pitch — his father, Steve, pitched here. He has advanced feel for throwing his breaking ball for strikes. He loves to pitch and is a big-time competitor. Every time we've seen him, he's grown and gotten better. He's got a big frame to work with and a plus feel for the ball in his hand, and we're looking forward to watching him grow. He's a very mature kid and fantastic student and well advanced for his years."
Luke Matheny, RHP, 6-2/180 – Chesterfield, Mo. (Westminster Christian)
2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Central Region Second Team … went 6-3 with a 1.27 ERA as a senior at Westminster Christian … struck out 70 in 60 2/3 innings and recorded a 0.96 WHIP … started 10 games and tossed five complete games … also hit .313 with two homers and 21 RBIs … 2014 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American … as a junior went 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA and tallied 73 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings … son of St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.
Holliday on Matheny: "Luke is a kid with strong makeup who really came on as a senior. We feel like he's going to be a sponge as far as his ability to learn and apply as he grows through our program. He's a tremendous student of the game with a great baseball background, and his work ethic and attention to detail is a lot of fun to watch. Physically, he projects to have a strong upside throughout his career."
Baylor Rowlett, C, 6-1/180 – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
A 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 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American … hit .445 with eight homers and 51 RBIs as a junior and led College Station High School to Class 3A state championship.
Holliday on Rowlett: "Baylor is a kid that blew his knee out as a junior but had proven to us that he's a hard-nosed competitor and very much a guy that fits our style of player. He was part of a big-time winning program in College Station as well as in his summer experience. Once his knee healed up, he bounced back and had a great senior year so we're excited about what he brings to our team."
Alex Shaver, OF, 5-11/175 – Sugar Land, Texas (George Ranch HS)
2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Honorable Mention Texas All-Region … hit .323 with 11 stolen bases as a senior and led George Ranch High School with a .538 slugging percentage and 21 runs scored … was named the District 24-5A Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous first-team all-district selection … 2014 PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American … 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American.
Holliday on Shaver: "Alex is a very strong, athletic player who can really run. He's got surprising power for a center fielder. He's a guy that we got on early, and he's a remarkable student – just a very bright, advanced, all-around person. We think he has a chance to come in and fit that role as a pesky outfielder with speed and power from the left side of the plate."
Colin Simpson, C, 5-8/210 – Edmond, Okla. (Memorial HS)
An OCA All-State performer as a senior at Edmond Memorial High School … hit .452 with 10 homers, 13 doubles, seven triples and 52 RBIs … hit in the leadoff spot for the Bulldogs and led them to the Class 6A state tournament … as a junior hit .292 with nine doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs … sophomore season saw him record a .531 batting average to go along with 18 doubles, seven homers and 41 RBIs.
Holliday on Simpson: "Colin is a guy who all he does is hit — he centers the ball up and drives it to all fields. He has a great on-field demeanor, a high-energy player, a tough, strong, versatile player and a guy that has an infectious personality. He can catch and play the outfield, and he makes things happen."
Bryce Verplank, OF/1B/RHP, 6-5/220 – Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus HS)
A 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Texas All-Region First Team … nephew of former OSU and current PGA golfer Scott Verplank.
Holliday on Verplank: "With Bryce, you love the strength and body of this young man — this is a strong, physical kid who can play first base, can run around the outfield and has even shown some ability to pitch. We just like the ability of this young athlete. It's hard to find guys his size that move as well as he does, that have the versatility he has. He has some OSU blood as his uncle Scott was one of our finest athletes of all time. He's a kid with power in his body, power in his arm and we're looking forward to working with that package."
