LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV Baseball landed the No. 35 recruiting class in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's 2018 evaluation of NCAA Division I programs.
 
The Rebels' class includes 23 newcomers; 13 of which are freshmen and 10 more transferred from other NCAA Division I or junior college programs. Four of these recent editions were previously drafted by Major League Baseball teams, as Ryan McDonald was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the 37th round and Chase Hanson was taken in the 38th round by the Chicago Cubs this past June, while Haydn King and Cameron Jabara were tabbed by the Oakland Athletics (2017: 39th round) and Atlanta Braves (2016: 31st round).
 
"I'm very happy with the time and effort Coach (Patrick) Armstrong and (Kevin) Higgins did with this class," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We feel this class will be very significant for us to be able to compete for championships immediately. It is a fairly big class with a large combination of local talent mixed in with some talented out-of-state players."
 
More impressively, UNLV is only one of eight recognized by CBN from non-Power 5 conferences. Coastal Carolina, the 2017 national champion, leads the small contingent with a No. 18 placement. Stetson (No. 21), Kent State (No. 25), Florida International (No. 28), Cal State Fullerton (No. 33), UNLV (No. 35), UC Santa Barbara (No. 39) and Pepperdine (No. 40) round out those not associated with the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC.
 
Louisiana State was selected first overall with Vanderbilt, Arizona, Louisville and Florida ranking second through fifth, respectively.
 
SILVER STATE REBELS: The 2018-19 Rebels have 24 student-athletes from the state of Nevada. Delving deeper, 23 Rebels have ties to the Las Vegas Valley with 20 graduating from a local high school, while three more attended and played last season for the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes.
 
FALL PRACTICE STARTS THIS WEEK: The Rebels return to the diamond Thursday morning to begin preparation for the 2019 season. UNLV will hold practice session three days of the week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday/8:30 am), and scrimmage twice (Friday and Saturday/9:00 am).
 
FALL EXHIBITIONS: UNLV will play a pair of exhibitions against Air Force and Cal Baptist on October 20 and 27, with first pitch slated for 11:00 am.
 
ALUMNI WEEKEND: UNLV baseball will hold its annual alumni weekend Nov. 9-10, with a golf tournament, which is open to the public at Siena Golf Club (Nov. 9), and a baseball game at Wilson Stadium (Nov. 10). The golf tourney will use a two-person scramble format ($400 per team) with check-in beginning at 8:00 am and golf starting at 9:00 am.
 
For more information about the golf tournament and sponsorship opportunities, please contact assistant coach Patrick Armstrong (patrick.armstrong@unlv.edu/702-895-3835).