SAN FRANCISCO – Having lost many familiar names from last season and with the 2023 campaign mere days away, it's time to meet the new faces that have joined Academy of Art baseball for the 2023 campaign and beyond. The Urban Knights continue the series with junior outfielder Rudolph "RJ" McDowell, freshman pitcher Mayson Olney, junior pitcher Robert Perez, junior pitcher Devan Quesada, and freshman pitcher Ricky Salas. 

Rudolph "RJ" McDowell (Pittsburg, Calif./Laney College)
McDowell starts at ART U as a junior transfer after spending the previous three seasons with Laney College. During his sophomore campaign, the outfielder appeared in 34 games and batted .280 (30-for-107) with 17 runs scored, 17 RBI, one double, one triple, and one home run, while he also recorded over 30 hits in his freshman campaign by hitting .257 (36-for-140) in 39 games played with 30 runs scored, 23 RBI, three doubles, three triples, and two home runs. 
 
Prior to college, McDowell attended Antioch High School near his hometown of Pittsburg, Calif. where he played varsity baseball for three seasons before graduating in 2018. Over the course of his prep career, he was named to both the All-League First Team and the Second Team.
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"RJ McDowell is another multi-talented player who will contribute on both sides of the ball," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "He is one of the fastest players on teh team and possess an electric arm. He can play any of the outfield positions and is a shut down guys out of the bullpen."
 
Mayson Olney (Vacaville, Calif./Vacaville High School)
Olney comes to Academy of Art as a true freshman after recently graduating from his hometown school of Vacaville High school where he was a dual-sport athlete, playing varsity baseball for four years and football for two years. On the diamond, the left-handed pitcher posted a 5.47 ERA, 2-3 record, and 32 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched over his high school career. By the time he graduated, Olney had earned the Scholar-Athlete Award in both baseball and football, as well as the Fighting Bulldog Award in baseball. 
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Mayson is a strike-throwing lefty who gives our bullpen depth," McDermott said. "As he matures into his body, he will develop into an extremely valuable part of this program."
 
Robert Perez (Castro Valley, Calif./University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)
Perez enters ART U as a junior transfer, previously spending time at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Prior to that stop, the combo left-handed pitcher also spent a season with Contra Costa College, where he posted a 1-2 record with 14 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched as a freshman.  
 
Before his college career, Perez graduated from San Lorenzo High School near his hometown of Castro Valley, Calif. 
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Robert brings experience, attitude and an outstanding curveball to the program," McDermott said. "As he continues to develop, look for him a couple of times each weekend."
 
Devan Quesada (Rodeo, Calif./Clarke University)
Beginning as a junior transfer, Quesada most recently spent time with Clarke University where he started on the mound for 14 games, finishing with an 8-3 record and 3.21 ERA over 70.0 innings pitched. While there, the Rodeo, Calif. native was named Heart Second Team All-Conference and earned Heart Pitcher of the Week on March 14 following two wins on a week against Arizona Christian and Baker that including six no-hit innings against ACU. Overall, Quesada struck out 9.39 batters per nine innings as opposing hitters finished with a .264 batting average against. 
 
Prior to his collegiate career, the right-hander graduated from John Swett High School in 2016 where he was a tri-sport athlete, earning varsity letters all four years in baseball and basketball, as well as three varsity letters in football. He was named All-TCAL First Team in all three sports and was also named Third Team All-State in football.
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Devan will be in the starting rotation and lead the way into each weekend series," McDermott said. "He has a pro frame, a live arm and is hungry to take his game to the next level."
 
Ricky Salas (El Cerrito, Calif./College of Mount Saint Vincent)
Though he starts at with the Urban Knights as a freshman, Salas jumps to ART U as a transfer from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, where he did not allow an earned run in 3.0 innings pitched while striking out four in 2021. Prior to college, the righty pitcher was a varsity letter winner in baseball at El Cerrito High School where he was named NCS Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year Teal in 2017-19 as well as First Team in 2018 and 2019.
 
Over the course of his freshman through junior seasons, the El Cerrito, Calif. native posted a 1.80 ERA, 16-7 record, and one save across 155.1 innings pitched and 19 starts.
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Motion Pictures & Television. 

"Ricky is one of the most likeable and hardworking players in the program," McDermott said. "He is coming off an arm injury and just starting to pitch off the mound again. He has been outstanding during his first three outings and we are eager to see what role he will fill this season. Regardless, the coaching staff knows he will be an important part of the bullpen."