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Iowa Baseball Adds 5 for 2015

May 7, 2014

IOWA CITY, Iowa –University of Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller announced the addition of five players to the 2015 recruiting class. The Hawkeyes added Austin Guzzo-Foliaro (6-2, 190, OF), Michael Haring (6-1, 165, RHP), Grant Klenovich (6-4, 220, 1B/3B), Luke Schafer (6-2, 175, IF), and JT Sole (5-8, 175, C) during the spring signing period.

“We’re looking forward to adding these five players to our 2015 recruiting class,” said Heller. “They complement the five players we signed in the fall.”

Guzzo-Foliaro, an outfielder from Brooklin, Ontario, Canada, played for the 17U Ontario Blue Jays in 2013, leading the team with a .396 batting average with four home runs, seven triples and 15 doubles. He also posted a .610 slugging and .510 on-base percentage.

A Perfect Game All-American High School first-team selection for Canada/Puerto Rico, Guzzo-Foliaro led the Blue Jays to a runner-up finish at the AAU World Series in Fort Meyers, Florida, batting .750 in nine contests. The squad was ranked 46th by Perfect Game for all 17U teams in North America. He also played at in a Tournament 12 Showcase at the Rogers Centre, where he was selected as an all-star catcher.

“Austin is an outstanding left-handed hitter who can play several positions,” said Heller. “His versatility and toughness will be a big asset to our team.”

Haring, a right-handed pitcher out of Iowa City High School, struck out 22 batters in 22 2/3 innings in eight appearances (five starts) as a junior after posting a 2-1 record in six starts as a sophomore. He struck out 23 batters in 2012.

“Michael has an upper 80s arm with a good breaking ball,” said Heller. “We really liked him at our camp this winter and look forward to working with him this fall.”

Klenovich, a 2014 Perfect Game USA honorable mention preseason All-American, was a first-team all-conference selection as a junior after hitting .385 with three home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, and 29 RBIs at New Trier Township High School. He was tabbed as the No. 1 first baseman in Illinois, 13th overall prospect in the state and No. 451 nationally in the 2014 Perfect Game rankings.

The Winnetka, Illinois, native was selected to play in the Silver and Black games and Area Code tryout in the summer of 2013, and he was named the Wilmette Waves team MVP in 2013. Academically, he has been an honor roll student throughout high school and carries a 4.32 grade point average with a 32 ACT score.

“Grant is a physical hitter, who we believe can develop into legitimate power threat,” said Heller.

Schafer, a three-sport standout at Middleton High School in Wisconsin, is a two-time All-Big Eight Conference selection. As a junior, the middle infielder earned first-team honors, hitting .355 with 28 runs, a .490 on-base percentage and 15 steals. He garnered a second-team nod as a sophomore after finishing with a .368 batting average with six doubles, two triples and 17 RBIs.

The two-year captain in baseball, football and basketball is a member of the National Honor Society, carrying a 3.86 grade point average. He was selected as Middleton’s Scholar Athlete of the Year last season. Schafer’s father, Jeff, pitched for the Hawkeyes from 1984-88.

“Luke is a three-sport athlete, who we believe can develop into a solid middle infielder,” said Heller. “He is a tough kid, great leader and an excellent student.”

Sole, the No. 1 catching prospect in Iowa and a top 1000 prospect by Perfect Game, earned first and third-team all-state honors as a junior after hitting .354 with 31 RBIs, 19 walks and five doubles at Cedar Falls High School. He was also tabbed as a 2013 Perfect Game underclass high honorable mention All-American, a first-team all-district, all-metro and all-conference selection.

The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native earned 2012 Perfect Game underclass honorable mention honors as a sophomore after hitting .367 with 15 doubles and 22 RBIs. He also garnered first-team all-conference and all-metro honors and a second-team all-district nod. Sole was voted as his team’s offensive player of the year as a junior after being the defensive MVP as a freshman and sophomore.

Sole’s father, Jack, played for Heller at Upper Iowa and Sole coached under Heller at Northern Iowa.

“JT is a high energy catcher who can hit,” said Heller. “He has a great work ethic and can lead on and off the field.”

Heller now has 10 players committed for the 2015 season. The Hawkeyes signed Nick Allgeyer (6-3, 185, OF/LHP, St. Louis), Joel Booker (6-2, 180, OF, Columbus, N.C./Indiana Hills CC), Kyle “Fenway” Parks (6-1, 195, IF, Boca Raton, Fla.), Luke Vandermaten (6-1, 155, RHP, Fort Dodge, Iowa/Iowa Central CC) and Kyle Wade (6-2, 195, RHP, Chino Hills, Calif.) in November.