EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball announced early signees for the 2027 class. The Screaming Eagles welcome seven players to the program for 2027.
 
"I am excited about the early signing class we have signed to join the program next fall," said USI Head Coach Chris Ramirez. "Recruiting is a process that never stops and I have to commend one of the hardest working recruiters in the country, Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich and my entire coaching staff, Derek Beasley, Beau Wills, Nick Mayerhofer and strength coach Josh Wildeman, on the work they do.
 
"We wanted to get younger on the mound and we were able to add three talented arms that should thrive in the system we develop our players in," said Ramirez. "Once again, we also landed some of the top junior college pitching and hitting prospects from around the United States. It is a great time to be Screaming Eagles!"
 
The class of 2027 newcomers, who are seventh in the @TheJBB Early Window Recruiting Class Ranking, are:
 
Mike Schaefer | Infielder | 6-2 | 200 | L-R | Lancaster, New York 
Schaefer is in his second season at SUNY Niagara where he was third-team All-Region and second-team All-WNYAC. He batted .437 as a freshman with 59 runs scored, 48 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and two home runs in 49 games in 2025.
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Schaefer: "Mike is a natural left-handed hitter and he hits every time I've seen him. An integral part of a winning program that had an undefeated 2025 regular season, he is an above-average athlete that allows him to create some havoc on the bases and be a good defender across the infield."
 
Jeremiah Torres | Infielder | 6-0 | 210 | R-R | Spring, Texas 
Torres played in 35 games as a freshman at Ranger College, hitting .361 with 24 RBIs and 29 runs scored. Also lettered in baseball at Klein High School (Klein, Texas).  
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Torres: "Jeremiah is a physical hitter, who can really control his at-bats and use the entire field. He had a really good freshman year in a really tough Texas JUCO conference and has a chance to be a middle of the order impact bat in an Eagles uniform."
 
Carter McKinney | Pitcher | 6-7 | 205 | R-R | Benton, Kentucky
McKinney posted a 5-2 record during his first full season with John A. Logan College in 2025. He struck out 35 batters and had a 5.09 ERA in 40.2 innings of work as a redshirt freshman. McKinney also lettered in baseball at Marshal County High School (Benton, Kentucky) where he was All-Region in 2023 and a member of three district championships.
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on McKinney: "Carter is a big body and a presence of knowing how to pitch. A versatile pitcher that can be used in any situation, Carter threw a lot of big innings for one of the top JUCOs in the country last year. His potential is through the ceiling and is going to keep getting better."
 
Traelyn James | Pitcher | 6-5 | 235 | R-R | Mesquite, Texas
James will be starting his season at Dallas College Eastfield after posting a 2-2 record and a 4.35 ERA in 31.0 innings of work as a freshman. He also struck out 29 batters and had three saves. James lettered in baseball and football at Poteet High School (Mesquite, Texas).  
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on James: "Traelyn is a big body with a strong arm and has shown the ability to start a game or close them. He had a team-leading three saves and two wins on a team that won 45 games. Traelyn has total control when he steps on the mound and his versatility is going to make him a big weapon for us."
 
Porter Hay | Pitcher | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Lewisport, Kentucky
Hay is a senior at Hancock County High School (Lewisport, Kentucky) and has produced a 1-0 record on the mound and a 1.73 ERA in two varsity seasons. He also has struck out 27 batters in 28.1 innings of work.
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Hay: "Porter is from right across the boarder and it is always good when the talented player from our backyard wants to become an Eagle. He has all the makings to be a big piece of what we do and make an impact early. It's going to be fun to watch him develop the next four years in an Eagle uniform."
 
Garrett Cyphers | Pitchers | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | Brentwood, Tennessee
Cyphers, a baseball and football letterwinner at Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tennessee), had a 1-2 record and a 3.85 ERA during his junior season in 2025. He is 2-2 during three varsity seasons, producing a 4.40 ERA in 28.2 innings of work and striking out 22 batters.
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Cyphers: "Garrett is an athletic high school arm who is starting to scratch the surface on his potential. He has shown the ability to pitch and has three pitches he can command. We are looking forward to watching him grow and develop for the next four years at USI."
 
Mason Hamlett | Pitchers | 6-3 | 210 | R-R | Auroa, Indiana
Hamlett is a three-sport letterwinner (baseball, basketball, football) at South Dearborn High School (Aurora, Indiana). He was named Cincinnati.com Baseball Player of the Year and EIAC All-Conference in 2025 after posting a 1.58 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 44 innings of work. A 2024 All-County performer also led South Dearborn in RBIs and home runs in 2025.  
 
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Hamlett: "Mason is a big physical, power arm who dominated his 2025 high school season by striking out 63 and posting a 1.58 ERA in 44 innings. He came onto the scene late for us and we are excited that he is an Eagle."