Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
McGuire inks five pitchers in early signing period
11/8/2017 5:30:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - It's Signing Day at Middle Tennessee! The baseball program and head coach Jim McGuire are excited to announce the signing of five new Blue Raiders.
David Zoz | 6'3 – 200 | L/L | Illinois Central College
In his freshman season at Illinois Central College, David Zoz was utilized primarily as a weekend starter. In his 11 appearances, the lefty averaged 7.11 strikeouts per nine innings. In total, Zoz amassed 50-2/3 innings pitched and four complete games in his freshman campaign, including two complete game shutouts.
He also gets it done in the classroom. In high school, Zoz was named to the National Honor Society, and in his first year at Illinois Central, he was awarded recognition on the Dean's List.
McGuire on Zoz: "He's the only junior college pitcher we signed in the early period. He fills a big need with Jake Wyrick being a senior. With his experience, he will have an opportunity to start right away if he does what we think he can."
James Zachary 'Zac' Pearson | 6'5 – 230 | R/L | Siegel High School
Zac Pearson is a state-championship-winning, left-handed pitcher out of Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. He's been committed to McGuire and the Blue Raiders since January of 2017.
In his two years on varsity at Siegel, Pearson has accumulated some gaudy stats. In his sophomore campaign, he tallied a 7-3 record as a starter, striking out 56 in 59 innings pitched. The southpaw followed that up last year with even better numbers, throwing 40-2/3 innings as a starter with 55 strikeouts and a 1.03 earned-run average. He's been named All-District twice and was also on the WWBA All-Tournament team by Perfect Game in 2016.
McGuire on Pearson: "Pearson is a Murfreesboro product that we expect big things from. He's a big, left-handed pitcher with huge upside, and has an opportunity to be a weekend starter down the line."
Graham Tulloch | 6'5 – 255 | R/R | Brentwood Academy
A two-sport letter winner at Brentwood Academy (football and baseball), Graham Tulloch is described as a "big-bodied athlete that brings confidence and pitches aggressively through the lineup" by PrepBaseballReport.
Tulloch threw 57 innings, striking out 58 batters and amassing a 2.90 ERA for BA in 2016-2017, which culminated in a state championship. His father, Mark Tulloch, was an all-conference tennis player at Middle Tennessee from 1980-83. Like Pearson, Tulloch was named to the WWBA National Championship All-Tournament team by Perfect Game. He also was named to the Perfect Game EvoShield Classic All-Tournament team.
McGuire on Tulloch: "Another right-handed pitcher we're excited about that has had great success at the high school level. We're looking for him to contribute in a big way as a freshman."
Connor Brian | 6'0 – 180 | R/R | Stoneman Douglas High School
Connor Brian hails from one of the most prestigious high school programs in the country, Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida.
Brian was a part of SDHS's national championship run in 2016, but made his largest impact last season as a junior, where he went the entire season without tallying a loss (4-0, 1.47 ERA). He also plays for the Florida Pokers Travel Team, where he registered 19 IP in the summer circuit without allowing an earned run. Brian has also been named to a Perfect Game All-Tournament Team four times.
McGuire on Brian: "(Brian) is a right-handed pitcher that we got on a little bit later as he continued to get better throughout the summer and fall. He comes from a tremendous high school and summer league team in Florida. He will bring a lot of experience to the table that will give him an opportunity to pitch right away for us."
Dylan Perry | 6'3 – 185 | R/R | Soddy-Daisy High School
Out of Soddy-Daisy High School, Dylan Perry is another Tennessee product that has been committed to the Blue Raiders for some time.
Perry has accolades at not only the high school level but also in summer league, being named Honorable Mention to the Underclass team by Perfect Game in 2016 and 2017. He also has five All-Tournament team acknowledgements in two years by Perfect Game. At Soddy-Daisy, he was named First-Team All-District his junior season, when he went 5-3 as a starter. He also threw 42 innings, fanning 42 batters on the way to tallying a 2.14 ERA.
McGuire on Perry: "Dylan is a big, strong right-hander that with limitless potential that will impact this team down the line."
David Zoz | 6'3 – 200 | L/L | Illinois Central College
In his freshman season at Illinois Central College, David Zoz was utilized primarily as a weekend starter. In his 11 appearances, the lefty averaged 7.11 strikeouts per nine innings. In total, Zoz amassed 50-2/3 innings pitched and four complete games in his freshman campaign, including two complete game shutouts.
He also gets it done in the classroom. In high school, Zoz was named to the National Honor Society, and in his first year at Illinois Central, he was awarded recognition on the Dean's List.
McGuire on Zoz: "He's the only junior college pitcher we signed in the early period. He fills a big need with Jake Wyrick being a senior. With his experience, he will have an opportunity to start right away if he does what we think he can."
James Zachary 'Zac' Pearson | 6'5 – 230 | R/L | Siegel High School
Zac Pearson is a state-championship-winning, left-handed pitcher out of Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. He's been committed to McGuire and the Blue Raiders since January of 2017.
In his two years on varsity at Siegel, Pearson has accumulated some gaudy stats. In his sophomore campaign, he tallied a 7-3 record as a starter, striking out 56 in 59 innings pitched. The southpaw followed that up last year with even better numbers, throwing 40-2/3 innings as a starter with 55 strikeouts and a 1.03 earned-run average. He's been named All-District twice and was also on the WWBA All-Tournament team by Perfect Game in 2016.
McGuire on Pearson: "Pearson is a Murfreesboro product that we expect big things from. He's a big, left-handed pitcher with huge upside, and has an opportunity to be a weekend starter down the line."
Graham Tulloch | 6'5 – 255 | R/R | Brentwood Academy
A two-sport letter winner at Brentwood Academy (football and baseball), Graham Tulloch is described as a "big-bodied athlete that brings confidence and pitches aggressively through the lineup" by PrepBaseballReport.
Tulloch threw 57 innings, striking out 58 batters and amassing a 2.90 ERA for BA in 2016-2017, which culminated in a state championship. His father, Mark Tulloch, was an all-conference tennis player at Middle Tennessee from 1980-83. Like Pearson, Tulloch was named to the WWBA National Championship All-Tournament team by Perfect Game. He also was named to the Perfect Game EvoShield Classic All-Tournament team.
McGuire on Tulloch: "Another right-handed pitcher we're excited about that has had great success at the high school level. We're looking for him to contribute in a big way as a freshman."
Connor Brian | 6'0 – 180 | R/R | Stoneman Douglas High School
Connor Brian hails from one of the most prestigious high school programs in the country, Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida.
Brian was a part of SDHS's national championship run in 2016, but made his largest impact last season as a junior, where he went the entire season without tallying a loss (4-0, 1.47 ERA). He also plays for the Florida Pokers Travel Team, where he registered 19 IP in the summer circuit without allowing an earned run. Brian has also been named to a Perfect Game All-Tournament Team four times.
McGuire on Brian: "(Brian) is a right-handed pitcher that we got on a little bit later as he continued to get better throughout the summer and fall. He comes from a tremendous high school and summer league team in Florida. He will bring a lot of experience to the table that will give him an opportunity to pitch right away for us."
Dylan Perry | 6'3 – 185 | R/R | Soddy-Daisy High School
Out of Soddy-Daisy High School, Dylan Perry is another Tennessee product that has been committed to the Blue Raiders for some time.
Perry has accolades at not only the high school level but also in summer league, being named Honorable Mention to the Underclass team by Perfect Game in 2016 and 2017. He also has five All-Tournament team acknowledgements in two years by Perfect Game. At Soddy-Daisy, he was named First-Team All-District his junior season, when he went 5-3 as a starter. He also threw 42 innings, fanning 42 batters on the way to tallying a 2.14 ERA.
McGuire on Perry: "Dylan is a big, strong right-hander that with limitless potential that will impact this team down the line."
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