Nov. 19, 2012

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Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA head coach John Savage has signed 10 standout players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. The Bruins' latest recruiting class features six position players and four pitchers.

Included in this class are four players that are ranked in Perfect Game USA's list of the nation's top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft. In addition, three players were recently named to Baseball America's Top 100 2013 High School Prospects list. Overall, UCLA's class consists of nine players from California and one from Washington.

"We are very excited about this group of young players," head coach John Savage said. "This group will be major contributors in the program right away and fill needs of the program. Coach Bruce and our entire staff have done a great job of putting these players in position to sign with us in November."

The Bruins' recruiting class includes talented right-handed pitchers Scott Burke, Dustin Driver and Steven Farinaro, left-hander Jonah Wesely, catcher Dominic Miroglio, infielders Gosuke Katoh and Dominic Nunez, and outfielders Luke Persico, Kort Peterson and Brett Stephens.

Seven of Coach Savage's eight recruiting classes at UCLA have earned a top-20 ranking from Baseball America, with the incoming freshman class of 2012 earning the highest ranking in Savage's tenure. The 2012 class was named the No. 2 class in the country by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball earlier this year.

UCLA Baseball's 2013 Signees

Scott Burke
Glendora, Calif. (Glendora HS)
RHP - 6-3, 180 - R/R
Two-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Glendora High School (Glendora, Calif.) under head coach Dan Henley ... posted a 3-2 record as a junior in 2012, pitching mostly out of the bullpen, and recording a 2.47 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched ... held opponents to just a .256 batting average against him as a junior ... went 5-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 11 starts, striking out 24 batters in 50.2 innings pitched as a sophomore in 2011.

Head Coach John Savage: "Scott is a very projectable right-handed pitcher. He has three pitches that are all going to improve and he comes from a very good program at Glendora. Going forward, he will have a significant role on our pitching staff in the future."

Dustin Driver
Wenatchee, Wash. (Wenatchee HS)
RHP - 6-2, 210 - R/R
Three-year baseball letterwinner at Wenatchee High School (Wenatchee, Wash.) under head coach Jeff Zehnder ... named the 2012 Big Nine Class 4A Outstanding Pitcher of the Year as a junior ... also earned Class 4A All-State honors in 2012 ... ranked No. 22 on Baseball America's Top 100 2013 High School Prospects ... ranked No. 14 on Perfect Game USA's list of the top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft ... also ranked as the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in the state of Washington by Perfect Game USA ... participated in the 2012 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., playing for the Babe Ruth team ... competed in the 2012 Perfect Game All-American Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, Calif. ... also pitched in the 2011 and 2012 Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. ... named as the eighth best pitcher at the 2012 Area Code Games by ESPN Rise Magazine ... pitched at the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. ... competed at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn.

Head Coach John Savage: "Dustin is a power pitcher with three above-average pitches. He was on the national scene all summer and responded very well. He is a very talented pitcher who has the ability to be an immediate impact pitcher in our program."

Steven Farinaro
Hayward, Calif. (Head-Royce HS)
RHP - 6-1, 180 - R/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Head-Royce High School (Oakland, Calif.) under head coach Mike Talps ... ranked No. 197 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... competed for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. ... pitched at the 2012 Summer Rivalry Classic at Yankee Stadium ... also pitched at the 2012 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C. ... named as the 18th best pitcher at the 2012 Area Code Games by ESPN Rise Magazine ... also earned 2012 All-Area Code Team honors ... pitched at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn. ... First-team All-Bay Counties East League selection in 2012 ... selected to the USA Baseball 16U National Team Trials Roster in June of 2011 ... posted a 5-3 record in 16 appearances (10 starts) as a sophomore at Head-Royce High School in 2010 ... logged a 2.66 ERA and 75 strikeouts in just 47.1 innings pitched as a sophomore ... held opponents to just a .176 batting average against him in 2010 ... also batted .274 with 15 runs, 11 RBI, five doubles and two home runs ... went 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in nine games (six starts), striking out 36 batters in 30.1 innings as a freshman in 2009 ... batted .278 with 11 runs and 6 RBI in 2009 as well.

Head Coach John Savage: "Steven is another top right-handed pitcher coming into our program. He has tremendous upside and is a great athlete. He also threw the ball very well this past summer on the national scene and has a bright future in our program."

Gosuke Katoh
Poway, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo HS)
INF - 6-2, 175 - L/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Rancho Bernardo High School (San Diego, Calif.) under head coach Sam Blalock ... started every game on varsity team in his freshman, sophomore and junior years ... ranked No. 203 on Perfect Game USA's list of the top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft ... also ranked No. 89 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... ranked as the No. 1 second baseman in the country by Perfect Game USA ... competed in the 2012 Perfect Game All-American Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, Calif. ... played for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2012 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. ... also played in the 2012 World Wood Bat Association 17U National Championship in Georgia ... hit .360 with 37 runs, 11 home runs, 13 stolen bases and a .474 OBP for Rancho Bernardo in 2012 ... 2012 Palomar League Player of the Year ... First-team All-CIF San Diego Section selection in 2012 ... helped lead Rancho Bernardo to CIF San Diego Section Championships in 2010 and 2011 and a runner-up finish in 2012 ... hit .433 with 42 runs, 28 RBI and seven stolen bases while posting an outstanding .545 OBP as a sophomore ... posted a .430 batting average with 44 runs, 23 RBI and 10 stolen bases as a freshman.

Head Coach John Savage: "Gosuke is one of the best defenders in the country. He has tremendous defensive instincts and is a very natural player who looks to be a guy that can play at a very high level in the future."

Dominic Miroglio
Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
C - 6-0, 185 - R/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Bishop O'Dowd High School (Oakland, Calif.) ... competed at the 2012 Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. ... hit .600 with two doubles and four RBI for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games ... 2012 Bay Area World Series Most Outstanding Player ... ranked No. 281 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... batted .375 as a junior at Bishop O'Dowd (2011) with 13 runs, 12 RBI and a .444 OBP ... 2012 All-Northern California CBCA selection ... hit .256 as a sophomore, recording 13 RBI and 10 runs ... named to the North Coast Section CIF Scholastic Championship Baseball Team in 2010 and 2011 ... three-time All-HAAL selection (2010-12) ... also played quarterback at Bishop O'Dowd, leading team to the NCS Semifinals in 2010 and 2011 ... was named the 2011 Hayward Area Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year and competed at the Elite 11 Quarterback Competition in 2011.

Head Coach John Savage: "Dominic is a natural leader who can catch and throw. He is a two-sport athlete who will look to compete right away in our program."

Dominic Nunez
Sacramento, Calif. (Elk Grove HS)
INF - 6-0, 170 - L/R
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove, Calif.) ... named to the 2012 USA Baseball 18U National Team Roster and the 2011 USA Baseball 16U National Team Roster ... also selected to the 2010 USA Baseball 15U National Team Trial Roster ... hit .316 with 10 runs and 8 RBI in 13 games for the USA 18U National Team in the summer of 2012 ... helped lead the USA 18U National Team to the 2012 IBAF Junior AAA/18U World Championship in Seoul, South Korea ... also led USA 16U National Team to 2011 IBAF World AA/16U Youth Championship in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico ... competed for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., batting .400 with one run and two walks ... ranked No. 54 on Baseball America's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... pitched at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn. ... hit .429 with a .551 OBP, .736 slugging percentage, 44 runs and 29 RBI as a junior at Elk Grove High School (2011) ... posted a .449 batting average with 34 runs, 25 RBI, 13 doubles, four triples, three home runs, a .573 OBP and a .787 slugging percentage as a sophomore in 2010 ... batted .392 with 34 runs, 17 RBI and a .515 OBP as a freshman ... three-time All-Delta Valley League selection (2010-12).

Head Coach John Savage: "Dom, along with Gosuke, is one of the best middle infielders in the country. He won a Gold Medal for Team USA and comes from a winning program at Elk Grove. Dom is an immediate impact player in the Pac-12."

Luke Persico
Stevenson Ranch, Calif. (Great Oak HS)
OF - 6-3, 185 - R/R
Earned three letters in baseball at Hart High School under head coach Jim Ozella before transferring to Great Oak High School in the fall of 2012 ... ranked No. 125 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... competed for the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2012 Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. ... hit .267 with three home runs, 22 runs, 18 stolen bases and 12 RBI as a junior at Hart High School in the spring of 2012 ... batted .395 with a .448 OBP, 21 runs, 12 stolen bases, 17 RBI and five doubles as a sophomore (2010) ... started all 27 games as a freshman in 2009, posting a .278 batting average with 17 runs and 14 RBI ... two-time All-Foothill League selection.

Head Coach John Savage: "Luke is a tremendous athlete who possesses all five tools. He is a very projectable player who we anticipate to be a solid outfielder in our program right away."

Kort Peterson
Mountain View, Calif. (St. Francis HS)
OF - 6-1, 190 - L/L
Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner at St. Francis High School (Mountain View, Calif.) under head coach Mike Oakland ... ranked No. 70 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects and No. 155 Perfect Game USA's list of the top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft ... also ranked as the third-best outfielder from the state of California by Perfect Game USA ... competed for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. ... participated in the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn. ... also competed in the 2012 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., playing for the American Legion team ... batted .382 with 32 RBI, five home runs, 17 RBI and a .458 OBP as a junior in 2012 ... did not commit an error in the outfield in 2012, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage ... 2012 first-team West Catholic Athletic League selection ... also plays football for St. Francis.

Head Coach John Savage: "Kort is one of the best athletes in this class. He can go get the baseball in the outfield and is a smooth left-handed hitter with the ability to run."

Brett Stephens
Moraga, Calif. (Campolindo HS)
OF - 6-0, 190 - L/R
Three-year baseball letterwinner at Campolindo High School (Moraga, Calif.) ... hit .416 with three home runs as a junior in 2012 ... 2012 first-team All-Diablo Foothill Athletic League selection ... ranked No. 421 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 2013 High School Prospects ... named a first-team ESPN All-State underclass selection in 2012 ... competed for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. ... played travel ball with the Danville Zoots in the summer of 2012 ... batted .311 with 19 runs and nine RBI as a freshman in 2010 ... led Campolindo to three straight NCS Division II baseball titles (2010-12) ... also quarterbacked Campolindo High School to the 2011 NCS Division III championship in football and a runner-up finish in the Division III State Championship.

Head Coach John Savage: "Brett is another two-sport athlete who will bring competitiveness to our program. He comes from a very good program at Campolindo High School and is a very good ballplayer who can do a lot on the baseball field."

Jonah Wesely
Tracy, Calif. (Tracy HS)
LHP - 6-2, 220 - L/L
Earned three letters in baseball at Tracy High School (Tracy, Calif.) under head coach Vic Alkire ... ranked No. 61 on Baseball America's Top 100 2013 High School Prospects ... also ranked No. 66 on Perfect Game USA's list of the top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft ... competed in the 2012 Perfect Game All-American Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, Calif. ... also pitched for the Oakland A's at the 2012 Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. ... named as the 12th best pitcher at the 2012 Area Code Games by ESPN Rise Magazine ... 2012 Perfect Game USA First-Team Preseason HS Underclassmen All-American ... pitched at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn. ... went 5-1 with a 0.95 ERA and 79 strikeouts in just 37 innings as a junior at Tracy in 2012 ... pitched three no-hitters during his junior year ... also batted .400 with 12 RBI, two home runs and 11 runs ... 2012 San Joaquin Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year ... posted a record of 10-1 with a 1.17 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) as a sophomore in 2011 ... struck out 105 batters in 59.2 innings pitched ... ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in the state of California and the No. 4 left-handed pitcher in the country by Perfect Game USA.

Head Coach John Savage: "Jonah is one of the premiere left-handed pitchers in the country. He is a power left-hander with three above average pitches and, a lot like Dustin, pitched very well on the national scene this past summer."