Utility Player Chris Rabago of UC Irvine to Return for 2013 Season.

Freshmen Pitchers Elliot Surrey, Dylan Hecht Will Bolster 2013 Staff

The Knights have signed returnee Chris Rabago of UC Irvine and freshman pitchers Elliot Surrey (pictured) of UC Irvine and Dylan Hecht of UC Santa Barbara for the 2013 season.

A sophomore catcher/infielder from Riverside, Calif., Rabago (5-11, 180) hit .195 with no homers and 14 RBIs in 43 games and won the Knights' Joe Segel Hustle Award in 2012. He hit .286 as a freshman at UC Irvine, with a homer and 12 RBIs in 35 games.

Surrey (6-0, 175) was a three-time CIF and three-time Pacific League first-team all-star at Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta, Calif. He was the Pacific League MVP after hitting .350, with eight doubles, two triples, a homer and 14 RBIs as a batter and going 6-1 with a 1.11 ERA, three complete games and 73 strikeouts in 50.1 innings as a pitcher.

"Elliot brings a winner's track record from a strong high school program" to UCI, Anteaters' pitching coach Jason Dietrich said. "He is confident, poised, and trusts his mix of fastball, curveball, and change. (His) complete command of all three pitches will enable him to pitch quickly for us in a variety of roles."

Hecht (6-0, 195) played at Foothill High School in 2012 and was 5-3 with a 1.66 ERA in 13 appearances in 2012, with 85 strikeouts in 59 innings.

They are projected to join the team on June 17, 10 days after opening night.