Texas brings in 16 for 2008

This is the list and below I added some info on some of them.
Name, Pos.; Hometown (School)
Brandon Belt, LHP/OF; Lufkin, Texas (San Jacinto College)
Bobby Buckner, 2B/SS; Boise, Idaho (Boise)
Garrett Clyde, RHP/IF; Humble, Texas (San Jacinto College)
Runey Davis, OF; Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
Kawika Emsley-Pai, C; Bothell, Wash. (Jackson)
Cole Green, RHP; Coppell, Texas (Coppell)
Kevin Keyes, OF; Pflugerville, Texas (Connally)
Lee Johnson, LHP; Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock)
Connor Rowe, OF; Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
Chance Ruffin, RHP; Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
Cameron Rupp, C; Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Christian)
Tant Shepherd, 3B/OF; Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound)
Marcus Tackett, RHP/IF; Tulsa, Okla. (Oral Roberts University)
Stayton Thomas, RHP; Corsicana, Texas (Corsicana)
Casey Whitmer, RHP; Kilgore, Texas (Florida State University)
Brandon Workman, RHP; Bowie, Texas (Bowie)


Runey Davis (OF, 6-0, 178)

-Ranked No. 11 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-Clocked at 6.67 in the 60 at the Texas Rangers Area Code Games tryout.

Cole Green (RHP, 6-1, 195)

-Ranked No. 1 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-Second-team THSCA Class 5A All-State selection as a pitcher in 2006
-Selected District 6-5A Most Valuable Player in 2006.

Kevin Keyes (OF, 6-3, 205)

-Ranked No. 7 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-Selected second-team Class 4A All-State
-Texas Rangers Area Code Team member each of the last two years
-Played in 2006 AFLAC All-American Game.

Connor Rowe (OF, 6-0, 170)

-All-District 15-5A selection as an outfielder in 2006
-All-Centex honorable mention as a junior.

Chance Ruffin (RHP, 6-1, 175)

-Went 5-3 with four complete games, one save, 84 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA in 49.2 innings in district play in 2006
-Earned second-team all-district and Lake Travis HS Big Play Award as a junior
-Garnered all-district honorable mention and LTHS Big Play Award as a sophomore

Tant Shepherd (3B/OF, 6-0, 195)

-Ranked No. 16 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-Class 5A All-State honorable mention as a third baseman in 2006
-First-team All-District 8-5A choice as an infielder in 2006
-Hit .454 with 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 28 RBI and 22 stolen bases as a junior
-Texas Rangers Area Code Team member in 2006
-Won 2006 AABC-Mickey Mantle World Series title as a member of the Dallas Tigers
-Hit .437 with 14 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 47 RBI and 18 stolen bases for the Dallas Tigers in 2006.

Stayton Thomas (RHP, 6-0, 165)

-Ranked No. 18 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-First-team All-District 14-4A selection as a pitcher in 2006
-Class 4A All-State honorable mention in 2006.

Brandon Workman (RHP, 6-4, 215)

-Ranked No. 24 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
-Named a Louisville Slugger All-America honorable mention as a pitcher in 2006
-A Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team Class 3A All-State choice as a pitcher in 2006
-Second-team Class 3A All-State selection as a designated hitter in 2006
-Tabbed District 6-3A Most Valuable Player as a junior
-Logged an 8-1 record with a 0.94 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 67.1 innings as a junior
-Selected as a first-team District 6-3A pitcher in 2005
-Named a Class 3A All-State honorable mention by the Texas Sports Writers Association
-Posted a 9-4 record with a 1.39 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 80.2 innings as a sophomore.

Bobby Buckner (2B/SS, 6-1, 175)

-Son of former major leaguer Bill Buckner
-Selected to play in 2006 Mariners Cup
-Washington Nationals Northwest Area Code Team participant in 2006
-Rated the No. 3 Class of 2007 prospect at Perfect Game USA Sunshine West Showcase

Cameron Rupp, Prestonwood. Sr., C

-Rupp hit .654 with five home runs and 53 RBIs for Prestonwood, which finished the regular season undefeated but lost to Dallas Christian in the TAPPS 5A state championship.
-Rupp won the home run derby at the High School All-American Baseball Game in Albuquerque, N.M., this month. Rupp then doubled and had an RBI batting cleanup in the West's 12-1 win.

Lee Johnson, pitcher, Round Rock

-Johnson, a 6-foot-6 right-hander who has signed with Texas, saw only marginal action last year as a spot hitter as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. But opponents saw for the first time this season what he can do on a mound: throw a 93-mph fastball.

-Johnson starred this year as the Dragons' closer — went 2-1, notching five saves, posting a 0.32 ERA and striking out 32 in 212/3 innings. He allowed just one earned run during the regular season.