The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Announce Three More Signees Tuesday
11/16/2004 | Baseball
Nov. 16, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss baseball signed left-handed pitcher Craig Rodriguez, catcher Brett Basham, and right-handed pitcher Wade Broyles to national letters of intent to play baseball for the Rebels, head coach Mike Bianco announced Tuesday. All three will be eligible for the 2005-2006 academic year.
"We're very excited about these players," said Ole Miss assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Dan McDonnell. "Rodriguez is the top junior college pitcher in the state of Mississippi, while Basham and Broyles are two of the top high school prospects in the southeast. Broyles has an outstanding curveball, and Basham is one of the top catch-and-throw catchers."
Rodriguez, 6-feet-5, 210 pounds, from Sugar Land, Texas, was drafted in the 31st round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in last June's Major League Baseball Draft following his freshman season at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College. He went 6-3 with 3.45 ERA and struck out 78. In high school, Rodriguez was a two-time all-state and a three-time all-district selection while prepping at St. Pius X in Houston.
Basham, 6-feet-2, 185 pounds, from Knoxville, Tenn., is a two-time honorable mention All-District IV selection at Bearden High School. He was listed by Team One Baseball as one of the south's top 30 prospects in 2004, and was rated as the No. 4 high school prospect by Baseball America magazine. He was also invited to participate in the 2004 Perfect Game National Showcase.
Broyles, 6-feet-3, 195 pounds from Madison, Miss., has helped Madison Central to district championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004, including a state title in 2002. He went 6-3 and posted a 1.91 ERA, while striking out 66 and walking 17 in 43 innings pitched last spring. Broyles is also listed as one of the top 100 high school right-handed pitchers by Team One Baseball, and was named as one of the top 20 prospects at the Team One Texas Showcase.
Ole Miss went 39-21 last season and played host to its first NCAA Regional. The 2005 campaign will mark Bianco's fifth season with the Rebels and he has recorded a 150-90-1 record at Ole Miss.
2004 OLE MISS BASEBALL EARLY SIGNEES
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/High School (Junior College) |
| Brett Basham | C | 6-2 | 185 | Knoxville, Tenn./Bearden High School |
| Wade Broyles | RHP | 6-3 | 195 | Madison, Miss./Madison Central |
| Wes Grilliette | RHP | 6-2 | 190 | Oxford, Miss./Oxford |
| Devin Hicks | 3B | 6-3 | 215 | Bartlett, Tenn./Bartlett |
| Cullan Kight | 1B | 6-3 | 225 | Magee, Miss./Simpson Academy |
| Zach Miller | INF | 5-7 | 170 | Germantown, Tenn./Houston |
| Craig Rodriguez | LHP | 6-5 | 210 | Sugar Land, Texas/St. Pius X (Pearl River C.C.) |
| Cody Satterwhite | RHP | 6-4 | 192 | Byram, Miss./Hillcrest Christian |
| Chase Ware | RHP | 6-4 | 190 | Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch |
