2024 Transfers & Signings

 

We're now a few weeks removed from the end of the 24 baseball season that saw the Flames go 24-34 including 11-13 in CUSA play and 2-2 in the CUSA tournament.  It's time to turn the page to see who is coming and going for the 25 version of the Flames.  

First, we start with those that are in the portal.

Todd Hudson - Hudson is by far the most impactful player lost in the portal.  Hudson showed flashes on the mound the last 2 years but was inconsistent.  He did however make a quite big impact in the lineup as the DH as he hit .284 with 11 HR's and 40 RBI's and .975 OPS.  He was pretty much locked into the DH spot.  Hudson has transferred to the Miami Hurricanes.  

Brian Mclellin - Mclellin was a JUCO transfer that played quite a bit in the first half of the season at 1B where he played excellent defense.  His bat faded as the season wore on as he ended at .246 with 6 HR's and 24 RBI's.  He was a solid depth piece for the Flames unlikely to command a starting position in 25.  Hopefully he will find a spot somewhere that he can be a full time starter.  

Nathan Keeter - Keeter has been a solid utility piece for the Flames the past 3 seasons for the Flames but failed to record a hit in his 8 AB's this year.  He's likely to look for a landing spot with more playing time available.  

David Marshall - Marshall is a RHP that wasn't able to crack the lineup of arms in his couple years with the Flames.  

Easton Amundson - Amundson was a promising LH 1B JUCO prospect that put up good numbers at the JUCO level and in the Summer wood bat ball.   He was unable to crack the top 12 or so bats in the lineup and went just 1 for 13 in his AB's.  

Maddex Labuda - Labuda was an interesting physical right handed reliever that made just 1 appearance on the year.  He committed to the Flames under Matt Williams prior to the change and stuck it out.  Changes in pitching coaches usually lead to changes in personnel for countless reasons.  

Graham Edwards - Edwards is a hard throwing RH reliever that ended 2023 as perhaps the Flames best reliever.  He was never able to find anything in 2024 as he struggled to a 33.75 ERA over the course of 5 appearances.  He has 1 year of eligibility left.  

Trey Cooper - Cooper was a LHP that spent the last 2 years at Liberty after transferring in from NC State.  Cooper's stuff really jumped up the last 2 years but he was never able to find the success that he found in the Summer wood bat league of 2022.  If memory serves correct he had a crazy long 25 plus inning streak of scoreless ball.  

Joseph Waters - Waters was a middle infielder that wasn't able to crack the depth chart the last couple years.  

Three Hillier - Hillier was a key figure from 2021 to 2023 behind the plate but Tommy John surgery robbed him of the 2024 season.  Macaddin Dye was pressed into action and became an impact player immediately.  Hilier had announced he was going to South Carolina but with Matt Williams moving to Coastal Carolina after Coach Kingston was let go that opportunity likely dried up for Hillier.  

Who's Coming in. 

Note: Ty Goodson & Macaddin Dye were originally part of the 2025 class but enrolled early.  Dye obviously made a huge impact as Three Hiller went down and Dye caught virtually every inning and became a middle of the order hitter.  

High School

Sawyer Black - Black finished the year hitting .453 with 9 homers and 40 RBI's. The 6'1 OF plays at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC.  Liberty has snagged several players from Wesleyan over the years.  Black is rated as the #10 player in the state of NC by PBR and a top 2 OF.  Only 2 mid major signees in the top 10 of NC.  

Callum Early - Early is a LH hitting right handed throwing Middle Infield/OF prospect that hails from Midlothian.  He's 5-11 and 170 Lbs.  He's the younger brother of former UVA star Connelly Early who is now pitching in the Red Sox organization after being drafted last year.  Early is another guy that could be an instant impact guy.  Early was a top 10 player in Virginia per PBR.  

Jack Frankel - The hard throwing RH from Texas is the highest ranked commitment in HCSJ's tenure at Liberty.  He's a 9.5 per Perfect Game and ranks top 50 in most publications.  He was originally committed to Hail State before Tyler Robinson was able to bring him to Liberty.  Very polished RHP with a mid 90's Fastball if he makes it to campus.  

Brayden Hill - 6'1 205 LB RHP from Lexington NC that's a 7.5 per Perfect Game.  Another physical RH power pitcher that fits the Tyler Robinson mold.  Hill was originally committed to Campbell but flipped to Liberty to follow Trob.  

Cooper Harrington - Harrington is a 6'0 165 LB RHP that is the younger brother of former Campbell ace Thomas Harrington.  

Levi Brown - SS from Pro5 Baseball Academy in Taylorsville NC.  He's a 6'3 180 LB athletic OF that also played a little SS.  Brown received an 8.5 from PG

Landon Scilley - Scilley is the most recent high school commitment as he recently flipped from Yale to Liberty at the end of May.  He's a 6'2 175 LB infield prospect from Kentucky.  Scilly received an 8.5 grade from Perfect Game and was ranked as the #9 player in the state of Kentucky by PBR.  

Seth Way - Way is a 6'4 190 LBRHP that had previously been committed to VT.  He's from Asheboro NC where he played at Randleman HS.  His fastball has been up to 92 MPH and it's easy to project a mid 90's fastball with his frame with the right development.  Really high end addition this late into the year.  

Braden Weaver - Weaver is a 5'11 165 LB OF from Forest who just finished his career at LCA.  Weaver has a short compact RH swing and decent speed.  

JUCO

Bryce Lane - Corner Infielder from Patrick Henry Community College that hit .277 with 5 HR's and 29 RBI's.  The 6'2 225 pounder hails from the heralded IMG Academy in Florida. 

Jaxon Sorensen - Sorenson is a 6'4 225 LB Corner Infielder/Corner Outfielder that started out at Gonzaga before transferring to Iowa Western CC.  Sorenson hit .392 with 8 HR's and 73 RBI's per the Iowa Western website.  He also had 20 Stolen Bases.  

Joseph Webb - Webb is a 3/4/Side arming RHP from Catawba Valley Community College.  He went 7-4 in 61 IP with a 5.62 ERA.  He averaged over 10.62 K/9.  

Jackson Kendall - Kendall is a 6'5 230 LB RH reliever that threw 20 innings for Southeast Community College.  He had 30 punch outs in those 20 innings with a 1.80 ERA.  He allowed a paltry opponent batting average. He also wins the award for the most intimidating stash.

Peter Johnson - 6'4 215 OF from Iowa Central Community College.  He hit .337 with 14 HR's and 52 RBI's.  He started out at Bradley before transferring to Iowa Central CC.  He and Sorensen look like the prototypical LH swing for Liberty Baseball Stadium.  

Michael Gibson - Gibson is 2 way player from Florence Darlington Tech where he hit .269 with 7 HR's and 21RBI's.  On the mound he went 7-4 in 52 2/3 IP with a 4.44 ERA.  He started out at Charleston Southern before transferring to Darlington Tech. 

Josh McCusker - McCusker is a RHP from Brunswick Community College that had a 2.74 ERA in just over 62 IP.  He also had 79 K's and a 1.33 WHIP.  Mccusker started out at Coastal Carolina before transferring to Brunswick.  He was a top 50 player in Virginia in 2022 per Perfect Game and top 20 pitcher.  

Seth Christmas - Christmas is a C/OF from Gaston CC.  Christmas hit .381 with 12 HR's and 71 RBI's in 181 PA this past year while also stealing 21 bases.  Christmas is another RH bat to add to the lineup and catching and outfield depth.  

Portal 

Spencer Hill - Hill is a 6'4 195 RHP from UNC Asheville.  He started his career at Northern Illinois before transferring to UNCA.  Hill threw 19 innings in 22 & 23.  Hill missed the 24 season due to TJ surgery but has been up to 97 mph at UNCA in the past.  

Tucker Moore - Moore is a 6'1 LH Catcher that will be transferring in from Mizzou where he hit .220 with 2 HR's and 5 RBI's in his RFR campaign.  He will have 3 years of eligibility left.  Moore was the #1 Catcher in Colorado in 2022 and the #12 overall prospect.