TUCSON, Ariz. - The 2008 Oregon baseball recruiting class was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s annual evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes, it was announced by the publication today.

The Ducks first signing class in 27 years under head coach George Horton includes nine players that were drafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

“We definitely think our 2008 recruiting class gives us a good base for this season and the future,” assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Andrew Checketts said. “This class will allow the program to hit the ground running and move us in the direction that we want to be in.  The student-athletes showed a lot of faith in our coaching staff and the University by making the commitment to Oregon.”

Oregon’s current roster consists of 44 student-athletes; 26 freshmen, 13 junior college transfers and five Division I transfers. The Ducks began Fall Ball on Sept. 15, practicing at Thurston High School (Springfield, Ore.), while construction of PK Park is underway.

The 2008 class includes two of the top five junior college pitchers as rated by Perfect Game USA, in Bennett Whitmore (Clovis, Calif./Fresno CC) and Justin LaTempa (Huntington Beach, Calif./Golden West College). Also included in the 2008 class are freshmen Tyler Anderson (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS), Chris Garrison (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin HS), Joey Housey (Hollywood, Fla./Nova HS), Scott McGough (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) and Colby Sokol (Puyallup, Wash./Emerald Ridge HS), who were each drafted this spring.

The Ducks will play their first game in 28 years on Friday, Feb. 20 at Saint Mary’s. Oregon will then christen PK Park, hosting defending College World Series champion Fresno State on Friday, Feb. 27 in Eugene.

Fellow Pacific-10 Conference member Arizona State took home the No. 1 ranked recruiting class for the third time in the Sun Devils’ program history according to Collegiate Baseball.

Top Ten

1. Arizona State

2. Oregon

3. Vanderbilt

4. Arkansas

5. Georgia

6. UCLA

7. University of Miami (Fla.)

8. Florida State

9. Clemson

10. Fresno State

Pac-10

1. Arizona State

2. Oregon

6. UCLA

12. Oregon State

16. USC

26. Stanford

34. Arizona