OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite the Mid-America Christian baseball team having one of its most successful seasons cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Evangels are building a strong foundation toward the future as the program has recently announced its 2021 signing class.

Mid-America Christian has inked 17 to compete for the 2021 season, including 12 college and JUCO transfers as well as five high school standouts. Even though the 2020 season came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MACU will be looking to build upon its winningest season since joining the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference in 2008, finishing the year with a 21-10 (.677) overall record.

"I've only been here for two years and it's easily the best signing class in my two years here and I can imagine it's been one of the best classes here at MACU period," said MACU Head Coach Brett Stanton. "We have a good mix of junior college players, we have some good NAIA transfers coming in and on the other side of it, we have some really interesting freshmen. Some are really good local prospects and I think they have a chance to make an impact on the roster this year."

On the mound, the Evangels have high expectations from Brayan Garcia. A 6-4 right-hander from Walton, New York, Garcia last season pitched for one of the top NAIA institutions in the country in Southeastern University (Fla.). During the shortened 2020 season, Garcia made seven appearances for the third-ranked Fire, tossing 12.1 innings and going 2-0 while allowing a 6.57 ERA with 12 strikeouts.

Before going to Southeastern, Garcia tossed his previous two seasons at New Mexico Junior College. During his sophomore season, Garcia was one of the team's top arms, going 2-3 in eight starts and allowing a team-low 3.49 ERA while striking out 39 for the Thunderbirds.

Heading into the 2020 season, Garcia was rated as the No. 1 pitching prospect in the NAIA by Baseball America as well as the No. 1 prospect on Perfect Game's 2020 NAIA Top 40 Prospects list.

"We're very excited about Brayan," said Stanton. "He's got all of the makings of the top billing. He's got a very good arm, a big build and has the chance to be a very special arm in this conference and possibly even in the nation."

MACU is also bringing in another strong NAIA transfer in Brad White. Last season at Texas College, the six-foot righty from Houston, Texas posted the fourth-lowest earned run average in the Red River Athletic Conference, allowing only a 2.59 ERA over 31.1 innings while also striking out the sixth-most batters in the league (31). Nationally, White allowed the 17^th-lowest opponent batting average (.152) as well as the 20^th-fewest hits per nine innings (4.9).

"He was definitely one of the top pitchers in the RRAC last year," remarked Stanton. "He put up very good numbers at Texas College and also put up very good numbers in his JUCO days at St. Cloud Tech."

A few other arms the Evangels coaching staff are high on are Max Charnin and Jason Ferreras.

In the last two seasons, Charnin has pitched at Southeastern Community College (Iowa) and Palm Beach State College (Fla.). The 6-5 righty from Boynton Beach, Florida didn't compete last season, but at Palm Beach State, saw action in eight games and made three starts. Posting a 2-0 record with a save, Charnin tossed 21.2 innings and allowed only a 1.66 ERA to go with 14 strikeouts.

Ferreras comes to MACU from Reinhardt University (Ga.), a highly competitive NAIA program that went 18-7 in 2020. The 6-1 right-hander from the Dominican Republic appeared in six of those games and made one start. Through 11 innings of work, Ferreras allowed a 5.73 ERA and struck out nine batters while walking only four.

Offensively, the Evangels are bringing in some big bats that should make an immediate impact in the MACU lineup.

Headlining the group is a local Moore prospect in Joe Balak. Spending the last two seasons at Rose State College, the six-foot infielder batted .362 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, going 17-for-47 with four doubles, two homers and six RBIs to go with 11 runs in 15 games. During the 2019 season, Balak slashed 31-for-84 (.369) with six doubles and a homer to go with 25 RBIs and 22 runs.

"He's hit every year he's played competitive baseball," remarked Stanton. "He's always been a guy who is able to hit and I think his ceiling on him is very high. We believe he might be one of the best hitters in the conference and possibly even the NAIA this year."

Another big bat the Evangels have high hopes for are Soteiro Ramirez. A right-handed first baseman that is transferring in from SAC rival Science & Arts, Ramirez sat out the 2020 season, but competed in 2019 with incoming teammate Brayan Garcia for New Mexico JC. The Dominican Republic native was a big time run producer for the Thunderbirds, driving in a team-high 61 RBIs while ripping 16 doubles, a triple and 10 home runs for a .553 slugging percentage. Ramirez batted .322 and added 38 runs in his 58 games that season.

"He passes every eye test there is," remarked Stanton. "He's a big, physical kid, 6-7, with a lot of leverage. He has chance to be a major power hitter in our lineup and a good chance to hit for a very high average. We think he might be one of the better hitters in our region as well as a very good defender."

The Evangels continued to add some strong catching depth with the addition of Raymond Palmero. A 6-1 righty from Venezuela, Palmero competed for John Wood Community College in 2020 and put up some big time numbers in the shortened season. In 12 games, Palmero went 10-for-28 (.357) from the plate, ripping five doubles to drive in a team-leading 10 RBIs and score six runs.

He's a young player, but shows very good promise," stated Stanton. "He might have a higher ceiling than anybody because of his age. He put up very good numbers last year at John Wood and was highly respected around that region. We're very excited to have him."

The Evangels added some more NAIA experience with the addition of infielder Julian Fernandez. A 6-4 transfer from Peru State (Neb.), Fernandez saw action in 38 games in his two seasons with the Bobcats, batting 30-for-106 (.283), recording three doubles, four triples and four home runs to go with 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

"He's played in some very good programs in the past and last year at Peru State in a Corona-shortened season put up very good power numbers," said Stanton. "We're really excited to see what he can do in our lineup."

For the complete 2021 Mid-America Christian signing class, check out the list below.

2021 MACU Baseball Signing Class