Kentucky State University head baseball coach Rob Henry has announced the signing of 11 new players for the upcoming 2018-2019 season. 
 
"It will be difficult to replace the contributions of last year's seniors, but this is a group that will help us ease that transition," said Henry. "We will have another excellent mix of returning players with incoming players, and I am looking forward to them continuing the upward trajectory we have established here the last few seasons.

"We're excited about this group of young men and their impact on our program.  Last season was the best this program has had in 30 years, and these players are here to help us build off of last year's successes, which included an appearance in the SIAC Championship game.  The SIAC is as strong in baseball as it has been for quite some time, but we expect to be in the mix for the championship again this season."
 
Dakota Dull (Owenboro High School) – Dull comes to the 'Breds as a freshman infielder. The left-handed hitting third baseman is expected to develop into a power-hitting threat, who can impact the middle of the lineup. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Dakota brings a powerful swing full of pop to our program. As he learns to control and refine his swing, and gets used to pitching at this level, Dakota will compete for a spot in our lineup."
 
Chance Egnor (Rend Lake Community College) – Egnor transfers to the Breds after two solid campaigns at Rend Lake Community College in Illinois, and is one of five players who can see time behind the plate this season. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Chance is an extremely hard worker who loves to compete.  He will give us some new lineup combinations with his ability to hit for power from the left side and he will be a leader on the field through his actions."
 
John Michael Etheridge (South Paulding High School) – Fr, 6'0" 210, 1b South Paulding High School – Etheridge arrives from South Paulding High School in Georgia for his freshman campaign, and is expected to provide depth behind returning starter Boo Thompson. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "John Michael has come in and immediately started working hard at developing.  He understands he is behind one of the best first basemen in the SIAC and is working hard at improving as a player."
 
Josh Graves (Washington County High School) – Graves joins the KSU program after a successful high school career as a dual role player, something he will continue with the 'Breds. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Josh was an impact player in high school as a pitcher and third baseman, and I expect him to help our program in both capacities. He has excellent bat speed and a strong arm with good secondary pitches, and will definitely earn some playing time this year.
 
Ethan Johnson (Fern Creek High School) – Johnson is another solid player from the Thorobreds' pipeline into the Louisville area and will immediately fight for playing time behind the plate. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Ethan is one of the more advanced freshman catchers I have had in terms of catching and throwing ability. He has a strong arm, but what sets him apart is his ability to get rid of the baseball so quickly. He knows he needs to get stronger to impact our lineup offensively, but Ethan has the ability to help us shut down other teams' running games from day one."
 
Jacob Kelly (Rend Lake Community College) - Kelly is the second player to join the KSU program from Rend Lake Community College, and is expected to compete for a slot in the starting rotation. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Jacob was a heavily recruited pitcher coming out of high school by several Division I programs, and if he fully recovers from surgery, he has the ability to be a frontline SIAC starting pitcher. When healthy, Jacob throws in the upper 80's and can touch 90 and potentially beyond. He is working hard at regaining his form and we look forward to him impacting our rotation."
 
Aram Kumar (Franklin County High School) – Kumar is another local player who will stay in the area to continue building the KSU program and will challenge for a starting spot in the middle infield as a freshman.
COACHES COMMENTS: "Aram is a quality infielder from Franklin County, who has the ability to play shortstop, second base and third base. He is one of those players who always plays hard and knows how to make his teammates better on the field. He will definitely help us replace losing Brandon Story and Justin Stinson to graduation."
 
Brandon Love (Moore High School) – Love is a freshman right-handed pitcher from Moore High School in Louisville, who will give the 'Breds much-needed depth on the pitching staff. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Brandon is a big-framed righty who is developing every day. He has the ability to earn some innings for us on the mound as a true freshman this season. Brandon has good stuff and is soaking up a great deal of information on the mound. I look forward to watching him continue to develop."
 
Solomon Reed (Ohio Dominican University) - Reed joins the Thorobreds after a year with the Ohio Dominican University football program. He is another one of several talented pitchers to join the 'Breds this year who will work for innings on the mound. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Solomon is a strong right-handed pitcher who has the ability to throw the ball by some people. I expect him to throw a lot of innings for us this spring, including challenging for a spot in our starting rotation. His development in many ways will depend on harnessing his fastball and continuing to develop his secondary pitchers. If he does that, Solomon has a chance to be one of our most effective pitchers this season."
 
Trey Walker (Farmington High School) –Walker comes to KSU as another in a long line of talented athletes from Detroit. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Trey is one of our early signees from last fall and was a good enough athlete to receive offers to play college football as well. I'm excited to see how he develops now that he is going to focus solely on baseball, and he is another of several talented middle infielders competing to fill that open spot on the infield."
 
Jace Wilson (North Bullitt) – Wilson arrives by way of North Bullitt High School as another talented freshman infielder. 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Jace has come in and shown the ability to be a very good infielder at this level. He comes from an excellent program and has good hands and the ability to play both shortstop and second base. Jace will compete for playing time along with several other talented infielders for us to find the right combination moving forward this upcoming spring."
 
Kentucky State University kicks off the 2019 season February 9 with a four-game series against Vorhees College.