The Turks look forward to welcoming four players from San Diego State to Veterans Memorial Park this summer, Brian Leonhardt, Blake Butcher, Johnny Giannola, and Joseph Ingrassia.
Brian Leonhardt is a 6-0 200 pound third baseman and left-hand pitcher for the San Diego State Aztecs. The rising redshirt junior is pursuing a degree in social science aspiring to be a teacher after college. He hails from Chula Vista, CA
Leonhardt was the lone Aztec returner to have played in all 26 games during the 2021 campaign. He had a stellar season, making 36 starts at designated hitter, seven on the mound, and one in left field. Butcher posted career highs with a .305 batting average, 47 RBIs, 46 hits, and 29 runs scored. His RBI total was tied for third in the Mountain West. Leonhardt also set personal bests in slugging percentage with .404 and an on-base percentage of .348. He shared the top spot in the nation with nine sacrifice flies. He finished with two or more hits in 13 games and had multiple RBIs in 12 contests. Leonhardt also made 15 pitching appearances, including seven starts, posting a 102 record with a 6.10 ERA and 24 strikeouts.
He not only excelled on the field but he also earned a spot on the Mountain West All-Academic team.
In 2019 Leonhardt had a solid season as a freshman for the Aztecs. He hit .272 in 48 games with 45 starts. He finished second on the team with 14 doubles and ranked third with 34 RBIs. The freshman tossed 17.2 innings in nine appearances finishing with a 6.62 ERA.
Blake Butcher, a 6-0 200 pound third baseman plays at San Diego State. The young freshman is from Newport Beach, CA.
Butcher graduated from Corona del Mar High School where he won four varsity letters. In 2021 he collected the Sunset Wave League Most Valuable Player and was named team Offensive Player of the Year. He hit .386 with seven home runs. Butcher was ranked as the 10th best prospect at third base in California for the class of 2021 by Perfect Game. He also was an All-American honorable mention for the California region by Perfect Game.
Johnny Giannola, a 6-0 190 utility player plays at San Diego State. The red-shirt freshman is from Ladera Ranch, CA.
Giannola graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School. He was a four-year varsity competitor. He was ranked as the 18th best third baseman in California for the 2020 class by Perfect Game and was listed among the top 500 recruits nationally.
Joseph Ingrassia is a 6-2 180 pounder that pitches for San Diego State. The rising sophomore lefty is from El Cajon, CA.
As a freshman, Ingrassia made six appearances out of the bullpen in his Aztec debut pitching a combined 3.2 innings with five strikeouts.
Ingrassia pitched for Valhalla High School and combined for a 13-3 record posting a 1.46 era with 216 strikeouts.