IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine welcomes eight more baseball players to the family on National Signing Day that will begin play with the program for the 2017-18 schoolyear. The class is a good mix of lefties and righties with a good mix of versatility including four that can sling it from the mound.

The 2016 crop of newcomers played a very integral role on the mound with four players putting up sub-3.00 ERAs in over 10 games of work while the catching position was another focus with 35 starts handled by freshmen. The impact from new Anteaters is vital to the team's success, so let's meet the newest members signing their National Letters of Intent:

Andre Antone | INF/RHP | 6-5 | 220 | R/R | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Capistrano Valley Christian HS

 "Andre is a physical corner infielder and right handed pitcher. He has power from the right side of the plate and has really come on recently as a pitcher. He has reached 90mph+ and is only scratching the surface in terms of what he might be in the future."

A two-time league champion under head coach Clemente Bonilla at Capistrano Valley Christian High School, Antone really honed his skill on the mound last season earning 2016 Pitcher of the Year and First Team all-league status. He hit .400 as a junior with 35 of his 40 hits going for extra bases, and paired that with a 2.26 ERA on the mound, primarily in relief work, where he allowed batters to hit .119. He took home defensive MVP honors in 2014, and excels off the field being recognized as a Scholar-Athlete and has taken time to work with Boys and Girls clubs.

Brendan Brooks | INF/RHP | 6-1 | 168 | R/R | Corona, Calif. | Norco HS

"Brendan has been a 4-year starter at SS for Norco High School. He is very advanced in his knowledge of the game and his ability to play defense.  Brendan loves to play and will continue to improve. His feel for the game will give him a chance to impact us early in his career."

The defensive wiz from Norco High School has been a mainstay up the middle under head coach Gary Parcell helped the team to two league titles and wins in the Chino Tournament and twice in the Darryl Kile Tournament coming away with all-tournament team accolades as a freshman. Brooks hit a blistering .436 while only striking out three times and committing two errors over his junior season. Brooks has claimed top defensive honors twice, and consistently makes all-league and all-academic squads.

Jacob Castro | C | 6-1 | 195 | L/R | Oxnard, Calif. | Rio Mesa HS

"Jacob is a left handed hitting catcher with some power. His makeup and leadership skills make him very valuable. Every good team has someone like Jacob that can take charge behind the plate and help lead the pitching staff."

Behind the plate, Castro has raised Rio Mesa High School up in Oxnard to a league title in 2016 behind head coach David Soliz. He's brought home all-league and all-county twice, and added two team MVPs and League Player of the Year honors while hitting .420 as a junior from the left side.

Trenton Denholm | RHP | 5-11 | 180 | R/R | El Dorado Hills, Calif. | Oak Ridge HS

"Trenton is one of the better pitchers in the state. Last year he gave up one earned run in his first 64 innings. He has a fastball that can reach the low 90s, a plus changeup, and a curveball he can throw for strikes whenever he wants. He will make an immediate impact for us."

Denholm's pitching has not gone unnoticed up in Northern California's Oak Ridge High School coached by Todd Melton. His stellar junior season saw him finish with a 0.71 ERA with five complete games, and earned him all-city, all-metro, all-league, league MVP, and North/South All-Star Team inclusion with All-State honors from Cal Hi Sports and Max Preps. He came through at the plate as well batting .337 and driving home 17 runs with some help from a big-league family member, Rod Barajas.

Michael Frias | RHP | 6-0 | 175 | R/R | Irvine, Calif. | Servite HS

"Michael will play an important role this year for Servite on the mound. He throws his fastball in the upper 80s to both sides of the plate, has feel for the changeup, and a curveball that he can finish hitters with."

The pitching star has shone bright for Servite High School and head coach Shawn Gilbert competing in a very tough league. Frias garnered all-league status as a junior which will help him continue to grow entering his senior season.

Royce Lewis | INF/OF | 6-2 | 190 | R/R | Aliso Viejo, Calif. | JSerra HS

"Royce is among the best high school players in the country. He has the ability to play defense all over the field and is a true game changer offensively. Royce will have a tremendous impact on our program.  He combines special ability with top notch character and makeup."

Lewis has made a name for himself on the top school in the state and fifth-best nationally in JSerra High School under head coach Brett Kay. He took part in the Perfect Game All-American Classic, and came away with MVP of the game with two hits, two runs, and three stolen bases. In addition, he has been an Under-Armour and MaxPreps All-American and member of the under-18 U.S. National Team bringing with him honor after honor including two-time league MVPs, LA Times High School Player of the Year, and being named the No. 5 High School prospect in the country according to MLB.com following a school-record in hits, 21 RBI, and 21 stolen bases leading to three league titles.

Evan McMillin | RHP | 6-0 | 185 | R/R | Camarillo, Calif. | Camarillo HS | Oxnard College

"Evan has a fastball that can reach 90, a true swing and miss slider, and a developing changeup. We feel confident that he will come in right away and pitch in a substantial role. Evan's makeup, maturity, and toughness will be a huge benefit to the pitching staff."

McMillin is the lone newcomer that has any experience on the college level coming from Oxnard College and the guidance of head coach Jon Larson. This last season, he was 3-2 in 39 innings over 12 appearances, four as starts. He managed at least three innings in nine of his outings with a pair of five-strikeout performances, and finished with a 3.92 ERA. He also got a little work with the Ventura Halos of the California Collegiate League over the summer.

Jake Palmer | OF | 5-10 | 185 | L/L | El Segundo, Calif. | El Segundo HS

"Jake has been around the program since 2013 when his brother Grant became an Anteater. Jake has a very advanced hit tool and a real knack for getting on base. He is a great athlete, leader, and winner. He is a guy that raises the energy level of those around him."

Yes Grant's brother, Jake, will follow in his footsteps out of El Segundo High School and head coach Billy Traber. He hit as high as .454 as a sophomore and followed that up with a .398 average last season to help capture three all-league, two all-area, and one All-CIF honors as his school played into the CIF Quarterfinals in 2016. Palmer also saw time at QB, kicker, and safety with the two-league league champ football team.

Mike Peabody | OF | 6-4 | 185 | L/R | Santa Ana, Calif. | Mater Dei HS

"Mike has a chance to be a very special player. He is a true plus runner, and as his body continues to fill out, it's going to be really fun to watch his development. Mike is worker that really wants to be good. He has tremendous upside."

Peabody is another Trinity League standout hailing from Mater Dei High School under head coach Burt Call. He's been a fixture in the community and classroom first and foremost, but also claimed All-CIF and Offensive Player of the Year as a threat in the outfield.

Player	Position	HT / WT	B/T	Hometown	Previous School	Note
Antone, Andre	INF/RHP	6-5 / 220	R/R	Laguna Niguel	Capistrano Valley Christian HS	2016 Pitcher of the Year
Brooks, Brendan	INF/RHP	6-1 / 168	R/R	Corona	Norco HS	Two-time defensive player of the year
Castro, Jacob	C	6-1 / 195	L/R	Oxnard	Rio Mesa HS	League Player of the Year
Denholm, Trenton	RHP	5-11 / 180	R/R	El Dorado Hills	Oak Ridge HS	Cal Hi Sports and Max Preps All-State
Frias, Michael	RHP	6-0 / 175	R/R	Irvine	Servite HS	All-Trinity League
Lewis, Royce	INF/OF	6-2 / 190	R/R	Aliso Viejo	JSerra HS	No. 5 prospect on MLB.com
McMillin, Evan	RHP	6-0 / 185	R/R	Camarillo	Oxnard College	Member of Ventura Halos summer ball club
Palmer, Jake	OF	5-10 / 185	L/L	El Segundo	El Segundo HS	QB, Kicker, Safety on football team
Peabody, Mike	OF	6-4 / 185	L/R	Santa Ana	Mater Dei HS	All-CIF