BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University bolstered its roster Tuesday with the addition of eight junior college transfers, a class which has been ranked ninth nationally by The JBB – the official home for junior college baseball. In marks the third time in Davis' tenure as Cardinals' head coach that he has landed a junior college class ranked 11^th nationally, or higher.
 
According to The JBB, the Cardinals are the second-highest rated team in the state of Texas and one of just four Lone Star State schools in the top 25. The Cardinals' class includes two JUCO All-Americans and three all-region selections.
 
The Cardinals eight-member class of junior college transfers includes two catchers, two outfielders, two righthanded pitchers an infielder and a first baseman (Wharton JC's Brayden Evans is listed at both first base and outfield).
 
The class also stretches far beyond the borders of the Lone Star State and includes an international flair as four players are from Texas, one is from Arizona, one from Australia, one from Mexico and one from Puerto Rico. Among the four Texans, Slade Foreman is returning to the Golden Triangle after playing four years at Bridge City followed by two years at Angelina College.
 
"Junior College baseball is a great brand and great place to find players that can help you win," said head coach Will Davis. "You can see the different states covered here that speaks to the work ethic of our staff. Coach Hatten, Coach Snedeker and Coach McDowell have all searched hard for the top talent and we feel like we have brought in a great class. It is nice to see it recognized nationally again."
 
The additions of catchers Zak Skinner (Melbourne, Aus./Vernon JC) and Hunter Rebando (Lampasas, Texas/Hill JC) couldn't have come at a more opportune time as Lamar will look to replace one of the all-time greats in program history – Ryan Snell, a 2023 Buster Posey Award finalist and seventh-round draft selection of the Washington Nationals.
 
Skinner is one of two All-Americans in the class after posting a .447 batting average (85 hits), with 10 home runs, 21 doubles and 61 RBIs during his sophomore season. This coming on the heels of a freshman campaign that saw Skinner post a .417 average (75 hits) with seven homers, 16 doubles and nearly 50 runs batted in.
 
Rebando originally signed with UT Rio Grande Valley out of high school before transferring to Hill JC. A junior college all-star during his time at Hill, Rebando hit .254 with eight home runs, which followed up a standout prep career at Lampasas High School. During his time in high school, Rebando received first-team all-district honors, was named district utility player of the year and hit .455 with eight homers.
 
The pitching staff will always be a key focus of every signing class and the Cardinals began the process of filling needs there with the additions of Colton Graham (Surprise, Ariz./Glendale CC) and Anthony Ortiz (Caguas, P.R./Labette JC). Graham is a former all-region selection who has racked up 20 saves and 65 strikeouts in the last two seasons, while Ortiz was a preseason top 137 JUCO prospect, who was rated as the No. 10 junior college prospect in the Midwest region and the No. 6 pitcher.
 
For a look at each of the Cardinals' junior college transfers please see the bios below:
 
2023 Lamar University JUCO Transfer Bios
Brayden Evans – 1B/OF –  Pearland, Texas (Wharton JC)
Junior College: Hit .280 with 12 home runs during his time at Wharton … Posted a .379 on-base percentage, a .417 slugging and a .800 OPS in junior college baseball … Named to the Texas-New Mexico All-Star Game … Graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average – the highest GPA of all student-athletes at Wharton.
 
High School: A three-time team MVP and a four-year starter … Garnered all-state honors three times … Was also a three-time all-district selection.  
 
Slade Foreman – OF – Bridge City, Texas (Angelina CC)
Junior College: A two-year letterwinner for the Roadrunners … Hit .285 with two home runs and eight doubles during his sophomore season.
 
High School: A four-year letterwinner for Bridge City High School … Garnered defensive MVP honors for his work in the field.
 
Colton Graham – RHP –  Surprise, Ariz. (Glendale CC)
Junior College: Two-year letterwinner for GCC … Pitched 52.2 innings during his two junior college seasons recorded 20 saves while striking out 65 batters … As a sophomore, Posted a 1.32 earned run average with 32 strikeouts and nine saves to earn all-region honors.
 
Heladio Moreno – OF – Pearland, Texas (Angelina JC)
Junior College: Freshman year hit .351 with 22 stolen bases, 42 runs scored and 34 RBIs to garner second-team all-conference … Selected to the all-star game that season and had two hits and two steals … As a sophomore, batted .340 with 24 extra base hits and 17 stolen bases … He also led the region with six triples and a .950 OPS … A second-team all-conference selection … Posted one of the best games of his career against Northeast Junior College where he hit for the cycle.
 
High School: Posted a .430 batting average as a senior and swiped 33 bases … Led the district with eight triples … Posted a 1.042 OPS and was named first-team all-district.
 
Anthony Ortiz – RHP – Caguas, P.R. (Labette JC)
Junior College: A preseason Top 140 JUCO prospect … Considered a Top 10 JUCO prospect in the midwest region, and the No. 6 pitcher in the region … Pitched out of the bullpen last season where he posted a 2.06 ERA.
 
Hunter Rebando – C – Lampasas, Texas (Hill JC)
Junior College: Originally signed with UT Rio Grande Valley out of high school before transferring to Hill … Was named a JUCO All-Star after hitting .254 with eight home runs as a catcher.
 
High School: The strong start to his junior college career came as little surprise following a prep career that saw him get off to a great start during the COVID shortened season - .455 with three home runs … A first-team all-district selection as was named district utility player of the year as a junior.  
 
Ricky Sanchez – INF – Mexico City, Mexico (Barton JC)
Junior College: A 2022 honorable mention All-America … NJCAA first-team all-conference selection … Garnered first-team All-KJCCC West and second-team all-region selection … Hit .442 (91 hits) with nine home runs, 35 doubles and 90 RBIs, while stealing 27 bases as a freshman … Followed that up with a .323 average (65 hits), seven home runs, 17 doubles, 71 RBIs and 22 steals as a sophomore.
 
Zak Skinner – C – Melbourne, Aus. (Vernon JC)
Junior College: A third-team All-America … Two-time all-conference selection … Hit .447 (85 hits) with 10 home runs, 21 doubles and 61 RBIs as a sophomore … Those numbers came on the heels of a .417 (75 hits) average with seven home runs, 16 doubles and 48 RBIs … Played for the Melbourne Aces in the ABL and also represented Team Australia in 2019.