KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University baseball team and head coach Billy Gernon have announced the addition of outfielder Cooper Hums (Mishawaka, Ind.) and first baseman/outfielder CJ Richmond (Indianapolis, Ind.) to the program's class of 2023.
 
Hums and Richmond join the previously announced quintet of right-handed pitcher Cole Gebben (Vicksburg, Mich.), right-handed pitcher/catcher Adam Lehmann (Granger, Ind.), middle infielder Tanner Mally (Lisle, Ill.), first baseman Lucas Rick (Rockford, Mich.) and right-handed pitcher Zach Vriesenga (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in WMU's 2023 signing class. All seven are set to join the Broncos this fall and suit up for Western Michigan beginning with the 2024 season.

Cooper Hums • L/L • OF • 6-0 • 170 • Mishawaka, Ind. • Penn HS 
 
Hums is heading into his senior season at Penn High School. Under head coach Greg Dikos, the Penn baseball program has also produced current Bronco right-hander Hayden Berg, as well as Hums' current teammate and fellow WMU signee Adam Lehmann.
 
A native of Mishawaka, Ind., Hums will be a three-year starter as he tries to help the Kingsmen repeat as state champions. During the team's run to the 2022 State Championship, Hums hit over .300, stole 12 bases and was an All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree. He played summer ball for the South Bend Cubs and coach Mark Haley. 
 
Academically, Hums carries a 3.91 GPA, and has been an academic honor roll member all four years at Penn. He plans to major in Biology at WMU. He is the son of Jeff and Jolene, and has an older brother, Tyler. 
 
Coach Gernon on Hums:  
"Game-changing speed is what you notice when you see Cooper play the game. He is an electric runner with a riverboat gambler mentality that will most certainly challenge our stolen base record. His left-handed bat creates another dimension for him offensively, and we value the experience he is gaining at one of the best high school programs in the state of Indiana." 
 
CJ Richmond • L/L • 1B/OF • 6-3 • 240 • Indianapolis, Ind. • Park Tudor (Iowa Western CC) 
 
Richmond began his college career in 2022 at Western Illinois University, where he made 36 appearances and started 25 games for the Leathernecks. Offensively that year, he scored 14 runs, had 12 RBIs and tied for the team lead with four home runs. Following the season, Richmond transferred to Iowa Western Community College, one of the premier junior college programs in the country, where he is set to head into his first season with coach Ryan Cougill and the Reivers.
 
A two-year letterwinner and starter at Park Tudor High School for head coach Courtney Whitehead, Richmond had a stellar senior campaign, leading the team with a .515 batting average and 10 home runs. His accolades included All-Conference, All-County and First Team All-State selections, as well as a spot on the Indiana All-Star Team.   
 
Off the field, Richmond was part of the National Honor Society in high school and plans to major in Sports Management at WMU. He is the son of Charles and Jamila. His father, Charles, played basketball for the Broncos for one season and his younger sister, Leah, is a standout high school volleyball player.
 
Coach Gernon on Richmond:  
"It is easy to get excited about C.J.'s power, as the ball explodes off of his bat. I will not be surprised if he is hitting clean-up for us on Opening Day. He has a chance to be one of the premier power hitters in the MAC. Richmond is solid defensively around the bag, he runs extremely well for a big man, and his two years of college baseball will be vital to his and our success."