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Duke Baseball Announces 2002 Signing Class
Dec. 11, 2002
The Duke baseball team has signed nine high school standouts to national letters-of-intent, Blue Devil head coach Bill Hillier announced Wednesday. Pitchers Tony Bajoczky (Tallahassee, Fla.), Sean Murnane (New Castle, N.H.), Danny Otero (Coconut Grove, Fla.), David Torcise (Homestead, Fla.), pitcher/infielder Billy Muldowney (West Chester, Pa.), infielders J.J. Koterba (Columbus, Ohio) and Kyle Silver (Fox Point, Wisc.), outfielder Corey Whiting (Winter Park, Fla.) and catcher/outfielder Eric Baumann (Tampa, Fla.) comprise the 2002 Duke recruiting class.
"These nine student-athletes have accepted an enormous and rewarding challenge of receiving a Duke education and competing in the top baseball conference in the country," Hillier said. "We are confident that these young men are more than capable of handling these tasks and continuing to build Duke Baseball into a national power.
"The position players in this class are very developed physically," Hillier continued. "They're strong, fast and athletic and we are excited about their versatility. The pitchers we signed are guys we feel 'want the ball.' Each guy will add a little something extra and different to our staff and will give us the opportunity to have our deepest staff ever. We've added some very talented arms that we feel have very good command and knowledge. Overall, the desire to compete in these kids stands out more than anything else."
A 6-0, 165-pound right-hander from Tallahassee, Fla., Tony Bajoczky posted an 8-4 record with a 2.80 ERA and 87 strikeouts as a junior at Maclay High School last year. He pitched 70 innings, including five complete games.
A catcher and outfielder at Armwood High School in Seffner, Fla., Eric Baumann will bring speed and versatility to the Blue Devils next year. The 5-11, 195-pound Tampa native has exceptional power and bat speed, according to Hillier.
J.J. Koterba, a 5-11, 180-pound infielder from Columbus, Ohio, hit .384 with 11 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 33 RBIs last season. He also stole 13 bases in 16 attempts and scored 39 runs. He was named a 2001 Baseball Factory All-American and a 2002 Buckeye Scout Ohio Top 100 prospect. Koterba, who also plays running back and defensive back for 2002 state champion Bishop Watterson High School, serves as team captain for both football and baseball.
Billy Muldowney has put up impressive numbers both on the mound and at the plate for West Chester (Pa.) East High School. As a junior last season, the 6-1, 185-pound right-hander posted a 7-0 record with a 0.48 ERA, 61 strikeouts and just four walks. He also hit .401 and had 21 runs batted in. Muldowney was named a 2002 Louisville Slugger High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the 2002 Chester County Athlete of the Year by the Daily Local News and is a three-time Carpenter Cup All-Star selection.
A 6-3, 195-pound southpaw from New Castle New Hampshire, Sean Murnane is one of two left-handed pitchers in the recruiting class. He is a 2003 preseason first-team All-American at Phillips Exeter Academy according to Baseball Factory and earned Top Velocity (90+) honors at Top 96 Showcase this past summer.
Danny Otero, a 6-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher from Coral Gables, Fla., compiled a 5-5 record with a 1.94 ERA while striking out 77 and walking 10 in 61.1 innings last season at Ransom Everglades High School. He garnered first-team All-Dade County, honorable mention All-State and CABA World Series fist-team All-Tournament honors in 2002.
An infielder from Fox Point, Wisc., Kyle Silver is in post-graduate school at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., where he will play ice hockey and baseball. As a senior at The University School of Wisconsin last year, the 5-10, 190-pounder hit .609 with 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 32 RBIs. He also stole 22 bases and scored 42 runs. He was a two-time All-Conference selection in both hockey and baseball and was named Conference Baseball Player of the Year in 2002.
David Torcise is a 6-1, 160-pound lefty at Westminster Christian in Miami, the same school that produced Alex Rodriquez and Doug Mientkiewicz, and he also plays for the Florida Bombers, a highly prestigious summer program. He posted an 8-3 record with a 1.85 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 68 innings last year and was named to the All-Dade County third team.
Outfielder Corey Whiting is a two-time All-Conference selection at Trinity Prep School in Winter Park, Fla., where he hit .375 and led the team in doubles as a junior last season. He earned 2002 honorable mention All-State honors and was a 2002 selection for Florida Diamond Club Showcase. The 6-0, 205-pound Whiting hits from the left side.
"With the combination of competitiveness and talent, we are enthusiastic about getting the class of 2007 on campus," Hillier said. "These young men are not only exceptional players, but also are all great students that will represent themselves, their families and Duke University in a real positive manner. The legacy they decide to leave on us here at Duke is now up to them."
Tony Bajoczky 6'0" 165lb - RHP, Maclay High School, Tallahassee, Fla.
Eric Baumann 5'11" 195lb - C/OF, Armwood High School(Seffner,FL), Tampa, Fla.
JJ Koterba 5'11" 180lb - Infielder, Bishop Watterson High School, Columbus, Ohio
Billy Muldowney 6'1" 185lb - RHP/INF, West Chester East HS, West Chester, Pa.
Sean Murnane 6'3" 195lb - LHP, Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter,N.H.), New Castle, N.H.
Danny Otero 6'3" 175lb - RHP, Ransom Everglades(Coconut Grove,Fla.)Coral Gables, Fla.
Kyle Silver 5'10" 190lb - INF, Choate Rosemary Hall(Wallingford, Conn.), Fox Point, Wisc.
David Torcise 6'1 160lb - LHP, Westminster Christian(Miami,Fla.), Homestead, Fla.
Corey Whiting 6'0" 205lb - OF, Trinity Prep School, Winter Park, Fla.
