Baseball | December 19, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – Third-year La Salle Head Baseball Coach David Miller has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the program in 2020-2021.
 
Frank Elissalt (Miami, Fla.), Jack Clemente (Harrisburg, Pa.), Will Binder (Yardley, Pa.), Greg Bozzo (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Nick Hammer (Turnersville, N.J.), Ryan Nutley (Logan Township, N.J.), and Pat Toal (Springfield, Pa.) all signed NLIs to join the team next year.
 
For the third consecutive year, Miller has brought in a nationally ranked recruiting class. This year's class is currently ranked 58th in the country by Perfect Game and first among Atlantic 10 Conference schools.
 
"We went big on our first two recruiting classes, 13-15 guys per class, and we really wanted to change the program quickly," explained Miller. "With this class, we were more calculated about need and where we wanted to fill positions when our upperclassmen graduate."
 
The group primarily consists of pitchers along with a pair of infielders and a catcher. They represent three different states – Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
 
"We went big on pitching," Miller continued. "With this being our third recruiting class now, these are the guys that are going to take those first two classes to the next level. This is a great class because we're filling a need with power pitching. But we're also filling a need with speed and defense with a blend of power."
 
Name – Position – High School – Hometown

Frank Elissalt – RHP – Southwest Miami – Miami, Fla.

• Elissalt is a 6-3, 210-pound low- to mid-90s pitcher from Miami. He's ranked 152nd nationally by Perfect Game among right-handed pitchers and is ranked inside the top 450 overall. Among Florida recruits, he's ranked as the 23rd RHP and 79th overall in the state.
   
• Miller's Take: "Frank's a guy that we think in two to three years will be a mid- to upper-90s arm. He should come in day one and compete for a weekend starting job right away. There's so much more to come from him." 

Jack Clemente – RHP – Central Dauphin – Harrisburg, Pa.

• Clemente is a 6-2, 190-pound pitcher from Harrisburg who can chuck 90-93 mph. He's ranked in Perfect Game's top 500 nationally. In Pennsylvania, he's the 21st ranked RHP and 55th in the state overall.
   
• Miller's Take: "Jack has done nothing but improve as he's gotten bigger. Another kid that, with a year or two years of progression, could be a mid- to upper-90s arm and be a huge part of our bullpen and pitching staff."

Will Binder – 3B/MIF – Holy Ghost Prep – Yardley, Pa.

• Binder, a 6-2, 185-pound infielder from Holy Ghost Prep, primarily plays the hot corner. He's Perfect Game's eighth ranked third baseman in the state of Pennsylvania and the 97th overall prospect in the state.
   
• Miller's Take: "Will has only gotten better as he has gotten more mature. He's a 6-2, 190-pound kid who is a slick-fielding third baseman and can also hit for average. Power potential coming, but he's a kid that I think in three years could be an all-conference player."

Greg Bozzo – C – Ridge HS – Basking Ridge, N.J.

• Bozzo is a 5-11, 192-pound catcher from New Jersey. He's ranked 12th by Perfect Game among catchers in his state and is listed as the 90th overall recruit in New Jersey.
   
• Miller's Take: "Greg is very solid defensively. With his tools as a catcher, he could be another Tatem Levins. He has a really good bat. We're now loaded with catchers, so he can learn from Tatem and Matt Rivera and should be able to fit right in as he comes into his own."

Nick Hammer – RHP – Washington Township HS – Turnersville, N.J.

• Hammer is a 6-2, 180-pound right-handed pitcher from New Jersey. He is a mid-80s pitcher who is known for having a nasty curveball. He's ranked 23rd among RHP in New Jersey and 55th overall in the state.
   
• Miller's Take: "Nick is a kid that I think has so much more in the tank. I think when we get him with [pitching coach] Bryan Radziewski he's only going to mature. I think by the time it's all said and done, he could be a very good bullpen guy for us that really helps to take us to the next level when it comes to finishing ball games." 

Ryan Nutley – SS – Gloucester Catholic – Logan Township, N.J.

• Nutley is a 6-foot, 160-pound sure-glove shortstop from Gloucester Catholic. He is Perfect Game's 13th ranked shortstop in New Jersey and is listed 83rd in the state overall.
   
• Miller's Take: "We brought Ryan in strictly for his defense in the beginning. He can absolutely pick it at shortstop. He's a true shortstop with range going up the middle and in the hole. He has the arm to get it across. But he's just gotten better offensively. Now, I think he is a full-round, high-average type hitter. With his speed, this is a kid that could be a top-of-the-lineup guy for us for four years."

Pat Toal – RHP/INF – The Haverford School – Springfield, Pa.

• Toal is the younger brother of junior infielder Tommy Toal. At 6-3, 195 pounds from Haverford, Pat is a two-way player who can pitch and play the corners. He's ranked 29th among RHP in Pennsylvania and is the state's 81st overall prospect.
   
• Miller's Take: "Pat is one of those kids that is a three-sport athlete. Quarterback of the football team, then he plays basketball and then plays baseball in the spring. He's 85-88 on the mound. He can play third. He'll hit balls all over the place. What we're hoping for Pat is the same we saw with Tommy. Once he starts sticking to baseball year round, I think the sky's the limit. He's only going to get better as he starts to play baseball day in and day out."