Pending physicals and official team announcement :
OF Keaton Anthony - University of Iowa - 22 years old
“Anthony exploded onto the scene in 2022, when he hit .361/.455/.678 with 14 home runs and 22 doubles in 53 games. He was off to more of the same during a strong 2023 campaign and slashed .389/.505/.694 with nine home runs and 21 doubles, though he missed the final month of the season, when Iowa had a gambling investigation that involved multiple sports. Anthony’s last game of the season was May 2 against Illinois State. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound righthanded slugger has an advanced approach at the plate with strong swing decisions, and he gets started with a minimal load and quick, explosive hands that help him spray the ball all over the field. He has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to either gap and has above-average raw power that translates well in games. Anthony managed a 91.5 mph average exit velocity this spring, and he did so while making contact at an 83% clip. Anthony will expand the strike zone at times, though he’s always walked at a solid rate with minimal strikeouts in the Big Ten. His future professionally is either at first base or a corner outfield spot, where he will have at least average arm strength, though he did serve as Iowa’s designated hitter this spring.” - Baseball America
The Hoschton, Georgia, native earned third-team All-America honors in 2023, During his three years in Iowa City, Anthony hit .372, starting 96 games. He tallied 44 doubles — the eighth most in program history — and 23 home runs. Anthony threw 22 innings with a 4.50 ERA while striking out 18.
RHP Chase Hopewell - University of Cincinnati - 22 years old
“Made 15 starts on the mound with a 2-6 record and 5.79 ERA… Led the staff in starts (15), innings pitched (65.1), strikeouts (52) and runners picked off (4)… Started eight games in conference play… Struck out a season-high six batters three times: Princeton (March 18), Memphis (April 7) and Tulane (April 22)… Went three shutout innings in start against Houston (May 18)… Eclipsed 100 career strikeouts while picking up his second win of the season at USF (April 29)… Picked up his first win as a Bearcat versus Butler (March 25)… Tossed 5.1 innings against North Alabama (March 5), allowing just one run on five hits and striking out four batters… Went four innings and struck out four batters in first career start for the Bearcats in win at Georgia State (Feb. 19).” - College profile
RHP Hunter Loyd - Campbell University - 23 years old
“Went 4-4 with a 4.63 ERA in a team-high 15 starts on the year… Struck out 69 in 72.0 IP… Eclipsed the 200 career strikeout mark with his totals from ETSU… Went at least 5.0 IP in 10 of his 15 starts… Only allowed more than three earned runs in three starts… Began the season as the primary midweek starter and faced marquee opponents including ECU, Coastal, Duke, UNCW, and UNC… Earned his first win with six shutout innings and a season-high nine strikeouts at Tulane on 3/6… Earned the win with five shutout innings to beat No. 10 East Carolina in Fayetteville on 3/22… Tossed six shutout in a win at UNCW” - college profile
“Loyd has a plus slider in the 84-86 mph range that is a putaway pitch. The hard three-quarter breaking pitch presents itself as a fastball out of his hand and he complements the breaking ball with a 90-92 mph fastball. He competes very well in the zone.” - Baseball America
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