TicketsCINCINNATI – National Signing Day is officially in the books with the Cincinnati baseball team announcing the addition of 12 student-athletes who will join the program for the 2027-28 academic year.
For the third straight season, the Bearcats have inked a Top 50 recruiting class according to Perfect Game.
“We could not be more pleased with the group of 12 student-athletes set to join our program next fall,” head coach Jordan Bischel said. “This group fits what Bearcat Baseball is all about and will help us continue our highly sustainable model of building our roster primarily through high school student-athletes. Coach Pettoruto and Coach Sheriff, with heavy assistance from Coach Winske and Coach Steiner, continue to identify and recruit young men who not only are physically talented enough to play against the top competition in the country, but who have a passion for the things we value. Our program has shown the ability to win at a national level while also having a willingness to consistently develop and utilize underclassmen – something that has become increasingly unusual in college athletics. This recruiting class will allow us to continue that commitment.”
The work Cincinnati’s staff has put in on the recruiting trail has paid off, as the program advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the second straight year, the first back-to-back berths in program history. The Bearcats have won 103 games over the last three years, the most in a three-year stretch in program history.
Below is a brief glimpse of each of Cincinnati’s 12 signees:
Gio Ardizzone | Indianapolis, Ind. | INF/OF
Ardizzone has helped lead Roncalli High School to three straight conference titles in his first three years of prep baseball. As a junior, he hit .465 with seven home runs and 28 stolen bases, earning all-state and all-conference honors in the process and helping his team to IHSAA sectional appearance. He was also an all-conference selection as a sophomore. Ardizzone’s grandfather, Dick Nalley, competed for Team USA as a bobsledder in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Coach Bischel on Gio: “Gio is a highly competitive hitter who will have a chance to impact with the bat right away. What makes Gio unique is that this is coupled with a high level of speed and athleticism that will allow him to play all over the diamond for us. This athleticism will fit perfectly into our style of baseball.”
Jacob Coisman | Luxemburg, Wis. | RHP
Coisman is a three-time all-conference performer at Luxemburg-Casco High School. This past spring, he was a nominee for the Northeast Wisconsin High School Baseball Player of the Year, and as a sophomore in 2026 he struck out 70 while posting a sub-2.00 ERA. Pitching at the Perfect Game WWBA World Championship this fall, he was named to the all-tournament team.
Coach Bischel on Jacob: “Jacob and Drew Stettbacher are widely considered the top two pitching recruits from the class in the state of Wisconsin. Jacob has improved at a dramatic pace over the past 2 years as he has continued to ascend local and national recruiting boards. Jacob’s stuff has a chance to play at an elite level and his recent development speaks to his continued upside.”
Gino De Santis | Chatham-Kent, Ontario | C
Playing for John McGregor Secondary School, De Santis has competed for the Canadian Junior National Team, serving as the youngest player on the U18 squad in 2024. One of the top-ranked high school baseball players in Canada, De Santis played this past summer for the Great Lakes 17U Canadians. Participating in the Toronto Blue Jays Academy’s Canadian Futures Showcase he slashed .333/.600/.444 in five games and was also selected to participate in the home run derby.
Coach Bischel on Gino: “We identified Gino as a top catching recruit very early in the class of 2027 cycle and even though he committed later on, we have followed him closely for the past 2 years. Gino also hits from the left-side which is something we haven’t had at the catching position the last couple of years.”
Lucas Haas | Valparaiso, Ind. | RHP
Representing Valparaiso High School, Haas helped the team win a state championship in 2025 as well as sectional titles each of the last two seasons. As a junior, he was named all-conference and all-area, going 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 66 strikeouts. After performing well on the junior varsity to begin his sophomore season, he was called up to the varsity and helped Valparaiso win its first-ever state title.
Coach Bischel on Lucas: “Lucas is right-handed pitcher from our region has shown and elite strike throwing ability, continually developing stuff, and the body and attitude that lend to a high amount of projection. We expect Lucas will only get better and better during his time in Cincinnati.”
Mason Hawkins | Raleigh, N.C. | INF/RHP
Hawkins has earned all-conference honors in each of his first three seasons at Broughton High School. This past spring, he hit .406 en route to an all-state nod. Hawkins hit .391 as a sophomore in 2025, and as a freshman he helped lead Broughton to a conference championship.
Coach Bischel on Mason: “Mason is an explosive hitter that can play the corner infield positions at a high level. He will change the game in the batter’s box while also being a high quality athlete that will defend for us. We feel strongly about Mason’s ability to compete in the batters’ box very early in his career.”
Nathan Kramer | Cincinnati, Ohio | RHP
A local product out of Archbishop McNicholas, Kramer is a three-year varsity letterwinner. As a junior this spring, he was named all-state and all-city and tied his own single-game school record with 17 strikeouts. As a sophomore in 2025, Kramer had a 1.45 ERA and 79 strikeouts across 48 innings of work.
Coach Bischel on Nathan: “Nathan quickly established himself as one of the top pitchers in the state of Ohio in the class of 2027. While everything he has done to this point is impressive, we feel even more strongly about his future development. Keeping Nathan home in Cincinnati was a huge priority for us and we are thrilled we were able to do so.”
Josh Morgan | Chicago, Ill. | OF
Playing at Fenwick High School, Morgan is a three-time all-conference selection on the diamond. As a sophomore in 2025, he hit .388 and stole 15 bases while helping his team to an IHSA 4A regional final appearance. Morgan also helped the Fenwick football program win a state title in 2025 while playing cornerback, posting 36 tackles, 24 passes defended, and two interceptions.
Coach Bischel on Josh: “Josh profiles perfectly into what you see from Bearcat outfielders. He is an elite level athlete who could have played high level college football but decided his passion was on the baseball field. His athleticism and explosiveness will impact us in multiple ways and our style of baseball will allow him to utilize his tools at a very high level.”
Colin Murphy | Phoenix, Ariz. | C
A three-year letterwinner at Chandler High School, Murphy was named second-team all-region as a junior while helping his team advance to the AIA 6A quarterfinals. He participated in the Four Corners ProCase this past summer through Prep Baseball Arizona. As a sophomore in 2025, he was name first-team all-region.
Coach Bischel on Colin: “Collin is a high-energy catcher who already defends at a high level. He is athletic enough to impact the game in multiple ways and has been very successful against high level competition. Collin will help us continue our history of extremely strong catching play over the past several years.”
Ryan Murphy | Cincinnati, Ohio | RHP
Pitching at nearby Oak Hills High School, Murphy has twice been named All-Greater Miami Conference. He was a first-team all-state selection as a junior as well and was named Co-Pitcher of the Year by the Cincinnati Enquirer. He tallied 107 strikeouts in 73 innings and posted a 1.06 ERA this past spring. Murphy’s father, Chris, was an all-conference pitcher at UC as well. He was a 40th round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 1995 and his five-inning no-hitter against IUPUI in 1995 is the most recent by a Cincinnati pitcher.
Coach Bischel on Ryan: “Ryan’s father, Chris, is a Cincinnati Baseball alum and it put Ryan on our radar very early in the process. At that point Ryan was an intriguing but raw pitcher. Since then, Ryan is likely the most improved pitcher in the state in his class to move him to among the very best performers in the state. Keeping Ryan home with the Bearcats is huge for our program.”
Preston Seidl | Newburgh, ind. | LHP
Playing at Castle High School, Seidl was an all-conference pick this past spring while posting a 2.18 ERA across 51.1 innings and tallying 84 strikeouts. He helped Castle to an IHSAA 4A regional appearance as well. Seidl has participated in WWBA and Prep Baseball National Championship events each of the last four years.
Coach Bischel on Preston: “We have not had enough left-handed pitching depth in recent years and Preston will be one of five left-handed pitchers between the last two high school classes to help us change that. He is a high-level strike thrower with a strong history of recording outs who also has plenty of room to grow.”
Drew Stettbacher | North Fond du Lac, Wis. | LHP
A two-time all-conference pick, Stettbacher broke the Horace Mann High School career strikeout record this past season and owns the two lowest single-season ERAs in school history. As a junior, he punched out 105 while walking just 13 and had a sterling 0.74 ERA. He was also selected to the 2026 Perfect Game WWBA Championship All-Tournament Team and has represented Prep Baseball Wisconsin at events each of the last two summers. Stettbacher is also an all-conference golfer, qualifying for sectionals as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.
Coach Bischel on Drew: “As mentioned with Jacob, he and Drew are the top two pitching recruits in their class in their home state. Drew has been a late bloomer who is getting better and better. His 2026 summer was elite in terms of production – very rarely giving up a run. Coupled with his tremendous growth and projectability it gives Drew a chance to make a big impact early in his time here.”
Colin Stofik | Pittsburgh, Pa. | INF
Stofik has started for Peters Township High School all three years of his high school career, twice being named a Preseason All-American. As a junior this past spring, he hit .326. Despite missing some time as a sophomore in 2025, Stofik and Peters Township advanced to the WPIAL semifinals.
Coach Bischel on Colin: “Colin comes from the same hometown as Jack Natili. Colin has everything we look for in a middle infielder – he consistently makes the routine play and has the athleticism to make the outstanding play. This athleticism will also really help him play our style of baseball in pressuring defenses and developing into a dynamic offensive player.”