BEAUMONT, Texas – Fresh off their 37-win season, a year that saw Lamar University fall just short of a conference division title, the Cardinals have announced their signing class for 2023. The incoming class includes five NCAA Division I transfers, 18 junior college transfers and six prep signees.
 
"We are adapting to a rapidly changing world in recruiting, but I feel that our staff has done a great job of adapting quickly to these rule changes," said Davis. "We love our class and would expect our juco class to be ranked very high for the third year in a row. We are also very excited to be getting some of the top players from other NCAA Division I schools to transfer, in particular Brooks Caple, Carter Sutton, and Kanin Dodge. Bringing in so many players with college experience and combining it with so many returning players, including six starters from last year should allow us to not miss a beat."
 
The position breakdown for the newest Cardinals consists of 14 pitchers (11 RHP/3 LHP), 7 outfielders, 5 infielders, two catchers, one shortstop and one first basemen, with several players listed at multiple positions.
 
The recruiting class is heavily represented with talent from the Lone Star State, but the class stretches well beyond the Texas border (seven states) and includes four countries. The incoming crop of talent has 20 players from Texas and one each from Louisiana, Washington, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan and Kansas. In addition to the U.S., it also represents the Dominican Republic (1), Venezuela (1) and Mexico (1).
 
The class also has a local flair to it with four of the signees originally from the Golden Triangle.
 
A player-by-player breakdown of the class follows below:
 
NCAA Division I Transfers
Brooks Caple – RHP – Gunter, Texas (Stephen F. Austin)
One of two transfers from former league foe Stephen F. Austin (Kanin Dodge) … This past season Caple led the Lumberjacks in most statistical categories on the mound, including strikeouts per 9 (13.2), opponent batting average (.209) and saves (3) … Played in the prestigious Valley League this summer where he was fifth in strikeouts (39).
 
Kanin Dodge – INF – Carencro, La. (Stephen F. Austin)
One of two transfers from former league foe Stephen F. Austin (Brooks Caple) … Started all 20 games for the Lumberjacks before a season-ending surgery … Finished the year with a .306 batting average and five doubles.
 
Carter Sutton – RHP – Vancouver, Wash. (Winthrop)
2022: Near the top of most statistical categories for Winthrop, including earned run average (3^rd), appearances (3^rd), games started (2^nd), innings pitched (2^nd) and strikeouts (3^rd).
 
Quinn Waterhouse – LHP – Bondurant, Iowa (SIU-Edwardsville)
2022: Finished second on the team in appearances (25) … Also struck out 60 batters in 61 career innings with a .246 opponents' batting average.
 
Trevor Mott – LHP – Waxahachie, Texas (Western Kentucky)
2021: Transferred to WKU after a strong junior college season at Blinn Junior College … Led the Blinn staff averaging 14.34 strikeouts per 9 innings.
 
JUCO Transfers
River Orsak – OF – Mont Belvieu, Texas (Alvin JC)
2022: A first-team all-conference selection this past season … Also garnered second-team all-region praise … Hit .357 with 6 home runs, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 47 RBIs while stealing 47 bases.
 
Dave Wilson – 1B – Austin, Texas (Blinn JC)
2022: Named first-team all-conference and team MVP following a year that saw him hit .382 with 4 home runs, 10 doubles and 1 triple … Was a Texas Collegiate League All-Star in the summer of 2022.
 
Antonio Escano – RHP – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (State Fair CC)
2022: A first-team all-conference selection … Second-team all-region … Struck out 78 batters in just 50 innings of work, with only 26 walks … Pitched in the MLB Draft League during the summer of 2022.
 
Lander Suarez – INF – Valencia, Venezuela (Highland CC)
2022: A first-team all-conference selection after hitting .327 with 5 home runs, 4 doubles and 3 triples … As a freshmen, Suarez hit .291 with 8 home runs and 11 doubles.
 
Andres Perez – RHP – Cuauhtemoc, Mexico (El Paso CC)
2022: Posted a 4-2 record with 2 saves in 32 innings of work … Recorded 59 strikeouts during that time posting a 16.42 K's per nine innings … Recorded a 3.34 earned run average.
 
Austin Neal – RHP – Claremore, Okla. (Fort Scott JC)
2022: Posted a 1-1 (.500) record with nine saves … Also recorded 45 strikeouts in just 28 innings of work … Those numbers came on the heels of a 2021 campaign that saw him record 10 saves.
 
Connor Kaiser – OF – College Station, Texas (Galveston JC)
2022: A second-team all-conference selection … Hit .331 last season with a home run, six doubles and two triples … Also swiped nine bags.
 
Foster Kreuzer – RHP – Anahuac, Texas (Galveston JC)
2022: Posted a 2-2 record last season with a save … Struck out 32 batters in just 28 innings of work.
 
Gavin Green – RHP – Bridge City, Texas (Baton Rouge JC)
2022: Had the second most starts for Baton Rouge this past season … Recorded four complete games and two wins … Recorded 68 innings of work with 52 strikeouts.
 
Griffin Clark – INF – Midland, Mich. (Chattanooga State JC)
2022: A second-team all-conference selection … Hit .381 with five home runs, 18 doubles and one triple last season … Also drew 44 bases on balls and stole 20 bases.
 
Hunter Hesseltine – LHP – Topeka, Kansas (Barton County CC)
2022: Had his season cut short due to injury pitching in just nine innings … In 2021, Hesseltine was 3-1, while striking out 57 batters in 43.1 innings pitched (with only 13 walks).
 
Jackson Cleveland – RHP – OF – Deer Park, Texas (North Central Texas)
2022: Went 5-3 with four complete games … Pitched 67.2 innings pitched with 81 strikeouts to just 36 walks … At the plate, he batted .336 with a home run, seven doubles and recorded seven stolen bases.
 
Jesse Herrera – C – San Antonio, Texas (New Mexico JC)
2022: Earned honorable mention all-conference honors … Hit .357 with 11 home runs, six doubles and 3 triples … Also drew 28 walks and stole seven stolen bases.
 
Kole Tauzin – RHP – Tomball, Texas (Wharton JC)
2022: Posted a 1-0 record with two saves … Struck out 30 batters in 17.2 innings pitched … 2021: Posted a perfect 4-0 record in 22.2 innings pitched with 38 Ks. 
 
Landon Roque – INF – Dickinson, Texas – Angelina JC
2022: Hit .299 with 7 home runs and 9 doubles … Also stole six bases.
 
Luke Bumpus – OF – Wylie, Texas (Midland JC)
2022: An honorable mention all-conference selection … Hit .323 with 4 home runs, 8 doubles and a triple … 2021: A first-team all-conference and all-region selection after batting .397 with 4 home runs, 11 doubles and 2 triples … Also drew 22 walks and stole 7 bags.
 
Peyton Sanderson – SS – Austin, Texas (Paris JC)
2022: A second-team all-conference honoree … Received the honor after hitting .383 with 2 home runs, 9 doubles and six triples … Also recorded 27 walks and stole 7 bases.
 
Ryan Sosa – C – Groves, Texas (Panola JC)
2022: Posted a .296 batting average with a double and 15 walks during his sophomore campaign.
 
High School Signees
Trent Caram – RHP – Houston, Texas (St. Pius X)
High School: Named Utah Pitcher of the Year at Telos Academy … A two-time second-team all-district selection at St. Pius X.
 
Easton Culp – C/INF – Salado, Texas (Harker Heights, Texas)
High School: A four-time first-team all-district selection … Named District Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman … District offensive player of the year following his junior season … A two-time first-team all-state selection … Closed his prep career by earning district MVP honors.
 
Brett Hall – OF – Leander, Texas (Leander HS)
High School: Received first-team all-district honors following a senior year where he hit .427 with 8 doubles and 4 triples … Also swiped 28 bags.
 
Ethan Ocuguera – RHP – Bridge City, Texas (Bridge City HS)
High School: Named district MVP and Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold First Team as a senior …  Pitched 58.1 innings recording 70 strikeouts to just 25 walks … Posted a 1.44 earned run average and help opponents to a .188 batting average …. Recorded a 7-2 mark.
 
Kameryn Henderson – OF – Orange, Texas (Orangefield HS)
High School: A first-team all-district selection as a senior … Was named SETX Player of the Year … Received second-team all-state recognition … Texas High School Coaches' Association (THSCA) All-State selection … Hit .457 with a .529 OBP as a senior … Ended the year with 10 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs … Also stole 21 bases.
 
Tyler Hubbard – OF – Austin, Texas (Vandergriff HS)
2022: An academic all-district selection … One of the top defensive outfielders in the state finishing the previous two years with no errors … Posted a .305 batting average during the summer league leading up to his final year of high school baseball.