Pippins Sign Three Cal State Fullerton Players
March 19, 2019 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. -Three freshmen from perennial Division I power Cal State Fullerton - infielder Zach Lew, right-handed pitcher Joe Magrisi, and catcher Korrey Siracusa - are the newest additions to the 2019 Yakima Valley Pippins, head coach Marcus McKimmy announced Tuesday.
The trio comes to Yakima County Stadium from a program that has made 27 straight NCAA regional appearances, and two of the past four College World Series.
Lew, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound, right-handed-hitting infielder, is in his first year at Fullerton after prepping at southern California baseball powerhouse Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High School. Playing in one of the best high school baseball conferences in the country, Lew was a second-team All-League selection as a senior in 2018.
"Lew can play all three infield positions (3B, 2B, and SS) really well," McKimmy said. "He is already finding his way into the lineup as a true freshman. When people ask me about Zach, I just tell them he's as tough as they come and helps his team win."
Magrisi, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, is also in his first year at Fullerton as a hard-throwing bullpen piece. The San Diego, California, native was ranked the 10th-best freshman in the Big West Conference by Baseball Americaentering the 2019 season.
"Joe has swing-and-miss stuff," McKimmy said. "He projects as a rotation guy for us, but can pitch effectively in all roles. Sneaky velocity and a plus slider jump off the page."
At Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, Magrisi went 12-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 93 innings as a senior, while only walking 12 batters. For his efforts, he was named Prep Baseball Report State Pitcher of the Year, League Pitcher of the Year, and San Diego CIF Player of the Year. Additionally, Magrisi broke 21-year Major League veteran and 3-time All-Star David Wells' San Diego high school record for consecutive scoreless innings when he pitched 54.2 straight frames unblemished.
"He is throwing out of the bullpen at Fullerton now, so he will be fresh and motivated to impress when he arrives in Yakima in June," said McKimmy.
Siracusa, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound, right-handed-hitting catcher, is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, where he attended Mililani High School. Siracusa was a first-team All-State selection as a senior in 2018, as well as an All-League pick. He helped lead Mililani to its first conference title since 1997, when the school won the league in 2018.
"Siracusa is behind an older, more experienced starter in former Pippins All-Star Daniel Cope," said McKimmy. "He's more than likely going to redshirt and be one of our best guys behind the plate when he puts on the Pippin green."
The Pippins open their sixth West Coast League season on June 4 in Clark County to take on the expansion Ridgefield Raptors. The home opener is set for Friday, June 7, at 7:05 p.m. against the Wenatchee AppleSox. Single-game tickets for the Pippins' 32-game home schedule are available now at PippinsTickets.com.
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