November is a busy month for ASU athletics.
With fall sports ending and winter sports starting up, Sun Devil baseball quietly announced Monday that it signed 18 players to National Letters of Intent for the 2012 season.
ASU coach Tim Esmay is coming off a Pac-10 title and College World Series appearance in his first season at the helm of the storied program.
“This outstanding class that we signed is a direct result of the hard work put in by [recruiting coordinator and assistant coach] Travis Jewett and [assistant coach] Ken Knutson,” Esmay said in a press release. “We could not have put together such an impressive group of signees if not for their efforts.”
Leading the class is Mesa Desert Ridge High School pitcher Scott Hoffman.
The senior led his team to the 5A-I state championship title last season going 13-0 with a 1.80 ERA.
He was named the Arizona Republic’s Big School Player of the Year for his efforts.
Along with Hoffman, ASU signed six other Arizona natives, including three from Central Arizona Community College.
CAC currently has six of its former players in the MLB, most famous of which are Rich Harden and Ian Kinsler.
The Sun Devils will open their 2011 season Feb. 18 against New Mexico.
Reach the reporter @ tyler.emerick@asu.edu
