BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University added eight players to the roster with its initial signing class – a class that includes six junior college transfers and two prep standouts. Chris Benavides (RHP – Alvin CC), Kevin Bermudez (Inf./OF – Clarendon College), Sam Carpenter (C/RHP – Bridge City HS), Adam Davis (RHP – Tyler JC), Jacob Ellis (LHP – NOC - Tonkawa), Carter Hines Ellis (LHP – NOC - Tonkawa), Trapper Pierce (RHP – Barbe HS) and Ty Ringo (LHP – New Mexico JC) have announced their intentions to continue their careers and further their educations at Lamar University.
 
The six junior college transfers have been rated as the nation's seventh-strongest JUCO signing class according to the JUCO Baseball Blog. It is the highest national ranking for an LU signing class in program history. The six transfers are Benavides (Alvin CC), Bermudez (Clarendon College), Davis (Tyler JC), Ellis (NOC – Tonkawa), Hines (NOC – Tonkawa), Ringo (New Mexico JC).
 
"The six-man junior college recruiting class we have put together thus far is recognized as the highest ranking for a recruiting class in program history," said LU head coach Will Davis. "The JUCO Baseball Blog, the nation's foremost authority on junior college baseball coverage, has our class out No. 7 nationally. Headlining the class are junior college All-American and Clarendon College infielder Kevin Bermudez and Alvin Junior College right-handed pitcher Chris Benavides who was the No. 151-ranked player in the country coming out of high school according to Prep Baseball Report. In addition to the nationally-ranked junior college talent, the Cardinals signed local high school products Sam Carpenter (Bridge City HS) and Trapper Pierce (Barbe HS)."
 
Only two Southland Conference schools landed in the top 25 rankings, with LU being the only league school in the top 10. The Cardinals finished ranked ahead of other nationally prominent programs including LSU, Mississippi State, Arizona and North Carolina State, and just one spot behind Oklahoma State. The entire Top 25 rankings are listed below.
 
The entire class consists of seven pitchers (four righties and three lefties), one infielder, one outfielder and a catcher. The signing class represents four states (Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas), including one from the Golden Triangle (Carpenter). The class also stretches beyond the United States' borders with Bermudez hailing from Caguas, Puerto Rico. 
 
The incoming signees bring with them quite a few credentials which includes a junior college All-American, four players ranked among the nation's top 500 players and three ranked among their respective state's top 100. In addition, Bermudez was considered a top 50 prospect in Puerto Rico before starting his junior college career. Other players had a strong possibility of making those list following the 2020 season, but no rankings were produced following the COVID-19 shutdown.
 
The 2020 class was heavy in pitching talent especially with lefthanded pitchers who rank among the nation's top prospects, including two from the same junior college program. The incoming lefties include Ellis, Hines and Ringo.  Big Red also stockpiled talented arms from the right side of the rubber as well with the addition of Benavides, Carpenter, Davis and Pierce.
 
LU also managed to add some punch to its lineup as well with the additions of Bermudez and Carpenter. Carpenter was an all-district catcher following his sophomore season and was on his way to even more honors as a junior before the season's premature end. An All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference selection as a freshman, Bermudez hit .337 at Clarendon College, with five home runs and 46 RBIs on his way to All-America honors.
 
LU Baseball Signee Bios
Chris Benavides – RHP-TR – Spring, Texas/Klein Collins HS (Alvin CC)
Junior College: Posted 42 strikeouts, while walking only 19 batters in 32.2 innings pitched during the COVID shortened season at ACC … Finished the year with a 3.86 ERA … Received national notoriety from Prep Baseball Report at the February Tournament of Champions pitching five quality innings against nationally-ranked McClennan while striking out six and having his fastball sit from 91 to 93 mph.
High School: Ranked as the No. 151^st player in the nation and #21 player in the state of Texas, by Prep Baseball Report … Benavides was a first team All-District 15-6A selection as a senior, made the Texas Rangers Area Code team, and was a USA Baseball States Play selection that summer … As a junior, Benavides was 7-2 with a 1.34 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings … At the plate, Benavides batted .298 with 12 RBI and a .452 OBP … Was named first-team 15-6A All-District as a pitcher.
 
Kevin Bermudez – Inf./OF-TR – Caguas, Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Academy (Clarendon Coll.)
Junior College: A 2020 Junior College Baseball Blog 2^nd Team All-American … Named 2019 All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference honorable mention … Played in 52 games during his freshman season … Hit .337 with five home runs and 46 runs batted in … Also stole 13 bases and scored 52 runs … Also had five triples on the season … Ranked in the top 10 in the league in games played and plate appearances … Posted a four-hit game with a double, triple and four RBIs against Redlands Community College … Was hitting .455 with 6 home runs and 27 RBIs before COVID ended the 2020 campaign … Also had 12 doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases while slugging nearly .900 in the COVID shortened season.
High School: Ranked among the top 50 players in Puerto Rico, and the No. 13 shortstop coming out of high school according to Perfect Game … Named to the 2017 Sunshine East Showcase Top Prospect List.
 
Adam Davis – RHP - TR – Melissa, Texas/Melissa HS (Tyler JC)
Junior College: Made seven appearances posted a 1-0 record with a save in the COVID-shortened season for the Apaches … Struck out 14 batters while posting a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 innings … Averaged 11.20 strikeouts per nine innings … Also, a standout in the classroom being named to the TJC President's List.
High School: Named 2017 Herald Democrat All-Texomaland Baseball Newcomer of the Year following a season that saw Davis lead Melissa HS to an 11-4A District title … Batted .404 with 12 doubles and 30 RBIs as a first basemen, and recorded two wins and five saves on the mound … Recorded a 2.87 ERA as a junior with nearly a strikeout to inning pitched ratio.
 
Jacob Ellis – LHP - TR – Piedmont, Okla./Piedmont HS (NOC - Tonkawa)
Junior College: Mavericks were ranked 12^th nationally at the NJCAA level before COVID ended the season … Posted a 2-0 recorded with 22 strikeouts and a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings pitched during the 2020 season … Was averaging 9.90 strikeouts per nine innings at the time of the shutdown.
High School: Regarded as one of the top 450 left handed pitchers in the nation coming out of high school according to Perfect Game … Rated among Oklahoma's top 40 players, and the ninth-best left handed pitcher in the state according to Perfect Game … Named to the Oklahoma City Area Baseball Coaches Association (OCABCA) All-Star game's North roster … A 2019 Honorable Mention All-State pitcher … Helped lead Piedmont to three state tournament appearances in four years.
 
Carter Hines – LHP - TR – Arcadia, Okla./Edmond North HS (NOC - Tonkawa)
Junior College: Mavericks were ranked 12^th nationally at the NJCAA level before COVID ended the season.
High School: Rated as one of the top 370 lefthanded pitchers in the nation according to Perfect Game … Ranked as the No. 35 prospect in the state of Oklahoma and the sixth-best lefthanded pitcher in the state by Perfect Game … Guided prep squad to a 12-2 (.857) district record as a senior, as Edmond North climbed to 21^st in the state rankings.
 
Ty Ringo – LHP - TR – Sweeny, Texas/Sweeny HS (New Mexico JC)
Junior College: Thunderbirds were a perfect 4-0 in conference play when the season came to an abrupt end due to COVID … Posted a 2-1 record with 28 strikeouts, while walking only eight batters in 24.1 innings pitched during the COVID shortened season at NMJC … Finished the year with a 2.59 ERA … Also, a standout in the classroom being named to the NMJC President's List and NJCAA All-Academic team.
High School: Ranked as the No. 157 player in the state of Texas, by Prep Baseball Report… Garnered first-team 4A All-State honors as a relief pitcher and honorable mention all-state as an outfielder … Also named first-team all-district … Named to the all-state second team as a sophomore … Guided Sweeny to a 35-9 (.795) overall record and a 9-1 (.900) district mark … Sweeny was ranked ninth in the state of Texas and among the top 125 high school programs in the country according to maxpreps … SHS advanced to the 4A state championship game before being defeated by undefeated Argyle … Posted five wins with 80 punchouts and 2.03 ERA as a senior … Opponents only hit .198 against Ringo as a senior.
 
Sam Carpenter – C/RHP – Bridge City, Texas/Bridge City HS
High School: Named first-team all-district catcher following his junior season … Also, a promising prospect on the mound … Was invited as a pitcher to the Prep Baseball Report Underclass games in 2019 … The Cardinals were 15-0-1 when play was suspended due to COVID last season … Two-sport athlete who also lettered in football.
 
Trapper Pierce – RHP – Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS
High School: Named to the 2020 17U Texas Premier State Championship All-Tournament team … Garnered honorable mention Acadiana All-District honors.
 
2020 JUCO Baseball Blog Top 25 Class Rankings:
1. Washington State
2. Dallas Baptist
3. UL Lafayette
4. Houston
5. Campbell
6. Oklahoma State
7. Lamar University
8. Gonzaga
9. Mississippi State
10. Tulane
11. Charlotte
12. UT-Rio Grande Valley
13. LSU
14. Southeastern Louisiana
15. Texas Tech
16. Purdue
17. Louisiana Tech
18. New Mexico
19. Charleston Southern
20. Lipscomb
21. Arizona
22. Kansas State
23. North Carolina State
24. New Mexico State
25. South Alabama