Hunter Renfroe commits to MSU Baseball!!!

[JacksonDevilDog]

What a huge pickup.

Copiah Academy standout.

Hit 97 off the mound. Works 92-95.

Lead the nation in high school homeruns for most of the year. I've talked to a few guys from the area that have seen him and they say that he's unreal.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

What a huge pickup.

Copiah Academy standout.

Hit 97 off the mound. Works 92-95.

Lead the nation in high school homeruns for most of the year. I've talked to a few guys from the area that have seen him and they say that he's unreal.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

What a huge pickup.

Copiah Academy standout.

Hit 97 off the mound. Works 92-95.

Lead the nation in high school homeruns for most of the year. I've talked to a few guys from the area that have seen him and they say that he's unreal.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

What a huge pickup.

Copiah Academy standout.

Hit 97 off the mound. Works 92-95.

Lead the nation in high school homeruns for most of the year. I've talked to a few guys from the area that have seen him and they say that he's unreal.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

What a huge pickup.

Copiah Academy standout.

Hit 97 off the mound. Works 92-95.

Lead the nation in high school homeruns for most of the year. I've talked to a few guys from the area that have seen him and they say that he's unreal.

 

[Todd4State]

He is one of the few Mississippi guys that I have not seen play- just being honest- but I have heard very similar things. What I like about him is that he can play a lot of different positions. I think he is probably most likely a catcher for us, and certainly with our pitching woes, he will get a look on the mound as well. He's a guy that can catch, maybe be a relief pitcher, and play any of the corner positions.

He runs really well for a catcher to- I believe he had over 10 stolen bases- which is fairly good bit for high school. I have heard that he needs to work on his defense behind the plate, so that really seems to be the only chink in his armor.

You do have to question his compeition, but he also utterly dominated the compeition. He was hitting over .600 most of the year, and he finished in the .500's.

But yes- VERY nice pick-up. He was drafted higher than any of our other signees except for Corey Dickerson.

 

[windcrysmary]

will he come to campus vs MLB draft.... juicy stuff... no whadamean?

 

[Coach34]

but is Copiah's field still 270 down the LF line? ****, I hit 5 out of there in 4 HS games against them...

I've heard the guy is a player, just make sure and adjust for the inflated HR total if its the same field- because there was nowhere for the fence to go back any farther

 

[Todd4State]

LSU and Ole Miss were looking at him. I had heard that LSU had offered. I'm not sure anout Ole Miss, but I suspect that they did. He was supposed to go to Meridian CC, but he also had said that he would be willing to take an offer to a four year school.

He really kind of jumped on the scene about this time last year at the state game in Meridian. That was when we first started looking at him.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

He is the real deal.

1.8 to second base with NO catching fundamentals.

Can hit the ball to all fields with power.

Walked 60 times in 150 at bats and still hit over 20 homeruns and drove in over 70 runs while hitting over .500.

Throws 96 off the mound and can play outfield.

The same coaches told me that he was a top 5 round draft pick but he wanted waaaayyyyy too much money to sign.

 

[Todd4State]

but is Copiah's field still 270 down the LF line? ****, I hit 5 out of there in 4 HS games against them...



I've heard the guy is a player, just make sure and adjust for the inflated HR total if its the same field- because there was nowhere for the fence to go back any farther

But I will say this to help sprout some wool:

1. No one else hit 20 home runs there this year.

2. No one else put up the numbers he did.

3. MSU/LSU and the Red Sox all think he's pretty good.

At the same time, you make a good point. He may not be a 20 home run guy in college, but I think he could definately be a guy that hits 10-15, hits well over .300, and steals a few bags for us. Those would be really solid numbers for a catcher.

And I don't know what the dimensions at Copiah's Field are.

I will also say this- he hit both Prep and Hillcrest pretty well this year. Those are two of the better teams in Academy ball, and Hillcrest had two pitchers that were D-I signees.

 

[dhm7t]

I graduated and played at Copiah and yes the fence is about 270. The game I watched him play he hit one over the light pole and was throwing guys out from his knees. You can never tell how a person will pan out in college but he could have played at any public school in the state. The kids that go to Copiah don't have a choice of schools if they want a good education.

 

[57stratdawg]

Ed Easley?

 

[Boomerdog15]

I graduated from Copiah too and I'd have to say left field is closer to 300 than 270. I never got the chance to see the kid play, even though my parents live a mile from the school. My dad said everyone he'd talked to about him said he's the real deal. I know he had the fastest pop-time of all catchers at State's camp last summer.

 

[Todd4State]

I think Renfroe will be a better offensive player than Easley- and Ed wasn't that bad at all- and I think Renfroe will steal more bases than Ed, as well as have more home runs. I think Ed Easley is a superior player defensively, however.

I have never seen a catcher more prepared from a defensive standpoint as a college freshman than Ed Easley.

That said, I do think that Hunter will be a very good defensive player, but that is a part of his game that he will have to develop over time. Easley was the opposite in that he had to progress more from an offensive standpoint, which he did.

 

[Coach34]

it had a 270 sign on the LF fence...and with the dropoff down the hill behind it, it cant be moved back anymore...it was still in the same place in the mid-90's when I was there as well

Just sayin

 

[Boomerdog15]

I'm sure it's not that either, I was jokingly directing that to my fellow Copiah Alum to make us sound a little better than that.

 

[TBonewannabe]

I think he would even hit BP with a wood bat after practices. I heard he was asking for around 1 million to sign.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

I think he would even hit BP with a wood bat after practices. I heard he was asking for around 1 million to sign.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

It's hard to get excited about players that sign this late in the game. They typically turn out to be marginal at best. He seems to have the numbers and getting drafted says a lot. Seems like he had his mind set on pro ball, but couldn't get what he wanted.

 

[bonedaddy401]

they said he went from being a short stocky kid to over six feet and pushing 200overnight. The reason for this wastherapeuticgrowth hormone. This is not uncommon these days from what I understand.Apparentlythis is taking place a lot with high school athletics and under sized kids. Thought that was interesting.

 

[Paperdawg]

And no it's not 270 anymore. The lf and rf fences were moved back a few years ago and the 450' centerfield corner was moved in and rounded off. It actually looks like a baseball field instead of a football practice field.

Renfroe is the real deal. Word is that he priced himself out of a higher draft round by allegedly declaring that he wouldn't sign for less that $1 million. He had committed to MCC and apparently Cohen and staff began working him late in the season.

He will be a great catcher for us–is the prototypical size and has a great arm.

 

[Dollabillz]

ie eligible to play for us next year?

 

[Coach34]

and as I said, I've heard alot of good things about him- wasnt trying to knock his ability. Sounds like another great pick-up for Cohen- you cant fault recruiting right now

 

[thunderclap]

with a rounded outfield, my ERA would have been under 3.00.

Nice pic, by the way.

 

[Coach34]

at least you guys could hit- just no pitching after Gay left...but Ko-pie offset their lack of pitching with no hitting

 

[Dollabillz]

Hunter Renfroe - gassing 95, drafted high
Demarcus Henderson - unreal hitter and fast as hell
C.T. Bradford - Florida POY
Darryl Norris - Alabama POY
Taylor Stark - drafted
Wes Rea - 6'5", 275 need I say more
Pitts, Lewallen (if he makes it), Frazier - some of the best defenders around

All of those guys have a chance to start NEXT year. You absolutely cannot recruit any better at MSU in 2010 than John Cohen is doing right now.

 

[Original48]

An unexpected growth spurt of 6 inches by his redshirt freshman season producing the #1 QB in the nation before he leaves...and one that would not have signed with us had he already been that size! You watch...it's our turn!!

 

[KurtRambis4]

amazing that people stay on Cohen as much as they do on here.

 

[champ.sixpack]

was set to be drafted in the 4th round of this year's draft but turned it down to come to State. That is straight from the horses mouth. He ended up going late 30's early 40's though. But I was thinking about where this class will sit if all these guys make it in for school in the fall, I see nowhere outside of the top 10. Where do you guys see its final ranking?

 

[jackstefano]

Most people just want quick, if not instant, gratification. So they don't want to accept that it's nigh unto impossible to go from almost zero talent to being competitive in the SEC in 3 years. 2012 (and to some degree next year) you will see tangible results from all the recruiting.

 

[ckDOG]

The reason for this was therapeutic growth hormone. This is not uncommon these days from what I understand. Apparently this is taking place a lot with high school athletics and under sized kids. Thought that was interesting.

I know nothing about growth hormones. But, my assumption would be that it's risky, at best, for kids that haven't even fully developed yet to be taking this. Anyone know what these kids are taking and what sort of information there is regarding safety? I'd like to know before I start calling parents/coaches dumb asses - which is likely the case.

 

[bill brasky.sixpack]

There is no denying that. The class coming in looks unreal. I just can't believe we had two kids from the past class transferring already and one was a weekend starter this year. That is what scares me about Cohen, not to mention all the losing, but this class should be able to make up for a lot of the deficiencies.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

It says he got hurt during his sophomore season and then just sat out this year recovering, helping the team as sort of a coach. Did I understand that right? Did he spend 3 years at juco?

 

[champ.sixpack]

about Tim Statz. He's a Juco pitcher we have coming in for next year. I was also wondering that though too about how long he actually did spend in Juco and how much eligibility he has left.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

No, most people just want to see some improvement. So far, eh, no dice.

 

[57stratdawg]

ckDOG[/b]]

The reason for this was therapeutic growth hormone. This is not uncommon these days from what I understand. Apparently this is taking place a lot with high school athletics and under sized kids. Thought that was interesting.

I know nothing about growth hormones. But, my assumption would be that it's risky, at best, for kids that haven't even fully developed yet to be taking this. Anyone know what these kids are taking and what sort of information there is regarding safety? I'd like to know before I start calling parents/coaches dumb asses - which is likely the case.

Growth Hormones aren't thatuncommon from a medical standpoint. Iobviously have no figures backingthat statement up, but I know that some kids with scoliosis, respiratory issues (asthma, ect), andbone density issues could be given HGH to help.

Having said that, from everything I've everread itseems to be hell on your body. I know it can have really bad side effects on tendons, cholesterol levels, and other things.Which is why it's usually given to younger kids, rather than older adults.

It seems totally plausible to me that an overbearing/slightly wealthyfamily +a Dr looking to make a little extra $ = a kid on HGH for"medical purposes".In reality that medical purpose isso that he can go from 6'0 160 to 6'0 200lbs. Im not saying thats what happen to Renfroe, just speaking hypothetically.

 

[ckDOG]

But, I do feel bad for the hypothetical kid in your post. I'm sure there are some examples of that out there. Parents should be locked up for pushing that on their kids without a real medical reason. Athletic gains for an otherwise healthy kid is definitely not a legit reason. Hopefully, situations like that are few and far between and not becoming popular with helicopter parents of undersized HS athletes.

 

[shoeless joe]

i knew the kid a little when he was growing up playing baseball. he was always decent but didnt make the high school team at hillcrest so he transferred to copiah. he COULD have gone to terry and played for a great coach against consistently good competition but chose to play at copiah. to me that doesn't say much about his will to compete as opposed to dominate lesser competion, yes i know hillcrest and prep are solid teams. and yes i also heard that he just woke up one day and was bigger, stronger, and better. that being said shane kelly told me the same thing about satterwhite and he worked out pretty good for the rebels. in no way am i trying to bash the kid and as a die hard fan hope he comes in and makes a difference.

 

[dhm7t]

The fence is 300, not that it really matters because he was hitting it over the light pole. </p>