ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland baseball and head coach Brian Nelson officially welcome five newcomers to the Golden Grizzlies program as part of the Class of 2027. The incoming class features a talented group of high school student-athletes from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Texas, bringing a diverse collection of athleticism, versatility and skill to the diamond.

"As the college baseball landscape evolves, we continue to take great pride in signing a core of high-level high school student-athletes," said assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Jared Helmic. "This class is made up of two of the best prep hitters in our state, two left-handed hitters from states where we've had great success (IL/OH), and a prep arm from Texas who is as exciting as any we have signed in recent years. With roster limits affecting college roster construction more than ever, we believe these guys bring a variety of tools to the table, and each possesses traits that will give him a chance to compete early in his career."

The five-member class includes Drake Bouscher (OF), Noah Lindsay (LHP), Eli Sturgess (INF), Jackson Surma (UTL), Shane Torres (C). The group features two of the top prep hitters in Michigan, a pair of left-handed hitters from Illinois and Ohio, and an exciting left-handed pitching prospect from Texas.


Shane Torres – Catcher (L/R), Waubonsie Valley H.S. (IL) / Rhino Baseball
"Left-handed-hitting catchers are the most premium position players in the game, and Shane's name was at the top of our board from the first time we saw him. Shane's defensive abilities really stood out as a tool that will give him a chance to contribute early in his career, and his bat was equally impressive. On the offensive side, his overall athleticism and speed open up a variety of ways to get his bat in the lineup"

Drake Bouscher – Outfielder (L/L), Toronto H.S. (OH) / Team Ohio Pro Select
"Three-sport athletes typically bring a high level of competitiveness and athleticism to the field, and Drake is no exception. His physicality on the gridiron and the wrestling mat shines through in the way he plays the game. His ability to handle the bat and put pressure on defenses will be a great addition to our offense over the next five years."

Eli Sturgess – Infielder (L/R), Flint Powers Catholic H.S. (MI) / USA Prime
"Another left-handed-hitting, multi-sport athlete, Eli was on our radar early in his high school career when he was part of a state championship team as a freshman. His truly game-changing speed and ability to defend almost every position on the field make him an exciting addition to this class. It will be fun to watch his continued growth and development of some power at the plate in a Golden Grizzly uniform in the coming years."

Noah Lindsay – LHP (L/L), Atascocita H.S. (TX) / Hunter Pence SF Giants '27
"Noah has all the makings of an early-impact arm who has only just begun to scratch the surface of what he will be capable of as his career progresses. He has as much pitchability and poise as any arm we saw in this class and has demonstrated an ability to perform on the biggest stages of prep baseball. He flashes starter traits with a bullpen mindset, and the sky is the limit for Noah as a Golden Grizzly."

Jackson Surma – UTL (R/R), New Boston Huron H.S. (MI) / Michigan Bulls
"The lone right-handed hitter of the class, Jackson is another multi-sport athlete who has excelled on the hardwood. For a guy with his power and physicality, what really stands out is his ability to handle the bat, move around the bases, and defend multiple positions in both the infield and outfield. As physically ready from a strength perspective as any freshman, he has a real chance to make an impact early in his career."


"In addition to being talented baseball players, these are some of the finest students and young men you'll find," said Helmic. "We are thrilled to officially welcome Shane, Drake, Eli, Noah, Jackson, and their families into our program. We look forward to their growth as young men both on and off the field, and I am confident that the impact they have on our program, school, and community will reflect their commitment to excellence in everything they do."


How to Follow Oakland Baseball: For complete information on Oakland Baseball, follow the team on X at @OaklandBSB and head coach Brian Nelson at @CoachNelly11. The team is also on Instagram.