September 5, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University baseball program announced their 2024-25 signing class.  These fourteen (14) student-athletes have signed their letter of intent.

"Our 14 signees are talented on the field, in the classroom, have high character, and want to be a Trojan," said DSU baseball head coach Derrion Hardie.  "We've been able to address needs with talent on and off the field with this signing class that we're excited about.  We also believe they will have a big impact on the future success of our program."

Hardie and his coaching staff placed a focus on in-state talent in the 2024 signing class with eight signees hailing from South Dakota.   

In 2024, the Trojans had the second-best record in program history by finishing with a record of 36-16 and just missed receiving an at-large bid into the national tournament.  Other highlights included a top 10 pitching staff and top 25 offense in the country, breaking 18 school records, and recognition as a national scholar team.

The Trojans graduated an exceptionally talented 2024 class and return a core group as they look to build on the success of the program.

2024-25 Signing Class:
 
Braylon Bear – RHP – Sioux Falls Jefferson High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 6'2", 185 lbs.
Bear is a right-handed pitcher out of Sioux Falls and Jefferson High School.  During the 2023 legion ball season for Renner Post 307, he earned First Team All-State honors after posting a 7-1 record with 52 strikeouts and a 1.93 earned run average (ERA) in 50 2/3 innings. 
 
In the 2024 season, Bear was a focal point once again for Renner and helped them claim the 2024 Class 'A' State Championship.  He collected First Team All-State honors for the second time. 
 
A 2-sport athlete in both baseball and basketball, Bear also carries a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) and plans to pursue a degree in business analytics.
 
Coach Rutan on Braylon: "Braylon is an exceptional athlete and a player that our coaching staff has been following for quite a while.  Once I was able to see Braylon perform at our camp last summer, I knew I wanted him to become a Trojan. He has the tools and makeup to have a great collegiate career and compete for a pivotal role on our pitching staff right away.  I am excited to have Braylon join our program and see the value he is going to bring during his time at Dakota State."
 
Hunter Den Boer – OF – Sioux Falls O'Gorman High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 6'3", 190 lbs.
Den Boer is an outfielder from Sioux Falls and graduated from O'Gorman High School with a 4.0 GPA.  During the 2023 legion baseball season, he had an impressive season highlighted by a .355 batting average, .453 on base percentage, and three home runs.  He followed that up in 2024 with two big accolades, being selected as the South Dakota High School Baseball Association Player-of-the-Year and then won the Legion Class 'A' State Championship with Renner Post 307. 
 
The 2024 high school and Legion seasons saw Den Boer hit at a .347 clip with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 77 runs batted in, 40 walks, just 36 strikeouts, and 38 stolen bases.      
 
Coach Hardie on Hunter: "Hunter is a dynamic outfielder that our coaching staff has watched get bigger, faster, and stronger this past year due to his strong work ethic and the time he puts into development.  He can be a legit five tool player at the collegiate level.  What also attracted us to Hunter is his desire to compete.  We are always looking for talent, but competitiveness and toughness needs to be at the forefront of our evaluation.  We are looking forward to seeing Hunter reach his goals as a student-athlete at Dakota State."  
 
Aiden Barfuss – INF – Winner High School – Winner, S.D. – 6'1", 200 lbs.
Aiden is a third baseman out of Winner.  He graduated from Winner High School.  He is an All-State player at both the high school and legion levels of baseball within the state.  He posted a .439 batting average, .558 on-base percentage, 1.411 on base plus slugging, and hit three home runs during this past spring season.  He finished the year as a finalist for the South Dakota High School Baseball Player of the Year. 
 
Coach Evers on Aiden: "Aiden is a high-end player who has been on the DSU baseball coaching staff's radar for over two years.  After following him all summer and getting the opportunity to see him perform at our camp last August, the coaching staff knew that Aiden was someone who we wanted to join our family here at DSU.  His raw ability puts himself in a great position to develop into a key contributor for our program during his four years at Dakota State.
 
Cristhian Rodriguez – RHP – Hamlin High School – Bryant, S.D. – 5'11", 230 lbs.
Rodriguez is a right-handed pitcher from Bryant.  He attended Hamlin High School.  A multi-sport athlete in baseball, football and track & field, Rodriguez played legion ball for Lake Norden Post 260 which finished the 2024 season making it to the semifinals in the Class 'B' State tournament.  During his tenure at Dakota State, he plans to pursue a degree in exercise science. 
 
Coach Rutan on Cristhian: "I am excited to add Cristhian to our 2024 recruiting class.  Our coaching staff values players that aim to represent our program proudly and it became clear in our conversations that Cristhian had an authentic and genuine desire to become a Trojan.  Cristhian is a resilient and independent young man with qualities that will help him during his time as a student-athlete at Dakota State.  I look forward to working with Cristhian and seeing him reach the potential he has a pitcher in our program."
 
Jaxon DeHaan – C – Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 5'10", 195 lbs.
DeHaan is a catcher out of Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls.  He comes to Dakota State from one of the premier travel organizations in the region in the Minnesota Blizzard, where he shined as both a catcher and infielder. 
 
For the 2024 legion season, DeHaan played for Post 15 West where he hit 12 doubles, four triples, and two home runs and finished the season hitting over .300 in 156 at-bats.  During his time at Dakota State, he plans to pursue a degree in business.
 
Coach Rutan on Jaxon: "Jaxon fits the vision we have for an impact catcher in our program perfectly. He is athletic, mobile behind the plate and consistently produces hard contact at the plate with plus exit velocity and power.  I expect Jaxon to come in right away and compete for the starting catcher position and continue to play with the confidence and swagger I have seen in him since our first interaction.  I look forward to seeing Jaxon play a key role in elevating our program during his time at Dakota State."
 
George Hogan III - MIF - Cochise College/Trinidad State College - Evergreen, Colo. - 6'0", 185 lbs.
Hogan III is a middle infielder out of Evergreen, and he attended Trinidad State College for his freshman year.  At Trinidad, George hit .385 with 12 doubles and nine home runs to go along with 54 runs batted in (RBIs).  This previous season, he won the starting second base job at Cochise College, one of the top junior college programs in the country.
 
Coach Evers on George: "George has been committed to us since the early spring and our staff has been highly anticipating his arrival on campus.  He is a talented individual and his unique combination of power and athleticism provides him with a great opportunity to contribute to our team goal of bringing a conference championship back to DSU."
 
Kaden Kirchner – OF – Sioux Falls Jefferson High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 5'10", 170 lbs.
Kirchner is an outfielder that graduated from Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls.  This summer for Sioux Falls Post 15 West, he batted .315 in 130 at bats with five doubles, five triples, one home run, 26 walks, 23 strikeouts, and 15 stolen bases.  He plans to study business administration at Dakota State.
 
Coach Hardie on Kaden: "To say that Kaden made it clear that he wanted to be a Trojan is an understatement.  That, along with being a good baseball player with upside, high character, and strong academics, made Kaden a great fit for us.  He has put a ton of time and effort into his development in the past year, becoming bigger, faster, and stronger, and it has shown in his physical stature and metrics.  Kaden has good bat-to-ball skills, a strong arm, plus speed, and sneaky pop.  I look forward to the development Kaden is going make during his time as a Trojan."   
 
Declyn Otte – RHP – Fort Calhoun High School – Fort Calhoun, Neb. – 6'4", 170 lbs.
Otte is a right-handed pitcher from Fort Calhoun.  He attended Fort Calhoun High School.  During the 2024 legion ball season for Post 348, coached by Jerry Wellwood, Otte recorded a 2.89 ERA over nine starts in 48 1/3 innings pitched.  A 4.0 GPA student in high school, he plans to pursue a degree in computer science during his time at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Declyn: "I am excited to add Declyn to our pitching staff.  He made it clear early in his recruiting process that he wants to be a Trojan and help contribute to our pursuit of winning a conference championship.  Declyn has the tools and potential to have a tremendous collegiate career.  With the movement of all his pitches and his frame, I believe Declyn has just begun to scratch the surface on how talented he can become.  I look forward to the physical development he is going to make during his time as a Trojan and the value he will bring on the field and in the classroom to our program."
 
Darcy Barry - MIF - North Iowa Area Community College - Adelaide, Australia - 5'10", 175 lbs.
Barry comes to DSU from across the pond in Adelaide, Australia. He played his junior college baseball at North Iowa Area Community College.  As NIACC's starting shortstop in 2024, he hit .296 with six home runs to go along with 14 doubles and 32 runs batted in. 
 
Coach Evers on Darcy: "Darcy Barry garnered a lot of interest during the recruiting process and we're excited that he ultimately decided to become a Trojan.  He has the potential to accomplish some big things while here at DSU and I'm excited to get to work with him on a daily basis for the next couple of years."
 
Tyler (TJ) Hoffman – OF – Iowa Lakes Community College – Aberdeen, S.D. – 5'11", 180 lbs.
Hoffman is an outfielder from Aberdeen that will be transferring from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa.  In 2024, he was a starting outfielder for the Lakers with 135 at bats and hit just shy of .300 at the plate with ten stolen bases.  This summer, he played for the Oahe Zap of the Independence League, hitting over .300 in 102 at bats.  Hoffman will be pursuing a degree in exercise science at Dakota State.

Coach Hardie on Tyler:  "We kept an eye on Tyler while he was in high school, and I am excited to now have him as a Trojan after attending Iowa Lakes Community College.  He put work into his physical and mental development the past three-years at Iowa Lakes and will provide a skilled veteran presence.  Tyler is a fierce competitor with a high baseball IQ, which is going to make everyone around him better.  I enjoyed talking approach and hitting with him during the recruiting process.  I believe Tyler has just begun to scratch the surface of his skill set.  He has gap-to-gap hitting ability and a speed tool that he has not tapped into yet that can make him a doubles and base stealing threat.  I am looking forward to watching Tyler continue to unlock his potential as a Trojan."
 
Connor Raney – OF – Seward County Community College – Pflugerville, Texas – 5'10", 170 lbs.
Raney is an outfielder from Pflugerville and transferring following a two-year career at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan., that saw the Saints record back-to-back 30-plus win seasons.  In his two-years with the Saints, Raney hit .311 at the plate. 
 
In the 2024 season, Raney stepped up as a key part of the Saints' lineup when he appeared at the plate 168 times and recorded 47 hits, 12 doubles, and two home runs.
 
Coach Hardie on Connor: "Mike Davidson, head coach at Seward County Community College, highly recommended Connor prior to the 2024 season, so that spoke volumes about Connor and the type of person and player he is.  What I loved the most about the recruiting process with Connor was during our first phone call, he told me that he preferred to stay home in Texas for school.  As we continued the recruiting process, great questions led to great conversations, and he learned about Dakota State and the baseball program's mission, vision, identity, culture, and development.  Connor had great options closer to home, but he decided to become a Trojan.  Young men who want to be a Trojan are who we want in our program.  Connor comes from a successful junior college, so he knows how to win, and he is battle tested.  We are excited to have Connor as a Trojan.  He is a plus athlete and can really play the center field position with the best of them.  More importantly, his best baseball is ahead of him."
 
Garrett Schmitt – RHP – Minnesota North College – Rainy River – Parker, Colo. – 5'10", 180 lbs.
Schmitt is a right-handed pitcher from Parker and transferring to Dakota State from Minnesota North College - Rainy River in International Falls, Minn.  During his career at Rainy River, coached by Josh Koenig, Schmitt posted a 7-5 record across 22 appearances and 91 innings pitched. 
 
He also served as the team captain and carried a 4.0 GPA.  Garrett will be pursuing a degree in business during his tenure at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Garrett: "I am excited to see the impact Garrett will have on our pitching staff and program overall.  He was an ironman for Rainy River as he filled in at catcher and in the outfield in addition to being a starter in their rotation on the mound.  On top of that, Garrett checks our boxes from a leadership and academic standard, serving as a team captain and carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA, so we are thrilled to bring someone into our program with those accolades.  I am looking forward to the impact Garrett is going to have on our program both on and off the field during his time at Dakota State."
 
Hayden Leighty – RHP – University of Minnesota – Rapid City, S.D. – 6'3", 235 lbs.
Leighty is a right-handed pitcher from Rapid City and is coming to Dakota State after attending the University of Minnesota.  He comes to DSU after a successful two-year tenure with the Post 22 Rapid City Hardhats program, coached by Kelvin Torve.  Leighty plans to pursue a degree in biology during his time at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Hayden: "I am thrilled to add Hayden to our pitching staff. Coming to us from one of the premier legion programs in the state of South Dakota, Hayden knows how to win and compete at a high level which is going to make everyone around him better.  He is mature, humble and wants to be coached, which are traits we highly value in our program.  With his build, Hayden surely has more in the tank, and I look forward to seeing him unlocking that potential right away in his time at Dakota State."
 
David (DJ) Rodriguez – INF - Shoreline Community College - El Paso, Texas - 6'0", 200 lbs.
Rodriguez took a little bit of a different path to end up here at Dakota State.  He played his first two years of junior college baseball at Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Wash.  After that, he took a year off to go to school and train as opposed to continuing his playing career.  Now, after that year off, David is joining the Trojans.
 
Coach Evers on David: "David is someone who was interested in becoming a Trojan from the first phone call.  I enjoyed his enthusiasm throughout the entirety of the recruiting process, and I think he has a chance to develop and provide some big contributions to the baseball program during his time here."