Eight Signed to Baseball's 2024 Class

The Ball State baseball team and head coach Rich Maloney have landed eight signees for their 2024 recruiting class.

The class includes five pitchers and three position players, while four come from Indiana, two from Ohio and one each from Michigan and Virginia.

"Hats off to recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney and pitching coach Justin Wechsler on landing this special group," Maloney said. "Only time will tell how good this group will be, but our staff is chomping at the bit to work with these young men. This class has a combination of competitive fire, athleticism and upside."

John Colligan
Alexandria, Va. | West Potomac HS
A shortstop who projects as a centerfielder at Ball State, Colligan has earned three varsity letters and spots on the second team (junior) and first team (sophomore) of the Patriot Conference all-league teams. The team captain was the Wolverines' team MVP as a sophomore and second team all-region in 2022 as well after batting .448 with 19 RBI. Colligan hit .330 with two home runs and 16 RBI last season.

Academically, Colligan is an honor roll member who plans on majoring in applied cybersecurity with a minor in software engineering when he arrives at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Colligan
"John is a very athletic outfielder with good size and a definite upside."

Brady Fitzpatrick
Hamilton, Ohio | St. Xavier HS
Fitzpatrick is a left-handed pitcher from a suburb of Cincinnati who boasts a career 2.50 ERA. The lefty was named to the World Wood Bat Association and Perfect Game Firecracker all-tournament teams. The Ohioan has earned three varsity letters and been a captain for two seasons.

Fitzpatrick plans to study physical therapy at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Fitzpatrick
"Brady's a gritty LHP who pounds the strike zone. His competitive fire gives him a bright future."

Brendan Garza
Mattawan, Mich. | Mattawan HS
A right-handed pitcher who earned first team all-conference and second team all-state honors as a junior, Garza has a career 1.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts on the mound. Garza led the Wildcats to district and regional championships and a state runner-up finish. The Michigander has won three basketball varsity letters.

Garza plans to study business and marketing with a minor in economics.

Coach Maloney on Garza
"Brendan is a good athlete, highly competitive, with a loose arm and a good upside."

Brayden Huebner
Evansville, Ind. | Evansville North HS
A two-time team captain at shortstop for a highly-ranked Huskies team, the right-handed hitting shortstop was named his team's most improved player. Huebner will have played varsity baseball and basketball four years each before graduating and was named second team all-conference in basketball as a junior.

Academically, Huebner is a member of the National Honor Society and has landed on the honor roll every year of high school.

Coach Maloney on Huebner
"A solid infielder who plays with a lot of confidence and has a bat that should contribute early in his career."

Kade Langhorst
Zionsville, Ind. | Indiana University HS
Langhorst has accumulated a 25-0 record in his high school career, which includes a stint at IMG Academy. The righty has also competed with the highly-ranked Indiana Bulls travel team and was in the starting rotation for Canes National."

Coach Maloney on Langhorst
"Kade is a wiry RHP who has an advanced feel for his pitches."

DJ Scheumann
McCordsville, Ind. | Mt. Vernon HS
Scheumann's primary position is catcher but can also play outfield. He will be a two-time team captain after leading the Marauders again during his senior season. The switch hitter tallied a .291 batting average and .458 on base percentage as a junior, leading Mt. Vernon to a conference championship.

Scheumann plans to study business when he arrives in Muncie.

Coach Maloney on Scheumann
"DJ is a switch-hitting catcher who has excellent size, a strong arm and a promising bat."

Chase Wagner
Zionsville, Ind. | Zionsville Community HS
A right-handed pitcher who also plays outfield, Wagner holds a career 0.88 ERA in high school and landed on the Hoosier Crossroads all-conference second team as a junior. On the mound, he has racked up 62 strikeouts in 40 innings. Wagner is also an accomplished wrestler having made it to the state finals twice in three years on the varsity team.

Academically, Wagner has earned technical honors at Zionsville and plans to major in business management and minor in communications at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Wagner
"Chase is a highly-regarded pitcher in the state of Indiana and a former wrestler with competitive fire and an above average breaking ball."

Charlie Whitacre
Gahanna, Ohio | Gahanna Lincoln HS
Another lefty pitcher from Ohio, Whitacre touts a career 2.40 ERA after having most recently posting a 2.30 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched in 2023. He led the Lions to an Ohio Capital Conference championship as a junior, with a season highlight being a 12-strikeout performance in 4.0 innings pitched.

Whitacre plans on majoring in business at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Whitacre
"Charlie is a tall wiry LHP with his best days in front of him."

Ball State University Athletics

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