LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball head coach Eric Newman has announced the addition of seven newcomers who signed their national letters of intent over the past week.
 
The Tritons will welcome Donovan Chriss (Clayton, Calif.), Anthony Eyanson (Lakewood, Calif.), Xavier Franco (San Diego, Calif.), Brandon Larson (Rocklin, Calif.), Spencer Seid (San Marino, Calif.), Seth Sumner (Pomona, Calif.) and Ryson Ujimori (Aiea, Hawai'i) to the freshman class for the 2023 season.
 
"We are extremely excited about the 2022 class," said Newman. "This is a very talented group that will bring a great blend of athleticism, physicality, and competitiveness. Each of these student-athletes has competed at the highest levels of high school and travel baseball. Due to COVID, the 2022 season will be their first full high school baseball season since freshman year, so I am eager to follow their progress as they help their teams compete for championships."
 
The 2022 signing class includes five pitchers and two infielders, with six student-athletes coming from the state of California and one from Hawai'i. 
 
The talented newcomers will join a veteran group that finished 24-28 overall and 21-19 in Big West play in their first season of Division I competition in 2021. 

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DONOVAN CHRISS
» 6'0 | 170 | RHP/SS
» Clayton, Calif.
» De La Salle High School
» Helped De La Salle to the East Bay Athletic League Championship in 2021
 
From Coach Newman:
"Donovan is a very athletic right-hander that currently has a fastball in the 87-90 range with an above average slider. He also plays shortstop for his high school team. Donovan possesses two of the main qualities we look for in all of our players, athleticism and competitiveness."
 
ANTHONY EYANSON
» 6'2 | 185 | RHP/OF
» Lakewood, Calif.
» Lakewood High School
» First Team All-Moore League selection and 2020-21 Team Pitcher of the Year
 
From Coach Newman:
"Anthony is going to be a big presence on the mound at UC San Diego. He has the innate ability to throw strikes with multiple pitches. Anthony has an explosive fastball that compliments one of the better breaking balls we saw this summer."
 
XAVIER FRANCO
» 5'9 | 170 | RHP/Middle Infield
» San Diego, Calif.
» Otay Ranch High School/St. Augustine High School
» Helped St. Augustine to a Western League Championship, SD Lions Tournament Championship and Bill Whittaker Classic Championship
 
From Coach Newman:
"Xavier is a two-way player with tremendous arm strength that can run his fastball into the mid 90s. At the plate Xavier is a hit getter. We think he has a chance to help us early in his career. We are looking forward to seeing the great things Xavier will do for his high school this season and for UC San Diego in the future."
 
BRANDON LARSON
» 6'6 | 230 | 1B/3B/OF
» Rocklin, Calif.
» Rocklin High School
» 2021 First Team All-Sierra Foothill League and First Team All-Metro selection…2021 Team Offensive MVP…Ranked the No. 4 First Baseman in the state of California by Prep Baseball Report 
 
From Coach Newman:
"Brandon Larson is the definition of a power hitter. He is a left-handed hitter that can make big fields look very small. We think Brandon has a chance to hit in the middle of our lineup and be one of the most powerful hitters on the West Coast before he leaves La Jolla."
 
SPENCER SEID
» 5'11 | 180 | LHP
» San Marino, Calif.
» Flintridge Prep
» Selected First Team All-League as a freshman and junior.... was named varsity team Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2019...ranked the No. 11 left-handed pitcher in the state of California by Perfect Game...competed in the PG Underclass All-American Games in 2020 and participated in the PG Junior National Showcase in 2019
 
From Coach Newman:
"Spencer is the lone left-hander in the class and has a fastball that he runs into the 90's to go along with a good breaking ball and changeup. I saw Spencer perform very well against elite competition this summer. We feel that he is one of the better left-handers in the state. We are looking forward to watching Spencer develop throughout the next few years."
 
SETH SUMNER
» 6'4 | 185 | RHP
» Pomona, Calif.
» Damien High School
» 2021 Baseline League Champions...ranked one of the top 40 pitchers in the state of California by Prep Baseball Report
 
From Coach Newman:
"We could not be more excited to have Seth join our team. His work ethic is second-to-none and we have been very impressed with his development on the mound. He has a fastball that can really dominate hitters and he has a chance to leave UC San Diego as a very accomplished pitcher."
 
RYSON UJIMORI
» 5'10 | 165 | Middle Infield/C
» Aiea, Hawai'i
» Aiea High School
» Will be a four-year starter on varsity at Aiea HS...as a freshman was named All-League honorable mention...his summer team won the Five Tool West World Series
 
From Coach Newman:
"Ryson is a versatile left-handed hitter. He is a middle infielder by trade but is athletic enough to play the outfield and catch. With Ryson's athleticism, ability to make consistent contact and his increasing power tool, we feel he has the chance to be a very offensive middle infielder."
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.