Developing players into All-Americans has been a staple of Dan McDonnell’s tenure as the head coach of the University of Louisville Baseball program. It doesn’t matter if a player is a top prospect, MLB draftee or unranked recruit out of high school, Coach Mac can mold anyone into the player they need to be. That being said, player development comes much easier when you’re landing good recruiting classes, and the Class of 2018 is without question Dan McDonnell’s best class in his 13 years at Louisville.

The program’s Class of 2018 has reached as high as the #4 nationally ranked class (Baseball America), including six players in the 2018 Baseball America 500 (Wright, Lohman, Poland, Davis, Borden, Perkins), and nine players ranked in the top 500 by Perfect Game (2 in top 100: Perkins and Wright). Alongside 14 incoming freshman, the Cards also landed JUCO transfer Luke Smith, a RHP out of Parkland College.

It’s safe to say this class will continue to raise the bar for the Louisville Baseball program, as well as ensure a bright future for themselves and the team. Listed below are all 14 incoming freshman heading into the 2019 season. With the help of Coach Mac, any one of them could wind up being on the All-American wall in right field.

Andrew Benefield 
Position: Shortstop
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 178
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 36

Alex Binelas
Position: Third Baseman
B/T: L/R
Hometown: Oak Creek, WI
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 149
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 8

Timmy Borden
Position: Shortstop
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Sellersburg, IN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 146
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 28

Henry Davis
Position: C
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Bedford, NY
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 231
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 20

J.R. Langworthy
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 500+
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 277

Carter Lohman
Position: LHP
B/T: L/L
Hometown: Fishers, IN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 122
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 18

Ben Metzinger
Position: C
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 500+
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 100

Jack Perkins
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Kokomo, IN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 61
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 22

Jared Poland
Position: Infielder
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 124
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 23

Jake Rosing
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Richmond, IL
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 500+
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 217

Garrett Schmeltz
Position: LHP
B/T: L/L
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 500+
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 101

Chris Seng
Position: Outfielder
B/T: R/R
Hometown: La Grange, KY
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 500+
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 163

Kerry Wright
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Montverde, FL
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 72
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 25

Danny Zimmerman
Position: LHP
B/T: L/L
Hometown: Frankfort, IL
Perfect Game Overall Ranking: 438
Perfect Game Position Ranking: 53

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