Andre Vigil is not finished inflicting damage on New Mexico’s prep baseball teams.

The University of New Mexico’s baseball rivals will be next.

Vigil, a junior second baseman at Volcano Vista High School, verbally committed Thursday to play at UNM starting in 2013-14. Vigil was being recruited by numerous schools including Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Brown, Alabama State and Dallas Christian.

	Staying at home Current New Mexico prep baseball players who have verbally committed to play at the University of New Mexico. Name Pos. School Class Hunter Blaylock C Belen Senior Cody Bower IF/C St. Pius Junior Dalton Bowers SS/P Volcano Vista Senior Taylor Duree OF/P Sandia Senior Tyler Greene OF/P Clovis Junior Jered Meek SS Carlsbad Senior Kyle Piersol IF/P St. Pius Sophomore Andre Vigil 2B Volcano Vista Junior Trevor Whitmire P Artesia Senior

“I’ve been close to the UNM program for a while,” Vigil said. “I’ve gone to some of their camps and I like what they’re doing. They have a chance to be very good and I’m hoping to contribute to that.”

Vigil is coming off an eye-grabbing sophomore season, during which he helped Volcano Vista finish 25-4 and reach the Class 5A championship game. Vigil hit .470 with a 5A-best 17 homers and 58 RBIs.

Those power numbers may be hard to match this season when the state’s prep baseball programs transition from aluminum bats to wood. Vigil is confident the change will not drastically impact his hitting and hopes to hammer at least an occasional long ball. Vigil hit 12 home runs his freshman season, and he has Max Walla’s state high school career record of 34 in his sights.

“I’m still going after that,” Vigil said. “I’m working to adjust to the (wood) bats.”

Vigil’s name is the latest on a growing list of in-state players who have verbally committed to UNM’s baseball program. The Journal has confirmed eight other current New Mexico prep players who have expressed intentions to become Lobos.

Among them are Vigil’s Volcano Vista teammate Dalton Bowers, Sandia’s Taylor Duree, Belen’s Hunter Blaylock and St. Pius teammates Kyle Piersol and Cody Bower. Three of the nine New Mexicans are juniors this season, while Piersol is a sophomore.

NCAA rules prohibit Birmingham from commenting on unsigned recruits, but he confirmed UNM is recruiting Vigil and the other in-state players.

“I’m trying to build a great program with New Mexico kids,” he said. “Some years are fantastic and others are just OK, but there are always at least a few players here who can help a college program. I want to get them from every part of the state.”

Albuquerque Baseball Academy president Mike Foote said Birmingham is one of a growing number of coaches seeking early commitments. Verbal commitments are non-binding, but waiting to recruit players during their senior year – when they can officially sign national letters of intent – is frequently not an option.

“(Birmingham) realizes you have to commit juniors early if you want to keep them home,” Foote said. “If they’re still uncommitted the summer after their junior season, it gets dicey.”

Vigil and his family are only too happy to avoid a potential summer recruiting frenzy.

“He’s excited to stay home and try to help the UNM baseball program,” said Andy Vigil, Andre’s father. “(Committing early) is a comfort for Andre. It takes a lot of the pressure off the new season.”
Volcano Vista Slugger Vigil Commits to Lobos

UNM BASEBALL
— This article appeared on page D4 of the Albuquerque Journal