Nov. 16, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF head baseball coach Jay Bergman announced Wednesday that seven high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball for the Golden Knights beginning in 2007. The talented group of student-athletes includes four pitchers, one catcher, one third baseman and a dual-position athlete.
Giving Bergman their signatures to play for the Golden Knights were RHP Jacob Brigham (Ocoee, Fla./Central Florida Christian Academy), C Joe Bowen (Ocala, Fla./Ocala Vanguard), 3B Chris Duffy (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek), Glenn Gibson (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches), RHP Matt Goodyear (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie)RHP Austin Hudson (Orlando, Fla./Boone) and RHP/INF Kyle Maulbetsch (Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson).
"This class is high in quality and low in quantity," stated Bergman. "I am extremely pleased with the level of talent this class has. We have had two straight solid recruiting classes which will help us greatly in one of the nation's premier baseball leagues in Conference USA."
"We have a pitching heavy class, but I also expect to receive significant contributions on the offensive side as well," commented UCF assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Craig Cozart. "This is the type of class we need to win a C-USA championship."
Brigham is a national top-100 recruit who has unlimited potential. "Jacob is extremely competitive and is a work horse pitcher with an explosive above average fastball," said Cozart. "He has an abrupt 12-6 curveball and a tight, late-breaking slider and an above average changeup. He is a potential front-line starter."
Brigham was the 10th-ranked prospect by Baseball America at the East Coast Professional Showcase. He was a first-team all-state selection as a junior by the Florida Sports Writers Association. Brigham ended the 2005 season with a 9-2 record and led the Central Florida-area with 141 strikeouts and a 0.51 ERA in 68 innings of work.
Bowen, one of the top catch-and-throw catchers in the southeast, reminds the UCF coaching staff of former standout Drew Butera. "Joe is a sturdy catcher with a projectable body," added Cozart. "He has a great arm behind the plate and is quick with his throws to second base." Bowen hit .258 with 21 stolen bases and 45 RBI en route to all-county honors. Bowen was nominated for Wendy's High School Heisman from his high school and has thrown out 72 percent of runners attempting to steal against him during his career.
Duffy is another top-100 national recruit who hails from the greater Orlando area. "Chris is an impressive physical third baseman," said Cozart. "He is an above-average defender with a big-league arm. He has middle of the order power and should make an immediate impact offensively."
Duffy hit .403 as a junior with five home runs and 25 RBI. He was rated the eighth-best prospect by Baseball America at the East Cobb Showcase and the sixth-rated prospect at the East Coast Professional Showcase.
Gibson is the son of former Major Leaguer Paul Gibson, who pitched for the Tigers, Yankees and Mets during his career. "Glenn is a tall, sturdy left-hander with well above-average velocity from the left-side," commented Cozart. "He has an extremely deceptive change-up and quality two-plane breaking ball that can serve as an out pitch. He should make a quick impact in the rotation."
Gibson's career statistics through three years are impressive. The southpaw has a 17-3 career mark with a 0.64 ERA in 132 innings of work. He has yielded just 40 hits and has totaled 247 strikeouts and just 38 walks during his career. Gibson has tossed three no-hitters and three one-hitters during his prep career. He was named all-state and all-county as a junior and was the Suffolk Pitcher of the Year in 2005.
Goodyear tied for fifth in the Central Florida-area with 99 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work last season. He also ranked among the area leaders in ERA with a 1.53 mark. "Matt has a compact build with an explosive arm," commented Cozart. "He has a well above-average fastball to go along with a 12-6 curveball. Matt can fill a variety of roles from the rotation or at the back end of the bullpen as our closer."
Hudson had a terrific season as a junior in leading Boone to the state championship game. He tied for second in the Central Florida-area with 10 wins (10-1) and totaled 46 strikeouts in 69.2 innings of work. He also tied for 12th in the Central Florida region in ERA with a 1.00 mark. "Austin is a tall, lanky pitcher with loose arm action. He has a hard sinking fastball and a tight, two-plane breaking ball. He is a potential rotation pitcher for us on the weekend."
Maulbetsch is an intriguing prospect who could fill several roles for the Golden Knights. "Kyle is one of the top dual position players in the state," stated Cozart. "He could play third base, second base or serve as a reliever for us. He has a rangy athletic body and will make an impact with the bat. He is projectable on the mound with an above average fastball and he uses his slider as an out pitch. He has a closers' mentality and could get an opportunity to fill that role at UCF." Maulbetsch hit .310 with six home runs and 24 RBI along with a 1.41 ERA on the mound with 50 strikeouts in 65 innings of work. He was an all-state and all-conference honoree.
2005 UCF Baseball Early Signing Recruiting Class
Jacob BrighamOcoee, Fla./Central Florida Christian AcademyRHP6-3/195
Joe BowenOcala, Fla./Ocala VanguardC6-2/190
Chris DuffyOrlando, Fla./Cypress Creek3B6-3/210
Glenn GibsonCenter Moriches, N.Y./Center MorichesLHP6-4/190
Matt GoodyearMelbourne, Fla./Eau GallieRHP6-1/195
Austin HudsonOrlando, Fla./BooneRHP6-4/185
Kyle MaulbetschJacksonville, Fla./WolfsonRHP/INF6-2/190