LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Head coach Mike Kirby has announced the signing of two additional transfers by the NM State baseball program. With the additions of Tyler Hoeft (Washington State) and Sakemi Sato (Riverside City College), the Aggies have added their third and fourth right-handed pitchers of the week. Tyler Hoeft | RHP | Jr. | 5'11" | Washington State
Tyler Hoeft becomes the second right-handed pitcher to join the Aggies this week. After Will Sierra became an Aggie, Hoeft quickly followed suit.
 
As a sophomore in 2022, Hoeft appeared in 25 games on the making and made one start. Accumulating a 1-2 record with a 5.11 ERA, Hoeft also struck out 23 in 24.2 innings of action.
 
This season, Hoeft proved that he could hang with the best teams in the nation, seeing success against No. 4 Oregon State, No. 9 Arizona, No. 10 Oregon, No. 11 Gonzaga, No. 15 UCLA, and No. 18 Stanford in various appearances.
 
After a successful freshman season in 2021, Hoeft played summer ball for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League. In a competitive Northwoods League littered with future MLB Draft picks, Hoeft worked in 10 games and posted a 3.29 ERA with 40 strikeouts.
 
A native of Federal Way, Washington, Hoeft was an All-State selection and the No. 11 overall Class of 2020 prospect in Washington, according to Perfect Game.  
Sakemi Sato | RHP | So. | 5'10" | Riverside City College
The Aggies continue to bolster the pitching staff with the addition of Sakemi Sato, a right-handed pitcher from Riverside City College.
 
This season, he made 14 appearances out of the bullpen for the CCCAA Champions with a 4-0 record. Recording wins in three straight appearances, Sato finished the season in white-hot fashion. Working 7.2 innings over the three game stretch, Sato struck out ten and allowed just three walks. Sato notched his first collegiate save on April 26 against Cypress, working one-third of an inning.
 
Sato worked in seven games at Santa Ana College in 2021, making four starts. Posting a 3-1 record in 18.2 innings, Sato showed dominant command, fanning 33 hitters.
 
As a freshman, Sato picked up his first win at Cypress, Sato worked 4.1 innings and struck out 10. In his next appearance against Irvine Valley, Sato struck out a career-high 10 over 5.0 innings, allowing just one walk.
 
What They're Saying
Pitching coach Keith Zuniga on Hoeft | "Has an electric arm and is a legit 3 pitch mix. He will have every opportunity to come in and compete for a weekend role from the minute he steps on campus. "
 
Zuniga on Sato |" Sakemi is a gamer! He sits at 90-94 mph with a power slider. His makeup and mentality is what separates him and we wouldn't be happier that he is an Aggie. He comes to us from RCC (CCCAA Champions) a program with championship pedigree."