Cowboy Baseball Adds Six Transfers

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State has added six junior college transfers to its program for the 2016 season, it was announced by Cowboy head coach Josh Holliday.

Highlighting the class is 2015 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year Garrett Benge, who had a record-setting freshman season at Cowley County Community College. Benge is one of three players joining OSU after their freshman seasons at the JUCO level.

Along with Benge, the Cowboys inked two other infielders — JR Davis and Kyle Hann — as well as catcher Collin Theroux and a pair of right-handed pitchers in Jake Cowan and Max Simpson.

Both Benge and Theroux were selected in last June's Major League Baseball Draft, with Benge picked in the 22^nd round by Cleveland and Theroux tabbed by Minnesota in the 33^rd round.

"When you look at this particular group of transfers, what really sticks out for me is the statistical success that some of them have had as well as having been parts of big-time winning teams," Holliday said. "We like the veteran presence that these kids bring to the roster, we like the way that they complement our returning players and we like the way they reset some of the spots in our recruiting class to create some balance up and down our roster."

Garrett Benge, INF, 6-0/195 – Yukon, Okla. (Cowley County CC/Yukon HS)
Was named the 2015 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year following a standout freshman season at Cowley County … hit .502 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs and also racked up 26 doubles and four triples … collected 103 hits while recording a .946 slugging percentage and .601 on-base percentage for a team that went 54-5 … also notched 15 stolen bases on 19 attempts … selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 22^nd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft … at Yukon High School was named 2014 Perfect Game All-West Region Honorable Mention and was a 2013 PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American.

Holliday on Benge: "Garrett had a remarkable freshman year being the national junior college player of the year. He put up video game statistics and was part of a big-time offensive team at Cowley County so we know we're getting a player who really knows his way around the batter's box. And he turned down a significant opportunity from the Cleveland Indians to be part of Oklahoma State baseball — his desire to be at Oklahoma State was strong."

Jake Cowan, RHP, 6-2/195 – Mangum, Okla. (Cowley County CC/Mangum HS)
Went 5-0 with eight saves and a 1.89 ERA in 23 relief appearances as a freshman at Cowley … racked up 44 strikeouts in 33.1 innings … 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American at Mangum High School … earned 2014 OCA All-State honors as a catcher following his senior season at Mangum High School.

Holliday on Cowan: "Jake is a guy that really blossomed in his first year of junior college. His velocity jumped up significantly — he made some adjustments and became a guy that not only threw harder but developed a true out pitch with a swing-and-miss slider. He is a guy we're really excited about that can help us right away coming out of the bullpen with some closer and late-inning experience."

JR Davis, INF, 5-10/180 – Vallejo, Calif. (Contra Costa College/St. Patrick/St. Vincent HS)
Played two seasons at Contra Costa College … spent 2015 at Seminole State trying to get retroactive medical redshirt after playing in just nine games as a freshman at CCC before suffering season-ending injury but request was denied … as a sophomore at CCC, hit .288 with four doubles, 10 RBIs and 13 stolen bases … suffered broken ankle early in freshman season … as a prep was the Bay Shore Athletic League MVP as a junior and senior … hit .425 as a senior and .556 as a junior.

Holliday on Davis: "JR is a kid that had to sit out last year but is a great athlete with outstanding speed and strength. He's got great tools, and his athleticism is something we're very excited to have. He'll come in and give us a quality option to compete for a job on the infield as well as being athletic enough to roam the outfield. He's an explosive player with a strong makeup that we think will elevate our team."

Kyle Hann, INF, 5-8/175 – Oakville, Ontario, Canada (St. Johns River/Mississippi State/Hillfield Strathallen College)
Spent the 2015 season at St. Johns River State College and hit .319 with five homers and 35 RBIs in 56 games … also had 21 stolen bases on 24 attempts … played in 28 games with 13 starts during parts of two seasons at Mississippi State (2013-14) … started three games at shortstop and one at DH in 2014 before injury ended his season … went 1-for-10 with a double and RBI … as a freshman in 2013 hit .219 (7-for-32) with seven runs, three walks and an RBI in 26 games … three-time member of Baseball Canada Junior National Team … helped lead team to gold medal game at 2012 IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship.

Holliday on Hann: "Kyle is a very athletic middle infielder who started his career at Mississippi State and has tremendous experience with the Canadian national team and had a big year at St. Johns River. He's a mature, older, strong player who has a lot of at-bats at the upper levels and brings some valuable experience."

Max Simpson, RHP, 6-4/180 – Tulsa, Okla. (Hutchinson CC/Bishop Kelley HS)
Appeared in 17 games with four starts as a freshman at Hutchinson CC … was 7-2 with a save and a 2.37 ERA … recorded 85 strikeouts in 60.2 innings … named the Jayhawk West Conference Pitcher of the Year … named to the OCA All-Region 7 Team as a senior at Bishop Kelley High School in 2014.

Holliday on Simpson: "Max is a sidearmer who had a remarkable freshman year. He really knows how to locate the ball and can throw his off-speed pitches at any time. He had ridiculous success at Hutch, and they did a great job there of developing him. By the end of his freshman year, it was apparent he was ready to make the jump to the Division I level. He's a tall right-hander who can spin the ball and move the ball, sink it from a sidearm slot."

Collin Theroux, C, 6-3/220 – San Mateo Calif. (San Joaquin Delta College/Nevada/Junipero Serra HS)
A 33^rd-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft … hit .273 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs in 46 games as a sophomore at San Joaquin Delta … also had six doubles and two triples … recorded a .430 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage … hit .274 with three homers and 28 RBIs as a freshman … tallied 12 doubles and two triples … as a senior at Junipero Serra High School hit .348 with five homers, 25 RBIs and a .596 slugging percentage and led team to West Catholic Athletic League championship … was named first-team All-West Catholic Athletic League, first-team CIF-Central Coast Section, All-Daily News prep first team, San Jose Mercury News first-team and Perfect Game California Region Honorable Mention.

Holliday on Theroux: "Collin is a guy that was drafted and turned down a good bonus to come compete for the starting catching job. He's a big, strong kid with outstanding defensive skills and a lot of raw power. He's a very outgoing kid with some leadership skills and displayed a strong desire to be at Oklahoma State."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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