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Baseball Welcomes Talented Class of Newcomers

The Georgia State baseball roster features 16 talented newcomers, who join 23 returning letterwinners to make up the 2021-22 roster.
 
Head coach Brad Stromdahl and his staff welcome 10 incoming freshmen, along with nine transfers. The recruiting class features six pitchers, eight position players and two two-way players.
 
"This recruiting class is another important step as we build our program," Stromdahl said as he enters his third season at the helm. "We have improved our talent level, depth and experience at every position, and we are excited to work with these talented newcomers on the field."
 
Georgia State opens team practice on Tuesday, Oct. 5, and the Panthers have fall exhibitions scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 vs. Tennessee at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, and Sunday, Oct. 31 vs. Georgia Highlands at the GSU Baseball Complex. Fall practice concludes with the annual Fall World Series, scheduled for Nov. 4-6 at the GSU Baseball Complex.
 
Opening Day for 2022 is Feb. 18.
 
MEET THE NEW PANTHERS:
 
LUKE BOYNTON
1B | 6-6, 235 | Marietta, Ga. | Walton HS/Nebraska/Northwest Florida State
 
Right-handed hitting first baseman from Northwest Florida State College, where he was coached by Doug Martin … Played the 2020 season at Nebraska … Saw action in nine games, including six starts and three multi-hit games … Hit .423 with a double and four RBI … Ended the shortened season on a 10-for-19 stretch … Played at Walton High School in Marietta, where he was named All-Metro Atlanta and region Player of the Year … Set Walton's single-season record with 20 home runs as a senior … Helped Walton to the Class AAAAAAA state title and a No. 2 national ranking as a freshman in 2016.
 
"Luke possesses exceptional power and we are thrilled to add his bat to our lineup. He has proven that he can both start and be a valuable power bat off the bench late in the game. His collegiate experience will add depth to our roster and provide a key component to our clubhouse."
 
AYDEN DiGIACOMO
1B | 6-3, 210 | Buford, Ga. | Buford HS
 
Right-handed hitting first baseman from Buford High School … Dual-sport athlete in high school who lettered all four years in both baseball and football … Hit .463 his senior season with three home runs and 19 RBI … First-team All-Region 8 (Class AAAAAA) ...  Ranked No. 15 in Georgia and 209th nationally among first basemen ... Perfect Game Pre-season All American and All Region.
 
"Ayden's power right-handed bat is a great addition to our roster. His strength, power and athleticism will help him develop into an impact player in the Sun Belt. We are excited to have Ayden in a Panther uniform."
 
JESSE DONOHOE
SS | 6-3, 190 | Columbus, Ga. | Calvary Christian School
 
Left-handed hitting shortstop from Calvary Christian School, where he was coached by Steve Smith … Hit .481 in his junior season of 2020 … 2019 all-state selection … Part of state championship teams in 2018, 2019 and 2021 … Second team All Bi-City by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer in 2018 and 2019 … 2018 and 2019 Most Valuable Playoff Performance … Also the school's starting quarterback, averaging over 200 yards passing per game.
 
"Jesse was an under the radar recruit whose high-level athleticism, frame and left-handed swing will play well in our ballpark. Left-handed hitting middle infielders are always at a premium, and we are excited to watch him develop in a Panther uniform."
 
JOHNNY DOW
RHP | 6-4, 190 | Roswell, Ga. | Georgia Highlands College
 
Junior college right-handed pitcher from Georgia Highlands College, where he was coached by Dash O'Neill … Posted a 1.68 ERA for his two seasons there with 107 strikeouts in 107.1 innings … Went 8-1 with a 1.97 ERA in 2021, when he was named Region 17 Pitcher of the Year … Tossed a no-hitter, just the second in program history, on Feb. 8 …Ranked among the NJCAA national leaders in wins, innings pitched, fewest walks allowed and ERA during the 2020 season, when he finished with 41 strikeouts and no walks … Honorable mention selection to The JBB All-America team.
 
"Johnny is one of the nation's elite strike-throwers. His experience and combination of upside and strike-throwing ability make him an immediate weekend rotation candidate for the Panthers."
 
MICAH EARWOOD
RHP | 6-4, 185 | Cartersville Ga. | Cartersville HS
 
Right-handed pitcher from Cartersville High School, one of the top programs in Georgia and the Southeast … First-team All-State in Class AAAAA … Bartow County Player of the Year and Region Pitcher of the Year … Posted a 9-2 career record with a 0.89 ERA; collected 117 strikeouts in 70.2 innings with a .169 batting average against … Perfect Game Top 500 Recruit … WWBA 18U All Tournament Team.
 
"Micah has tremendous upside as he continues to fill out. He has pitched in many big games as a member of Canes Travel Organization and Cartersville High School. His strike-throwing ability and current strikeout numbers showcase someone who can contribute immediately in the Sun Belt."
 
JO JO JACKSON
OF/LHP | 6-3, 225 | Stone Mountain, Ga. | Stephenson HS
 
Switch-hitting outfielder and left-handed pitcher from Stephenson High School ... Hit .456 as a senior, .421 as a junior … As a sophomore in 2019, he batted .446 and compiled a 1.87 ERA on the mound … Coached by Tim Jones … A dual-sport athlete, he helped lead the Stephenson team to an 15-5 record in the 2019-20 seasons as the team's quarterback … Perfect Game Top 500 recruit … Selected to Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team … Member of SCOUTZ Travel Organization, coached by Roger Wilkinson.
 
"Jo Jo has as much upside as any player in the state of Georgia. A two-way player with power to leave the park from both sides of the plate. His physicality and athleticism will allow him to develop into an impact player. He continues the trend of athleticism and power in this recruiting class."
 
BRANDON KAMINER
LHP | 6-3, 205 | Coral Springs, Fla. | Stoneman Douglas HS/Wallace-Dothan CC/LSU
 
Left-handed pitcher who is a graduate transfer from LSU … Went 3-1 at LSU over two seasons … Posted a 3-1 record with a 2.84 ERA in the shortened 2020 season, including a win over Sun Belt foe South Alabama … Earned his degree in sports administration from LSU ... Before LSU, he played at Wallace Community College-Dothan (Ala.), where was 8-2 as a sophomore with 68 strikeouts and just nine walks … Two-time All-Broward County selection at Stoneman Douglas High School, where he posted a 22-0 career mark, a 1.16 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 162 innings … Helped lead Stoneman Douglas to the 2016 state title … As a high school senior, he was 10-0 with one save and a 1.30 ERA, earning 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-America recognition … Named the 2016-2017 Miami Herald Pitcher of the Year for Broward County … Louisville Slugger All-American in 2016-17 and a 2016 Max Preps Underclass All-American.
 
"Brandon is a power left-handed arm who has the ability to spin the ball for strikes. His collegiate experience, along with his competitiveness and athleticism, make him an immediate contributor to the Panthers. We are excited to add Brandon to the staff."
 
NICK LOMMEN
LHP | 6-5, 225 | Minnetonka, Minn. | Minnetonka HS/North Iowa Area CC
 
Left-handed pitcher from North Iowa Area Community College, where he was coached by Drew Sannes … Posted a 2.73 career ERA at North Iowa Area, including a 2.49 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 21.1 innings in 2021 … Two-time NJCAA All-Academic Team selection … Originally signed with Missouri, where he spent a redshirt season in 2019 … Coming out of Minnetonka High School, he was tabbed as the No. 2 LHP and No. 9 overall prospect in the Minnesota in the Class of 2018 by Perfect Game … Two-time Perfect Game All-American … 2016 PBR Futures Participant.
 
"We are excited to add a talented left-hander like Nick to our staff. His 90+ mph fastball from the left side and ability to spin two distinct breaking balls make him an immediate contributor."
 
JEREMIAH NEWMAN
RHP | 6-0, 190 | Atlanta, Ga. | Mays HS
 
Right-handed pitcher from Mays High School in Atlanta … Posted a 1.19 ERA with 33 strikeouts as a senior … Led Region 6-AAAA in strikeouts in 2020 … Top 500 recruit and two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All American … Selected to Cincinnati Reds Scout Team … 2021 Baseball Factory Preseason All American.
 
"Jeremiah brings elite velocity with a plus breaking ball, and his athleticism and arm speed project very well. We are thrilled he chose to stay in Atlanta look forward to him developing into a key piece."
 
CONNER O'NEAL
C | 6-3, 205 | Columbus, Ga. | Northside High School
 
Left-handed hitting catcher from Northside-Columbus High School, which he helped to the 2019 Class AAAA state championship … First-team all-state in 2019 (Class AAAA) and 2021 (Class AAAAA) … Hit.421 during the 2020 season.
 
"Conner fits exactly what we are looking for, a strong, physical kid with left-handed power. He is a proven winner. He has a unique blend of left-handed offensive fire power with defensive ability behind the plate. He will be a great player in the Sun Belt."
 
TRENT REDDICK
INF/RHP | 6-1, 175 | Dallas, Ga. | East Paulding HS
 
Right-handed hitting infielder and pitcher from East Paulding High School … First-team All-State in Class AAAAAA … Co-Player of the Year in Region 5 as a senior … Two-time Perfect Game Underclass All American selection … Perfect Game Top 500 Recruit … Four-time Perfect Game Tournament MVP.
 
"Trent brings an exciting blend of strike-throwing ability with upside on the mound and defensive ability on the infield. He is a highly versatile player who builds on our belief in two-way players."
 
MAX RYERSON
OF/1B | 6-3, 215 | Conway, S.C. | Carolina Forest HS/Gulf Coast State
 
Right-handed hitting outfielder and first baseman from Gulf Coast (Fla.) State College, where he was coached by Mike Kandler … 2021 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year … Led Gulf Coast with a .385, 15 homers and 49 RBI in 48 games … More walks (31) than strikeouts (29) … In 2020, he had six homers and 29 RBI in just 24 games … Played the 2019 season at Charleston Southern, where he led the team in batting average (.322) and was second with nine home runs (9) … Drove in 43 runs in 47 games, including 37 starts … Attended Carolina Forest High School.
 
"Max has hit everywhere he has ever been. We are excited to add his elite power into the middle of our lineup. His experience and high-level success will make him an immediate impact player."
 
CALEB STEWART
SS | 5-9, 180 | Waycross, Ga. | Ware County HS
 
Right-handed hitting shortstop from Ware County High School … 2021 first-team All-State in Class AAAAA … Three-time all-region selection and region Co-Player of the Year as a senior … 2020 Perfect Game Underclass All-American … Selected to Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team … Played travel baseball for SCOUTZ under Roger Wilkinson.
 
"Caleb is an elite-level athlete with plus-plus speed at a premium position. His arm strength from shortstop is a difference maker. Offensively he has been a consistent performer with an exciting power-speed combo to have continued success at this level."
 
DYLAN STRICKLAND
INF | 6-1, 190 | Loganville, Ga. | Loganville HS/Georgia Tech
 
Right-handed hitting infielder who transfers from Georgia Tech … Ranked as the No. 9 shortstop in the state of Georgia and a top-50 player overall in the 2020 class … Helped Loganville High School to three straight state titles (2017-18-19) … Earned three Perfect Game All-America honors, including a third-team selection in 2019 … An 18-time all-tournament team selection … Named to the 2018 Jr. National Showcase's Top Prospect Team.
"Dylan is an exceptional athlete who has a consistent glove on defense and can make solid contact at the plate. His ability to play all infield positions adds depth to our roster. Dylan will make an immediate impact for the Panthers."
 
DAVID WHITE
RHP | 6-2, 215 | Newnan, Ga. | The Heritage School
 
Right-handed pitcher from The Heritage School … The No. 32 ranked prep player in the state of Georgia and No. 12 RHP by Perfect Game … Perfect Game National Showcase Participant … All region and honorable mention all-state in 2019 …  Team's Offensive Player of Year in 2018 … Baseball Factory Academic All-American selection … Also a four-year starter for football team at outside linebacker.
 
"David is a power pitcher with huge upside. He is a strong, physical athlete and multi-sport standout. We are very excited to add his arm strength and athleticism into our pitching staff, and we have high expectations he will be a major contributor."
 
CHASE WULLENWEBER
C | 6-0, 195 | West Chester, Ohio. | Lakota West/Tusculum
 
Right-handed hitting catcher who joins the program as a graduate transfer … Spent the last four seasons at Tusculum, a Division II program in Greeneville, Tenn., where he was a three-year starting catcher … Started 32 of 33 games at catcher last spring and hit .287 with 33 RBI and 25 runs scored … Had one homer and 12 doubles … Led the conference with 14 runners caught stealing  … Started 10 games in the abbreviated 2020 season …Played in 26 games in 2019, including 23 starts and hit .250 with a .407 on-base percentage … Appeared in 15 games as a freshman … Prepped at Lakota West High School, where he was named all-conference and all-area as a senior … Helped Lakota West reach the semifinals of the 2017 state tournament.
 
"Chase brings four years of collegiate experience to our program. We are excited to add his knowledge of the game and athleticism behind the plate to help lead our team this season. He has the chance to make an immediate impact on the program."
 
 
 
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