Congrats on your new commitment! What is it about Missouri State that excites you the most?
What excites me most about Missouri State is the baseball program. They are an uprising program and have made a big name for themselves not only in the Midwest and Missouri Valley Conference, but also in the country. In 2015 they lost in the super regional in game 3. Another thing that excites me is the coaching staff and current team. I can definitely say I’m in good hands. Coach Guttin is a very successful coach and has big plans for the program. Coach Thompson is one of the best when it comes to developing big power hitters. Last year Missouri State had the number 1 and 2 home run hitters in the country. I believe I will fit into their style of baseball perfectly.
You have been with Top Tier for a couple of seasons now. What made you choose this program and how has it helped with you reaching your goals of playing at the collegiate Level?
I chose Top Tier because I wanted to play college baseball, and I don’t think that anyone does that more consistently than Top Tier. Top Tier gets guys to play where they want to play. Top Tier has motivated me and guided me in so many ways. Top Tier has it all, whether it is the connections they have, or the big national tournaments they always play in, to help us get recruited. The best thing about Top Tier is the people, these coaches have seen my strengths and pushed me, each coach wants to see us succeed. They are awesome!
Talk a little bit about the recruiting process and how everything went down.
The recruiting process was a lot different than I thought it was going to be, mostly because it happened a lot faster than I expected. It started in the first tournament of last year in Cincinnati when I had a really good tournament. After that I was getting a lot of phone calls and a lot of interest from a lot of schools. After the Futures Games, I was very thankful to have really good options, I had narrowed down my list to four schools (Xavier, Illinois State, Saint Louis and Missouri State). I did my research on all of the schools and visited all of them. This took the longest time because I wanted to make the right choice. It was difficult to fit college visits in while playing fall baseball and football. After my football season, my family and I had many long discussions about the process with many people, and ultimately I chose Missouri State.
What were some of the priorities you looked at when deciding where to commit?
My biggest priorities were did the school feel like a comfortable fit for me, is it the kind of team I want to be on and can I earn playing time quickly. I’m certain that if I continue to work hard now and at Missouri State I will have a good shot as playing as a freshman. Lastly did the school develop players, and I felt Missouri State is second to none at doing this.
What challenges do you see ahead of you before you get to campus?
I don’t really see any challenges, I just know that I have to keep working hard in the classroom and keep working hard in baseball. I really want to get stronger and faster and enjoy my years of Providence Catholic High School baseball.
What are some of the goals you have set for yourself as a college baseball player?
I have 2 goals… to be best the best baseball player I can be, and to play in Omaha. My dad and I went to the CWS in Omaha when I was 10 and it has been by dream to play there ever since.
Is there anybody you would like to give a shout-out or thanks to?
Yes, I would like to give a shout out to my family and Top Tier.
My parents for putting the countless hours in since I was 4 years old, and trusting in me that this would happen one day. Also, to my 3 younger sisters, because they are my biggest fans and best travelers I know, the things they could be doing while I am traveling across the country in the summer time is endless. Our family is definitely a baseball family, and have made many memories on the road, in hotels, and at the fields.
I would also like to give a shout out to the Top Tier leadership, coaches and staff, for everything they have done for me. They have been exactly what I needed to help me out on my baseball journey. They are some of the few people that I have found, that love the game of baseball as much as I do. What they have done for me and my family, I cannot explain. I will be forever grateful to this organization for building me into the baseball player I am, and making my dreams come true.
