Wake Forest added two freshmen and a junior transfer heading into the season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest finalized its 2019 baseball roster with three additions prior to the start of practice on Friday.
Newcomers include Cincinnati transfer, junior Reese Robinson, as well as two freshmen — Hite Merrifield, who enrolled early, and Andrew Rust.
"We're excited to add three quality players as we head into the spring season," head coach Tom Walter said. "Not only are they talented, but they're also intelligent, well-rounded kids. This trio will add to our already deep roster and make us a better ball club."
Additionally, senior Keegan Maronpot has withdrawn from graduate school and is no longer enrolled at Wake Forest.
Hite Merrifield | Fr. | OF | 6'2 | 195 | Advance, N.C. | Davie County HS
Background
Rated as a top-500 recruit in the class of 2019 by Perfect Game before reclassifying and enrolling at Wake Forest in January 2019 ... Earned all-conference and team MVP honors his junior season ... Also played football and was an all-conference defensive back ... Chose Wake Forest over South Carolina and Clemson.
Personal
Born on July 28, 2000 ... Son of Bill and Kissy Merrifield ... Father, Bill, is Assistant AD, Development at Wake Forest ... Bill was a two-time ACC Player of the Year at Wake Forest and was a second-round pick of the California Angels, reaching as high as AAA ... Brother, Whit, has been a member of the Kansas City Royals since being called up in 2016, and had a walk-off hit to clinch the 2010 College World Series for South Carolina ... Mother, Kissy, played tennis at Wake Forest, and sister, Costner, is also a Wake Forest alum ... Hite was an honor roll member all four years of high school.
Reese Robinson | Jr. | RHP | 6'8 | 250 | Dayton, Ohio | Centerville HS/University of Cincinnati
Prior to Wake Forest
Spent two years at Cincinnati before transferring to Wake Forest for his junior season ... In 2018, pitched one scoreless inning at San Diego opening weekend before suffering a season-ending injury ... Pitched in 15 games his freshman season with one start, finishing with a 1-2 record and 3.86 ERA ... Also had one save ... Allowed less than one hit per inning, conceding 29 hits in 30.1 frames ... Struck out 17 batters ... Didn't allow a run in his first six outings, including scoreless efforts against Power Five foes Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky ... Best outing came in May, allowing three hits and a walk in 5.1 shutout frames against Western Carolina.
Background
Earned three varsity letters at Centerville High School ... Earned Academic All-Area honors as his team won districts.
Personal
Born on Oct. 30, 1997 ... Son of David and Kay Robinson ... Great grandfather, George Robinson, played basketball at Ohio State and with the Cleveland Cavaliers ... Grandfather, Charles, played basketball at Cornell and a cousin, Josh Reese, played football at Western Carolina.
Andrew Rust | Fr. | RHP | 6'3 | 215 | New Bern, N.C. | NC School of Science and Mathematics
Background
Was a four-sport athlete in high school, earning 10 total varsity letters in baseball, basketball, cross country and swimming, also earning all-conference honors in basketball and cross country ... Served as a two-year team captain ... Earned 2018 Mid-State 2A Conference Pitcher of the Year honors after recording a 1.17 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 46 innings ... His junior year, batted .368 while posting a 2.68 ERA on the mound ... Chose Wake Forest over Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Davidson, MIT and Duke.
Personal
Born on June 4, 2000 ... Son of Ted and Beverly Rust ... Ranked first in his class of 441 at New Bern High School before transferring to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for his final two years ... There, he served on the Athletic Leadership Council, the Special Strength Training Club and the Biotechnology Investment Club ... Father, Ted, was a captain of the track & cross country teams at Capital University ... Brother, Daniel competed in track & XC at UNCG ... Cousin, John, played football at Furman.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest finalized its 2019 baseball roster with three additions prior to the start of practice on Friday.
Newcomers include Cincinnati transfer, junior Reese Robinson, as well as two freshmen — Hite Merrifield, who enrolled early, and Andrew Rust.
"We're excited to add three quality players as we head into the spring season," head coach Tom Walter said. "Not only are they talented, but they're also intelligent, well-rounded kids. This trio will add to our already deep roster and make us a better ball club."
Additionally, senior Keegan Maronpot has withdrawn from graduate school and is no longer enrolled at Wake Forest.
Hite Merrifield | Fr. | OF | 6'2 | 195 | Advance, N.C. | Davie County HS
Background
Rated as a top-500 recruit in the class of 2019 by Perfect Game before reclassifying and enrolling at Wake Forest in January 2019 ... Earned all-conference and team MVP honors his junior season ... Also played football and was an all-conference defensive back ... Chose Wake Forest over South Carolina and Clemson.
Personal
Born on July 28, 2000 ... Son of Bill and Kissy Merrifield ... Father, Bill, is Assistant AD, Development at Wake Forest ... Bill was a two-time ACC Player of the Year at Wake Forest and was a second-round pick of the California Angels, reaching as high as AAA ... Brother, Whit, has been a member of the Kansas City Royals since being called up in 2016, and had a walk-off hit to clinch the 2010 College World Series for South Carolina ... Mother, Kissy, played tennis at Wake Forest, and sister, Costner, is also a Wake Forest alum ... Hite was an honor roll member all four years of high school.
Reese Robinson | Jr. | RHP | 6'8 | 250 | Dayton, Ohio | Centerville HS/University of Cincinnati
Prior to Wake Forest
Spent two years at Cincinnati before transferring to Wake Forest for his junior season ... In 2018, pitched one scoreless inning at San Diego opening weekend before suffering a season-ending injury ... Pitched in 15 games his freshman season with one start, finishing with a 1-2 record and 3.86 ERA ... Also had one save ... Allowed less than one hit per inning, conceding 29 hits in 30.1 frames ... Struck out 17 batters ... Didn't allow a run in his first six outings, including scoreless efforts against Power Five foes Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky ... Best outing came in May, allowing three hits and a walk in 5.1 shutout frames against Western Carolina.
Background
Earned three varsity letters at Centerville High School ... Earned Academic All-Area honors as his team won districts.
Personal
Born on Oct. 30, 1997 ... Son of David and Kay Robinson ... Great grandfather, George Robinson, played basketball at Ohio State and with the Cleveland Cavaliers ... Grandfather, Charles, played basketball at Cornell and a cousin, Josh Reese, played football at Western Carolina.
Andrew Rust | Fr. | RHP | 6'3 | 215 | New Bern, N.C. | NC School of Science and Mathematics
Background
Was a four-sport athlete in high school, earning 10 total varsity letters in baseball, basketball, cross country and swimming, also earning all-conference honors in basketball and cross country ... Served as a two-year team captain ... Earned 2018 Mid-State 2A Conference Pitcher of the Year honors after recording a 1.17 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 46 innings ... His junior year, batted .368 while posting a 2.68 ERA on the mound ... Chose Wake Forest over Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Davidson, MIT and Duke.
Personal
Born on June 4, 2000 ... Son of Ted and Beverly Rust ... Ranked first in his class of 441 at New Bern High School before transferring to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for his final two years ... There, he served on the Athletic Leadership Council, the Special Strength Training Club and the Biotechnology Investment Club ... Father, Ted, was a captain of the track & cross country teams at Capital University ... Brother, Daniel competed in track & XC at UNCG ... Cousin, John, played football at Furman.
