South Dakota State University baseball coach Dave Schrage announced that junior college student-athletes Greg Casper and Philip Velez recently signed national letters of intent and will continue their collegiate careers as members of the Jackrabbit baseball team.
A right-handed relief pitcher, Casper comes to SDSU by way of Tacoma Community College (Wash.), where he posted a 3.81 earned run average and struck out 40 batters in 33 innings during the 2015 campaign. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
A native of Pocatello, Idaho, Casper was named Idaho State Journal Player of the Year in 2014 and was a two-time all-region selection. He batted .429 and compiled a 1.31 earned run average as a senior.
Velez, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, played one season at Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Iowa, where he batted .375 with two home runs and 25 runs batted in. He also stole 15 bases and scored 34 runs in 48 games. An outfielder, Velez also will have three years of eligibility remaining at SDSU.
At the prep level, Velez earned first-team all-state honors in 2013 and was a two-time all-conference selection at Southeast Polk High School.
South Dakota State completed the 2015 season with a 33-23 overall record and finished second in The Summit League regular season race with an 18-11 mark.
