BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb baseball, fresh off a strong 2021 season, bolstered its 2022 roster by reeling in nine experienced transfers.

The Diamond 'Dogs added five pitchers, two corner infielders, one outfielder and a middle infielder. The new nine join an already strong recruiting class for head coach Jim Chester.

Gardner-Webb added pitchers Bryce Einstein (6-3, 190, RHP, Lipscomb), Huntley Hacker (6-2, 180, RHP, Brevard), Michael Portella (5-7, 180, RHP, Norfolk State), Aaron Ramirez (6-3, 220, LHP, Miami-Dade College) and Joe Simeone (6-1, 220, RHP, UConn).

Einstein, originally from Ft. Myers, Fla., worked in nine games at Lipscomb University last season as a true freshman, all out of the bullpen. He pitched 13.1 innings for the Bison, striking out eight batters. The righty was rated as the No. 89 prospect at his position in Florida for the Class of 2019 and as a top-1000 prospect nationally. 

Hacker is another strong bullpen veteran, having pitched his previous three college seasons at nearby Brevard College. The righty appeared in 12 games for the Tornados this past season, posting a sparkling 0.51 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work. He earned D3Baseball.com All-South Region honors (third team) in 2021.

Portella pitched two seasons at Norfolk State in the MEAC, going 3-3 with a 3.23 career ERA in 25 appearances out of the bullpen. He fanned 30 batters in 39.0 innings of work and was very effective overall – limiting opponents to a .224 batting average. He did not allow a home run those 39 innings pitched.

Ramirez made 15 appearances out of the bullpen for Miami Dade College, fanning 17 batters in 14.1 innings of work. His solid work helped the Sharks to a 36-19 record in 2021. He is playing this summer with the Wellington Colts in the CLPB, currently working with a 3.17 ERA in 22.2 innings of work (26 strikeouts).

Simeone is another very experienced Division I pitcher, transferring to Gardner-Webb from UConn after four seasons with the Huskies. The big righty appeared in 50 games for UConn, including 12 this past season. He made 21 career starts and was on the bump 10 times in that role during the 2021 season. Simeone fanned 39 batters in 35.2 innings this past season and held opponents to a .257 average. He struck out 23 batters in just 15 innings in 2020 – forging a 3.00 ERA and holding enemy hitters to a .189 average.

Corner infielders Trevor Mattson (5-11, 215, 1B, Arcadia College) and Jonathan Alonso (6-2, 210, 1B, St. Petersburg College) add immediate punch to the offensive outlook for 2022.

Mattson brings a heavy resume to Boiling Springs, after earning Division III MAC Freedom of the Year honors at Arcadia College following the 2021 season. He was also An All-Mid Atlantic Region second-team selection after batting .436 with seven home runs, 14 doubles, 27 RBI and 31 runs scored in 29 starts. He slugged an eye-popping .830 and had a .547 on base percentage. He made just one error in 156 chances as a senior. He finished his career at Arcadia with a .317 batting average in 105 games played and hit 13 home runs to go with 60 RBI.

Mattson is playing this summer with the Hastings Sodbusters, batting .315 with six home runs and 12 steams in 55 games. He belted 18 doubles with the Sodbusters this season.

Jonathan Alonso joins the Gardner-Webb program after playing in 42 games last season at St. Petersburg College. He batted .266 with a pair of home runs and 33 RBI during that time. He played one season at Hillsborough Community College, batting .337 with a home run and 19 RBI in 25 games in 2020.

Alonso was rated as the No. 91 overall prospect in talent-rich Florida by Perfect Game, which also rated him one of the service's top-500 national prospects. Alonso was rated as the No. 51 first base prospect nationally in the Class of 2018 and a potential high draft pick. He was a two-time All-Pinellas County selection.

A Power Five transfer with plenty of experience, outfielder Curtis Robison (6-2, 220) played in 107 games – and started 97 games – during a successful career at Penn State. As a senior he batted .273 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 26 RBI, slugging .461 with a .347 on base percentage. He finished his time with the Nittany Lions with 26 career doubles.

Slick-fielding shortstop Alex Ray (5-10, 175) will be an instant impact player for Gardner-Webb in the middle infield, transferring in after helping nationally-ranked Louisiana Tech to a 42-20 record last season. Ray started 59 games for the Bulldogs at shortstop last season, batting .255 with seven doubles and 19 RBI. He scored 26 runs as well – but made his biggest impact on defense. Ray fielded a strong .921 with 147 assists and 31 double plays. In two seasons at Louisiana Tech, Ray batted a combined .282 with one home run and 40 runs scored. He batted .380 with nine RBI and only one fielding miscue in 16 games as a junior.