SPRINGFIELD – Drury University baseball added two more transfers for the 2017 season with the additions of Shane Benes, a Missouri University transfer who is the son of former major league pitcher Andy Benes, and Caleb Essick out of Missouri State and Ozark High School.
“These last two additions to the program will be vital pieces to our success immediately,” said Panthers head coach Scott Nasby. “They have a proven track record and have competed at the highest level and stage in college baseball.”
Shane Benes, INF, 6-2, 222, Jr., Missouri Univ. / Westminster HS, Town & Country, Mo.
Shane Benes played the last two seasons at Mizzou and last year belted six home runs and was third on the team with 30 runs batted in for the Tigers. He played in 49 games and had eight multi-RBI games including a three-hit, five-RBI performance that included a home run against Missouri State on April 26. Benes missed the first 38 games of the 2015 season coming off of a knee injury but posted a .225 average with two home runs and 8 RBI’s in 19 games. At Westminster High School, he was a First Team All-State selection twice, was the St. Louis Metro Player of the Year in his junior season in 2014 and was the Post-Dispatch Scholar-Athlete of the Year. His father, Andy Benes, was the first overall pick in the 1988 MLB Draft when he was selected by the San Diego Padres and had a 13-year major league career that saw time with the Padres, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and two stints with the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Shane is regarded as one of the best power hitters in the Midwest and put up some great numbers in a daunting SEC schedule,” said coach Nasby. “He was highly sought after out of high school and will get a fresh start and chance to drive in a lot of runs for us this year. Coming from the SEC, and seeing the best arms in the country every day, he will get a chance to start new and build some confidence from day one. We are excited for the Benes’ to join the Panther family and really looking forward to helping Shane take that next step in his academic, personal, and athletic career.”
Caleb Essick, OF / RHP, 5-10, 160, Fr.-R, Missouri State / Ozark HS, Ozark, Mo.
Caleb Essick was in a redshirt season at Missouri State and transfers to Drury with four years of eligibility. He was a Class 5 All-State selection at Ozark in 2015 as a high school senior hitting .351 with 16 stolen bases while going 7-1 with a 1.40 earned run average as a pitcher. Essick was a four-time All-Central Ozark Conference selection as well as an all-district pick.
“Caleb comes from one of the best high school programs in the Ozarks and being coach by his uncle, Mike Essick, at Ozark High School,” said Nasby. “Caleb has a high motor and will be the fastest player on our team, putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense as well as patrolling gap to gap in the outfield. We plan on using him on the mound as well to compete for innings vacated by Luke Burndige, who graduated, and Sterling Sharp, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals. Essick has a quick arm and after a year under Missouri State pitching coach Paul Evans at Missouri State, he comes to us polished up on the mound from his high school career.”
The additions brings Drury’s total to 23 new players for the 2017 season. Last week, the Panthers added an Ole Miss transfer and a pair of junior college stand-outs.
Scott Nasby will enter his fifth season as Drury’s head baseball coach next year and has been on the coaching staff since the program’s revival in 2007. In 10 seasons, the Panthers have won three Great Lakes Valley Conference championships and advanced to the NCAA tournament four times.
