The John Savage era in Westwood may officially be starting
now.
Only a calendar year after succeeding the beloved Gary Adams as
UCLA baseball coach and promptly leading the Bruins to an abysmal
season, Savage welcomed a recruiting class that rivals any program
in the country.
Baseball America, the most respected amateur baseball
publication in the nation, recently ranked Savage’s 2005
recruiting class at No. 5, trailing only Vanderbilt, Arizona State,
Texas and South Carolina.
The recognition might be unexpected, considering the Bruins
spent last season setting all kinds of school records in futility,
highlighted by an 18-game losing streak. But people around UCLA
have been anticipating the arrival of this incoming class, and
Savage has reason to believe he will now have an opportunity to
shape a baseball program centered on his own recruits.
“We’ve been waiting for these guys to officially
enroll and enter the program,” Savage said. “It’s
exciting to get some new blood here and have some healthy
competition for jobs.”
Leading the class were prep standouts Ryan Babineau (Etiwanda
HS), Cody Decker (Santa Monica HS) and Tim Murphy (Ranch Buena
Vista HS). Babineau is projected to be the starting catcher as a
freshman, while Decker, whose natural position is also catcher,
will most likely see significant playing time at first base or
designated hitter.
Murphy offers the Bruins a two-way threat as a power-hitting
outfielder and a left-handed pitcher who could potentially succeed
senior Hector Ambriz as the ace of the staff.
“We were looking to get immediate help with these
recruits, but we feel that these three players will pay dividends
this year and over the long haul,” Savage said.
The rest of the class was headlined by junior college transfers
David Huff, Tyson Brummett, Brady Dolan and Paul Schmidt. Huff
comes to UCLA as the most accomplished of the junior college
players, and he provides Savage with a veteran left-handed pitcher
out of the bullpen.
While Savage welcomes a blend of high school players and more
seasoned junior college transfers, he doesn’t want to make a
habit out of recruiting older prospects.
“My philosophy is to recruit high school kids because
that’s really where most of the playmakers come from, year in
and year out,” Savage said. “But this was an unusual
year because of the talent pool in junior college and our need to
get players who can contribute right away.”
When asked if Adams left the cupboard of talent rather bare,
Savage said he “wouldn’t characterize it as
that.” However, he did say that “it was a priority to
add players who can start this year.”
The importance of this recruiting class for Savage’s
program can be felt when considering that UCLA ranked ahead of
national powerhouse and Pac-10 foe Stanford, who chimed in at No.
9. Savage reiterated that the Bruins’ ability to leapfrog the
Cardinal in recruiting defines a new era for baseball in
Westwood.