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TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Baseball and Head Coach Chip Hale today announced the Wildcats 2026 signing class, one that consists of 15 standout players from the high school and junior college ranks.
The Wildcats 2026 signing class — which includes eight Perfect Game top 500 players, six Perfect Game National Showcase participants, five Area Code Games participants, and more — is expected to join the Wildcats in Tucson next August.
“This is an exceptionally well-rounded class, one that our staff is excited to welcome into the Arizona Baseball family,” Hale said. “Coming off a trip to the College World Series has given our program tremendous momentum and this class of talented, high-character players helps us maintain and build on that momentum.”
Name
Position
Previous School
Hometown
Ben Ball
OF
Hamilton HS
Phoenix, Ariz.
Ashten Ballew
INF
Katy HS
Katy, Texas
Jack Byers
RHP
Artesia HS
Artesia, N.M.
Jory Crocker
INF
Willowbrook HS
Villa Park, Ill.
Ayden Deome
INF
West Park HS
Roseville, Calif.
Dusty Dunwoody
RHP
Royal HS
Simi Valley, Calif.
James Hunt
RHP
Blue Valley West HS
Overland Park, Kan.
Cooper Kruk
C
Pima CC
Tucson, Ariz.
Lyndon Lee
INF
Basic Academy
Las Vegas, Nev.
Matthew Maize
OF
Gateway CC
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Quinn O’Rourke
RHP
Charlotte Catholic HS
Charlotte, N.C.
Tommy Pascanu
LHP
Sandra Day O’Connor HS
Anthem, Ariz.
Francisco Rivero Jr.
C
Canyon Del Oro HS
Tucson, Ariz.
Abram Sherrin
INF
Liberty HS
Peoria, Ariz.
Drew Ward
OF
La Salle HS
Pasadena, Calif.
Career highlights and superlatives on all 15 members of the Wildcats 2026 signing class can be found below, listed alphabetically by last name.
Ben Ball | OF | Hamilton HS | Phoenix, Ariz.
Ranked as the No. 4 outfield prospect in Arizona by Perfect Game
Three-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Five-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Across 61 varsity games as a sophomore and junior he hit .386 with 12 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 34 runs scored, and 52 RBI
Ashten Ballew | INF | Katy HS | Katy, Texas
Perfect Game top 400 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 10 shortstop prospect in California by Perfect Game
2025 Perfect Game National Showcase participant
2024 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase participant
Three-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
26-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Jack Byers | RHP | Artesia HS | Artesia, N.M.
Ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 3 RHP in New Mexico by Perfect Game
2022 Perfect Game 15U All-Tournament Team selection
Across 31 varsity appearances on the mound (19 starts), posted a 1.70 ERA with an 18-3 record and 225 strikeouts
Participated in the 2025 Area Code Games with the Reds
Jory Crocker | INF | Willowbrook HS | Villa Park, Ill.
Perfect Game top 250 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 3 shortstop in Illinois by Perfect Game
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Nine-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Ayden Deome | INF | West Park HS | Roseville, Calif.
Perfect Game top 100 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 7 third base prospect in the nation by Perfect Game
Ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect and No. 1 third baseman in California by Perfect Game
2025 Perfect Game National Showcase participant
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Six-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Across 90 varsity games he hit .419 with 93 runs scored, 30 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs, and 85 RBI
Also tallied 38 career stolen bases on 38 attempts
Participated in the 2024 & 2025 Area Code Games with the Athletics
Dusty Dunwoody | RHP | Royal HS | Simi Valley, Calif.
Perfect Game top 200 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 8 RHP prospect in California by Perfect Game
2025 Perfect Game National Showcase participant
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Nine-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Across two varsity season and 24 appearances (17 starts), posted a 1.72 ERA with a 10-3 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 106 innings of work
Participated in the 2025 Area Code Games with the Brewers
James Hunt | RHP | Blue Valley West HS | Overland Park, Kan.
Ranked as the No. 5 RHP prospect in Kansas by Perfect Game
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Six-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Cooper Kruk | C | Pima CC (Catalina Foothills HS) | Tucson, Ariz.
Ranked as the No. 9 catcher in Arizona for the 2025 class by Perfect Game
2025 Perfect Game Preseason All-American
2024 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Two-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Member of the 2026 Pima Community College baseball team
Lyndon Lee | INF | Basic Academy of International Studies | Las Vegas, Nev.
Perfect Game top 500 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect and No. 4 second baseman in Nevada by Perfect Game
Three-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
17-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Two-time Showcase Top Prospect Team selection
Across 71 varsity games he hit .358 with 56 runs, 20 extra-base hits, and 65 RBI
Matthew Maize | OF | Gateway CC (James B. Conant HS) | Elk Grove Village, Ill.
2023 Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Across 44 games at Gateway Community College in 2025 he hit .342 with 35 runs, 16 extra-base hits, and 25 RBI; also drew 20 walks to post a .440 OBP
Quinn O’Rourke | RHP | Charlotte Catholic HS | Charlotte, N.C.
Perfect Game top 250 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 11 over prospect and No. 6 RHP in North Carolina from Perfect Game
2024 Perfect Game Underclass All-American Games participant
2025 Perfect Game National Showcase participant
2024 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase participant
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Eight-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Participated in the 2025 Area Code Games with the Yankees
Tommy Pascanu | LHP | Sandra Day O’Connor HS | Anthem, Ariz.
Perfect Game top 500 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1 LHP in Arizona by Perfect Game
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
13-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Posted a 2.87 ERA across 16 varsity appearances (13 starts); logged 94 strikeouts in 61 innings of work
Francisco Rivero Jr. | C | Canyon Del Oro HS | Tucson, Ariz.
Perfect Game top 500 prospect nationally
Ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 3 catcher in Arizona by Perfect Game
2025 Perfect Game National Showcase participant
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Nine-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Abram Sherrin | INF | Liberty HS | Peoria, Ariz.
Ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect and the No. 5 shortstop in Arizona by Perfect Game
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
18-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection
Across 80 varsity games he has hit .347 with 40 runs scored, 20 extra-base hits, and 40 RBI
Participated in the 2024 & 2025 Area Code Games with the Reds
Drew Ward | OF | La Salle HS | Pasadena, Calif.
Ranked as the No. 9 third base prospect in California by Perfect Game
2024 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase participant
Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Six-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selection