Skip To Main Content

New Mexico State University Athletics

The Official Website of New Mexico State University Athletics
Now Loading: Baseball
Aggies, Oh Aggies!
Presley Askew Field

Aggies Announce 2021 Signing Class

| By: Oliver Grigg

New Mexico State baseball finalized its recruiting class, inking a total of 11 high school and junior college standouts.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Aggies made program history last season, matching their best 13-game start (12-1) ever before the campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That momentum has not slowed down this offseason.

NM State head baseball coach Mike Kirby announced today the signing of 11 student-athletes to the team's 2021 recruiting class. This year's group of signees, which includes four top-500 and two top-1,000 overall prospects by Perfect Game, marks the second under Kirby and his staff.

"I want to thank [assistant coach/recruiting coordinator] Keith Zuniga and [assistant coach] Michael Pritchard for their work in building this class," Kirby said. "Nothing about this year has been easy. They've overcome all the obstacles to bring in not only good ballplayers, but great students and upstanding members of the community."

Joining NM State in the fall of 2021 will be: Matthew Bachelier, Pablo Cortes, Mitchell Downing, Stephen Espinoza, Noah Estrella, Cal Kilgore, Jack Rogers, Austin Schneider, Cade Swenson, Ryan Verdugo and Jacob Wiltshire.

The new class of Aggies includes of six pitchers (Bachelier, Cortes, Downing, Estrella, Swenson and Verdugo), one catcher (Kilgore), three infielders (Espinoza, Rogers and Wiltshire) and one outfielder (Schneider). Five members of the signing class are from Arizona and three hail from California while Chihuahua, Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska each have one representative. 

2021 SIGNEES


Matthew Bachelier
6-2 / 200 / L-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
Nogales, Ariz. / Nogales HS / Yavapai College
  • Notes: Second-ranked right-handed pitcher and the 18th-ranked overall prospect in the state of Arizona by Perfect Game ... 345th-ranked right-handed pitcher and a Top 500 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Nogales HS in Nogales, Ariz.
   
Pablo Cortes
6-0 / 155 / R-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
Juárez, Mexico / Faith Christian Academy / El Paso CC
  • 2020 (at El Paso CC): Six appearances with five starts, striking out 19 across 24.2 innings of work and recording a 2-2 record ... Struck out a season-high six in 6.0 innings against Dodge City CC (2/15) ... In his final start of the abbreviated season, struck out five in 5.0 innings against New Mexico JC (3/6).
  • 2019 (at El Paso CC): 19 appearances with seven starts, striking out 41 in 53.2 innings pitched ... Tossed two complete games as a starter and logged three saves coming out of the bullpen ... Went the distance against Eastern Arizona College (2/12), striking out a season-high 10 in 7.0 innings of one-run ball ... Tossed his second complete game in his final start of the season, allowing three runs across 7.0 innings of work with six strikeouts.
  • 2018 (at El Paso CC): Seven appearances with five starts, striking out 22 batters in 21.1 innings ... In his first start, struck out seven in 4.0 innings against Scottsdale CC (1/27).
  • High School: Attended Faith Christian Academy in El Paso, Texas.
 
Mitchell Downing
6-1 / 170 / R-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
Glendale, Ariz. / Cactus HS / Glendale CC
  • 2020 (at Glendale CC): Six appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 2.08 ERA with four strikeouts across 8.2 innings of work ... Struck out one in his first appearance of the season, tossing a scoreless frame at Yavapai (2/1) ... Season-high two strikeouts in 3.0 innings against Mesa CC (2/18).
  • High School: Attended Cactus HS in Glendale, Ariz.
   
Stephen Espinoza
6-1 / 180 / R-R / Infielder
Lompoc, Calif. / Lompoc HS
  • High School: Attended Lompoc HS in Lompoc, Calif., where he played varsity baseball for head coach Jason Carlson.
 
Noah Estrella
6-2 / 155 / R-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
Tucson, Ariz. / Following Wells HS / Paradise Valley CC / Pima CC
  • 2020 (at Paradise Valley CC): Six appearances with one start, striking out 24 in 29.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA ... Three strikeouts in 5.0 innings at Pima (1/25) ... Allowed one hit across 6.0 scoreless innings with a season-high six strikeouts against Colorado Northwestern CC (2/7) ... Five strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work against Central Arizona (2/15) ... Went a season-long 6.2 innings at Glendale CC, matching his season high in punch-outs with six ... Closed out the abbreviated season with three strikeouts in 5.0 frames at Mesa (3/7).
  • 2019 (at Paradise Valley CC): 15 appearances with one start, posting a 4-2 record with 19 strikeouts in 32.0 innings of work ... Went 6.2 innings in his first start of the year, striking out three in a win against Colorado Northwestern CC (2/9) ... Logged one save on the year, closing out the ballgame at Phoenix College (4/26).
  • High School: Attended Following Wells HS in Tuscon, Ariz.
 
Cal Kilgore
6-1 / 180 / R-R / Catcher
Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest HS
  • Notes: Third-ranked catcher and the 14th-ranked overall prospect in the state of Kansas by Perfect Game ... 174th-ranked catcher and a Top 500 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Blue Valley Southwest HS in Overland Park, Kan.
 
Jack Rogers
6-3 / 210 / R-R / Infielder
Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic HS
  • Notes: Fourth-ranked first baseman and the 38th-ranked overall prospect in the state of Arizona by Perfect Game ... 94th-ranked first baseman and a Top 500 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Salpointe Catholic HS in Tucson, Ariz.
 
Austin Schneider
6-1 / 180 / R-R / Outfielder
Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East HS
  • Notes: Second-ranked outfielder and the eighth-ranked overall prospect in the state of Nebraska by Perfect Game ... 173rd-ranked outfielder and a Top 500 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Lincoln East HS in Lincoln, Neb.
 
Cade Swenson
6-3 / 175 / R-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
Menifee, Calif. / Paloma Valley HS / Palomar College
  • Notes: 126th-ranked right-handed pitcher and the 438th-ranked overall prospect in the state of California by Perfect Game.
  • 2020 (at Palomar College): Eight appearances out of the bullpen, striking out five in 8.1 innings pitched with a 4.32 ERA ... Season-high two strikeouts at Grossmont College in 3.0 innings (2/29).
  • High School: Attended Paloma Valley HS in Menifee, Calif.
 
Ryan Verdugo
6-2 / 175 / R-R / Right-Handed Pitcher
South El Monte, Calif. / Bishop Amat Memorial HS
  • Notes: 84th-ranked right-handed pitcher and the 292nd-ranked overall prospect in the state of California by Perfect Game ... Top 1,000 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Bishop Amat Memorial HS in La Puente, Calif.
   
Jacob Wiltshire
6-2 / 160 / R-R / Infielder
Tucson, Ariz. / Sabino HS
  • Notes: 14th-ranked shortstop and the 57th-ranked overall prospect in the state of Arizona by Perfect Game ... 551st-ranked shortstop and a Top 1,000 overall prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.
  • High School: Attended Sabino HS in Tucson, Ariz.
HEAR FROM THE COACHES
Mike Kirby
Head Coach
"We're fired up to welcome in this group. We've recruited a mix of pitchers and position players from both the high school and junior college levels. On top of the returners from last year's history-making squad, our program has incredibly strong momentum heading into the 2021 season. We can't wait to get back on the field and make Aggie Nation proud!"

Keith Zuniga
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
"Considering the challenges that programs have encountered over the past year, I'm very proud of what we were able to accomplish as a staff during a difficult recruiting period. Our 2021 class is a very talented group that Aggie fans will love. This class brings in a steady mix of power arms, strike throwers and explosive bats! We're excited about what these guys can do on the field, but more excited that they're dedicated in the classroom and understand the responsibility that comes with being an Aggie!"
 
NEW MEXICO STATE 2021 SIGNING CLASS
Name Pos. B-T Ht./Wt. Hometown / High School / Previous School
Matthew Bachelier RHP L-R 6-2/200 Nogales, Ariz. / Nogales / Yavapai College
Pablo Cortes RHP R-R 6-0/155 Juárez, Mexico / Faith Christian Academy / El Paso CC
Mitchell Downing RHP R-R 6-1/170 Glendale, Ariz. / Cactus / Glendale CC
Stephen Espinoza INF R-R 6-1/180 Lompoc, Calif. / Lompoc
Noah Estrella RHP R-R 6-2/155 Tucson, Ariz. / Following Wells / Paradise Valley CC / Pima CC
Cal Kilgore C R-R 6-1/180 Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest
Jack Rogers INF R-R 6-3/210 Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic
Austin Schneider OF R-R 6-1/180 Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East
Cade Swenson RHP R-R 6-3/175 Menifee, Calif. / Paloma Valley / Palomar College
Ryan Verdugo RHP R-R 6-2/175 South El Monte, Calif. / Bishop Amat Memorial
Jacob Wiltshire INF R-R 6-2/160 Tucson, Ariz. / Sabino

For complete coverage of New Mexico State baseball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateBaseball), Instagram (@NMStateBaseball) and like us on Facebook (NM State Baseball).
 
++ NM State ++
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories