PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Baseball head coach Geoff Loomis has announced the addition of four new recruits to the class of 2023: Broden Palmer, Austin Takahashi, Caiden Thomsen and Logan Anderson.
"I'd like to welcome these future Pilots and their families to The Bluff," Loomis said. "It's an exciting class to announce. We have a young squad again in 2023 and these four talented high school athletes, along with the two grad transfers that have committed to join us next fall, will help our program continue the tradition of winning that we've established over the last four years."
Broden Palmer – INF – Kennewick, Wash.
Palmer comes to The Bluff after a stellar high school career with Southridge High School in Kennewick, Wash. He was a stellar bat for the Gorillas, leading his team in batting average (.372), doubles (seven) and home runs (four). Palmer excelled on the mound as well, being named the team MVP for the USA LABC team back in 2019.
Coach Loomis on Palmer:
"Broden Palmer is a powerful player from a powerhouse high school program. Broden is a corner infielder that has an advanced approach for the game. I see him making a significant impact as a middle of the order type of bat for our offense and as an imposing presence on the mound with a knack for throwing strikes at a high rate."
Austin Takahashi – INF/RHP – Roseburg, Ore.
Takahashi is a two-way player who excelled both at the plate and on the mound for Roseburg High School. He was a recent second-team All-State selection and was also named the SWC Pitcher of the Year.
Coach Loomis on Takahashi:
"Austin Takahashi is an exciting two-way baseball player from Roseburg, Ore. Austin flashes a big arm to go along with middle of the field athleticism. Austin also has explosive speed and puts a lot of pressure on the defense with a powerful compact swing from the left side of the plate. Austin is a big-time competitor and has a high ceiling as a pitcher as well."
Caiden Thomsen – LHP – Richland, Wash.
Another product out of the tri-cities in Washington, Thomsen brings power pitching to the mound for Portland. Hailing out of Richland, Thomsen has spent the last two season playing varsity for the Braves, most recently posting a 2.63 ERA with a 2-0 record. He also pitched club ball for Northwest Athletics from 2017-22 and will pitch for Gunderson Baseball in 2023.
Coach Loomis on Thomsen:
"Caiden Thomsen is a big left-handed pitcher from the talent-rich area of Richland, Wash. Caiden brings a high level of competitiveness and pedigree to the mound. Caiden can attack the zone with multiple pitches and that will give him an opportunity to make an early impact within our program. I see major upside to his talent and potential."
Logan Anderson – LHP – Snoqualmie, Wash.
The final freshman joining the class of 2023 is Logan Anderson out of Snoqualmie, Wash. Pitching at Mount Si High School, Anderson was a varsity pitcher for four years, earning 4A All-Kingco honorable mention this past season. He helped the Wildcats earn a Kingco Crest league championship as well. He's played club baseball with several teams, including Baseball Northwest and Walla Walla Sweets.
Coach Loomis on Anderson:
"Logan Anderson made big strides over the summer. His high ceiling is what makes him so projectable on the mound. Logan has a shot to make an impact on the program as he continues to realize his potential. Possesses a big frame and strong work ethic. We knew when we saw Logan this summer that he was ready to take the next step."
The Pilots are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, going 32-23 overall with a 17-10 record in WCC play, their best conference record ever and their best overall finish since 2010. They finished second in the WCC – their highest regular season finish ever – and earned a berth to the WCC tournament for the first time ever, finishing third.
