Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Khon Saysamongdy
Diamond 'Dogs ink 10 in signing class
11/14/2022 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball program has announced the signings of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intents in the early signing period for the 2023-24 academic year. All 10 of the future 'Dogs are California natives with eight coming from the high school ranks and two from junior college as this class will give the Bulldogs great depth heading into the 2024 season.
The Diamond 'Dogs signing class features five infielders, four pitchers and one outfielder.
The 'Dogs signed infielders JR Bedford (St. Mary's College HS), Cayden Munster (Clovis West HS), Chase Knight (Bellarmine HS), Cam Schneider (Bullard HS) and Brendan Shanahan (Great Oak HS).
The Bulldogs also added hurlers Andrew Balentine (Pitman HS), Logan Groff (Cypress JC), JT Guerrero (Mt. Whitney HS) and Dustin Tinsley (Modesto JC) with outfielder Hunter Backstrom (Serra Gardena HS) rounding the class.
"This class is an extremely talented class that we feel fits the needs of championship level Mountain West rosters and these players will be immediate impact players in our program from their first day on campus," assistant coach Ryan Overland said.
"On the position player side, we have a great balance of athleticism and physicality that will be highly productive both offensively and defensively. We feel we are signing three of the best middle infielders in the state in Knight, Bedford and Shanahan, Backstrom is maybe the fastest player in the state, as well as the two best hitting prospects in the Valley in Schneider and Munster," added Overland.
"On the mound, Guerrero and Balentine are two of the best arms in the Valley and will make a big impact on the mound. The junior college players in the class, we expect to also make an immediate impact on our program in Groff and Tinsley. These future Bulldogs are not only very talented on the field, but are also exceptional students and will represent Fresno State and the entire Valley on and off the field at the highest level! We are extremely excited to have these young men and their families officially become Bulldogs," Overland said.
Hunter Backstrom, OF, Serra Gardena HS, Los Angeles, Calif.
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 190 lbs.
Height: 6'0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 205
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 165
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
Height: 5'11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 165
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 230
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 170
Height: 6'3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 210
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
The Diamond 'Dogs signing class features five infielders, four pitchers and one outfielder.
The 'Dogs signed infielders JR Bedford (St. Mary's College HS), Cayden Munster (Clovis West HS), Chase Knight (Bellarmine HS), Cam Schneider (Bullard HS) and Brendan Shanahan (Great Oak HS).
The Bulldogs also added hurlers Andrew Balentine (Pitman HS), Logan Groff (Cypress JC), JT Guerrero (Mt. Whitney HS) and Dustin Tinsley (Modesto JC) with outfielder Hunter Backstrom (Serra Gardena HS) rounding the class.
"This class is an extremely talented class that we feel fits the needs of championship level Mountain West rosters and these players will be immediate impact players in our program from their first day on campus," assistant coach Ryan Overland said.
"On the position player side, we have a great balance of athleticism and physicality that will be highly productive both offensively and defensively. We feel we are signing three of the best middle infielders in the state in Knight, Bedford and Shanahan, Backstrom is maybe the fastest player in the state, as well as the two best hitting prospects in the Valley in Schneider and Munster," added Overland.
"On the mound, Guerrero and Balentine are two of the best arms in the Valley and will make a big impact on the mound. The junior college players in the class, we expect to also make an immediate impact on our program in Groff and Tinsley. These future Bulldogs are not only very talented on the field, but are also exceptional students and will represent Fresno State and the entire Valley on and off the field at the highest level! We are extremely excited to have these young men and their families officially become Bulldogs," Overland said.
Hunter Backstrom, OF, Serra Gardena HS, Los Angeles, Calif.
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 190 lbs.
- Minority baseball prospect All American
- #50 ranked outfielder in the country (PBR)
- #51 overall in California (PBR)
- Compton Youth Academy Honor Roll
Height: 6'0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 205
- League Co-Champions, Pitman HS, 2022
- Scholar Athlete Award, Pitman HS, 2022
- Academic All-League, Central California Athletic League (CCAL), 2022
- All District First Team, Modesto Bee, 2022
- All State Nominee, Cal-Hi Sports, 2022
- All 209 Team, 209 Baseball, 2022
- Player of the Year, Pitman HS, 2022Â
- Most Valuable Player, Central California Athletic League (CCAL), 2022
- Boston Red Sox Scout Team, 2021 and 2022
- #16 LHP in California (PBR)
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 165
- Underclass Area Code games (2021)
- Hank Aaron Invitational Top 44 (2022)Â
- 2022 NCS Division 4 Champions
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
- 2022 2nd Team All OEC
- 2022 6 Wins and 32 Strikeouts in 30 Innings
- Will play this spring at Cypress Junior College
Height: 5'11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 165
- 2022 WYL Co pitcher of the year
- 2022 WYL First teamÂ
- 2022 MW pitcher of the yearÂ
- 2021 MW pitcher of the yearÂ
- 2021 WYL Honorable Mention
- Academic letter- Honor RollÂ
- Perfect Game- Top 500 National RankingÂ
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 230
- 1st Team All TRAC
- Silver Slugger of TRAC
- 2x Honor Roll Recipient
- 1x Principal's Honor Roll RecipientÂ
- Boston Red Sox Scout Team, 2021 and 2022
- #40 overall in California (PBR)
- Â 2021 Area Code Games Underclass Team
- 2022 Area Code Games Upperclass Team
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 170
- 2022 1st Team All WCAL
- Kansas City Royals Scout Team
Height: 6'3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 210
- 2x CMAC MVP
- 2x 1st Team all CMACÂ
- 2022 All State Team
- 2021 Bullard Baseball Varsity Team MVP
- 2022 Bullard Baseball Varsity Team MVP
- 2021 Perfect Game Underclass All American
- 2021 Area Code Games Underclass Team
- 2022 Area Code Games Upperclass Team
- 2022 Team California / High School National Championship TeamÂ
- Boston Red Sox Scout Team, 2021 and 2022
- #84 overall in California (PBR)
Height: 6'1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
- 2022 Southwestern League (Southern Section) Baseball First Team All- League (SS)
- Darryl Kile Memorial Baseball Tournament 1st Team All-Tournament Selection (2022)
- 3 Varsity  Baseball Letters (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Great Oak Baseball Team Captain 2022/2023
- Great Oak Captain Athletic Counsel 2022/2023
- Great Oak High School Academic Letter Recipient 2022/2023
- Great Oak Baseball Scholarship Award (2020, 2021, 2022) (4.0 GPA)
Height: 6'2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Weight: 185
- Graduate of Weston Ranch High School in 2022
- 95 K's in 62 innings as a senior in 2022
- Will play this spring at Modesto Junior College
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit 559-278-7160.
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