USFDons.com will break down all 12 of the Dons' signees for the 2021-22 school year, starting with part one, which goes over the seven new position players. Part two will come out next week detailing the new batch of arms joining the Dons' roster next season.
SAN FRANCISCO — High baseball IQ, leadership, competitiveness are just a few of the adjectives used to describe the position players set to join the University of San Francisco baseball team for the 2022 season. The 13 player class includes seven position players and six pitchers and will be joined by the
five future Dons who signed earlier this year.
Read about the seven position players here:
JT Amaral | Monterey, Calif. | Palma HS
Position: Catcher/Outfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
B/T: R/R
JT Amaral is a multi-sport athlete who lettered in baseball, football, and basketball while at Palma High School. He excelled not only on the playing field but in all aspects of life. The catcher/outfielder finished top-15 in his class with a 4.4 cumulative GPA and was the Vice President of the National Honors Society. On the diamond, he was a four-time letter winner for head coach Phil Giammanco. Though his junior and senior seasons were cut short or abbreviated due to COVID-19, he was still a two-time all-league honoree and was the offensive player of the year on his team as a freshman and a sophomore.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"The Dons are getting a versatile, aggressive and athletic baseball player in JT Amaral. He will be joining (Davis) Evans behind the plate with a chance to move into the outfield to give us an additional right handed hitting option. We're excited for his leadership and presence on the field."
Davis Evans | Greenwood Village, Colo. | Kent Denver School
Position: Catcher
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
B/T: R/R
The Colorado native is another multi-sport athlete, lettering all four years in baseball and soccer for the Sun Devils. On the diamond he was an all-conference honoree as a sophomore, leading the league in RBI with 32. He clubbed three home runs that season. COVID interrupted his junior and senior campaign, in which he was named team captain. In 13 games this spring he hit .405, with 15 runs scored, 11 driven in, two doubles and three home runs. On the soccer field he earned All-State as a junior and led his team to back-to-back State Championships.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Davis will be joining us on the Hilltop from Kent Denver High School where he thrived both athletically and academically. We're thrilled to fold his hard work and baseball IQ into our catching core and to work with a veteran pitching staff. Davis systematically works at improving all aspects of his game defensively and has the potential to hit for power from the right side."
Jake Fredrickson | Shoreline, Wash.| Occidental College
Position: 1B/OF
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
B/T: L/L
The transfer from Occidental College boasts a wealth of experience playing at the collegiate level. In three years playing for the Tigers, he amassed 96 hits, 61 RBI, and 69 runs scored, while hitting .301. In his sophomore season, he clubbed a career-best seven home runs along with 11 doubles. In high school, he lettered in both baseball and water polo, earning all-conference honors in both sports. On the diamond he finished his career with back-to-back first team all-league honors and was named to the 2017 All-Area Second Team. He was the team MVP in water polo three times and was named to the Washington All-State team in water polo.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"The Dons are excited to add the veteran leadership from Jake Fredrickson. Jake spent the last four years at Occidental where he made fantastic contributions on both sides of the ball. He is an outstanding defender at first base and will provide steady competitiveness offensively."
Zach Freeman | Los Angeles, Calif. | IMG Academy
Position: OF
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
B/T: L/R
Freeman had an outstanding campaign his one year playing at IMG Academy. In 2021 he clubbed six home runs, 17 doubles and four triples. The speedy outfielder also stole 15 bases. At Sierra Canyon he was a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner for most outstanding offensive player. In 2020, in a COVID shortened season he hit .556 in six games played. With three doubles and a home run. In 2019 he earned Perfect Game High School All-American honorable mention honors.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano
"Zach is a super talented player from a wonderful program in IMG. We have had a great deal of very good players from the IMG program. Zach has all the tools necessary to help make us better right away. He has the chance to hit for power from the left side, defend at all three outfield positions, and is a very good student in the classroom. We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding athlete to add to our program."
Ryan Martinez | Towson, Md. | Gilman School
Position: INF
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
B/T: R/R
Ryan Martinez will join his brother Tyler on the Hilltop this upcoming season. The younger Martinez earned First Team All-MIAA honors as a senior, and led the Greyhounds to their first MIAA championship since 2010. Last season, Martinez hit .412 and stole 20 bases. A three-time letter winner for head coach Larry Sheets, Martinez has a knack for hitting in the clutch. In the quarterfinals of the MIAA playoffs he hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning in a 3-0 win over Mount Saint Joseph.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano
"We are very excited to welcome Ryan to the Dons Family. We have been very successful with brother tandems. Kyle and Bradley Zimmer, and Nick and Alex Balog. Now to welcome Ryan with his brother Tyler already in the program. We feel Ryan will help build depth in the middle infield. He is a wonderful defensive player that can play short, second, and third and has a great chance to run and help offensively."
Aidan Morton | Fremont, Calif. | Washington HS
Position: INF
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
B/T: R/R
Morton, a Bay Area product from Fremont, is a three-time letter winner for head coach Michael Sewell and the Huskies. A team captain his senior season, he hit .333 with six doubles and eight RBI.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Aidan is coming in from Washington High School under the mentor ship of Coach Mike Sewell. He has worked extremely hard and elevated his game over the last 12 months and has a chance to come in and play any infield position. Aidan's baseball IQ and strong servant leadership qualities will grow in the program with him. We're excited for what the future holds for Aidan."
James Porter | Portland, Ore. | IMG Academy
Position: INF
Height: 6-1
Weight: 220
B/T: R/R
Another product of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Porter brings some serious pop with him to the Hilltop. PerfectGame.org rates him as an excellent college baseball prospect, and his exit velocity in 2021 was routinely rated as one of the highest. Prior to IMG he was a four-time letter winner for Jesuit High School in his hometown of Portland, Ore. While at Jesuit he earned All-Metro League honors twice and led his team to a 2019 Oregon State Championship.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano
"James is an outstanding player, person, and student. He checks all the boxes that fit for the Dons program. Look forward to seeing James solidify the RH power in our program as well as help build solid depth at both 3b and 1b. Also, an outstanding product from the IMG Academy via Portland Jesuit High School. We are very excited about the future for James."
