(November 12, 2008)--Baylor baseball head coach Steve Smith announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday. The class is comprised entirely of current high school athletes, seven of whom are from Texas. The Bears signed four infielders, one outfielder and three left-handed pitchers.

“We are really pleased to be able to announce this class,” Smith said. “This is a very good group of players, and we feel like this group will go a long way toward meeting our needs in the next year. The position players – particularly the infielders – are all athletic and versatile enough to play anywhere on the field. Obviously, we focused on left-handed pitching, and we’re very pleased with what we were able to get in that area.”

The following will join Baylor’s baseball program in the fall of 2009: OF Tyler Collins (Trophy Club, Texas; Justin Northwest HS), LHP Zackry Dodson (LaCoste, Texas; Medina Valley HS), LHP Taylor Eikenberry (Rock Falls, Ill.; Rock Falls HS), IF Lawton Langford (Uvalde, Texas; Uvalde HS), IF Jake Miller (Houston, Texas; Stratford HS), IF Max Muncy (Keller, Texas; Keller HS), LHP Josh Turley (Texarkana, Texas; Texas HS) and IF Logan Vick (Kerrville, Texas; Tivy HS).

All eight signees are highly rated by Perfect Game Cross Checker. Miller is rated as the 11th-best prospect in Texas, 75th nationally. Muncy is rated 36th in Texas and 293rd nationally, while Turley is rated 43rd in Texas and 357th nationally. Eikenberry is rated as the seventh-best prospect in Illinois, 365th nationally. The other four all are rated in Texas: Collins is 59th, Dodson is 67th, Vick is 98th and Langford is 111th.

Dodson and Turley both have USA Baseball experience. Turley was a 2008 USA Baseball 18-under Team Trials participant, and both participated in the 2008 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars. Miller, Turley and Vick were 2008 Texas Rangers Area Code Games participants.

Baylor opens its 2009 season Feb. 20-22, hosting Pacific for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark.