Congrats on your new commitment! What is it about Florida Gulf Coast University that excites you the most?
I am very excited to be a part of an up and coming D1 baseball program in the ASUN conference. I am also very excited to play under such a great coaching staff that promotes hard work both on the field and academically.
You were part of the inaugural group of Top Tier Roos, playing for the 15u Nationals team and then earning your way on to the 16u Americans team this year. Tell us what that experience has been like, why you wanted to play for Top Tier Roos, and what it means to wear the TT?
The Nationals team was so much fun, and I enjoyed the summer we played together. We grew as a team and I felt that we were competitive all summer. Moving up to the American team was truly an honor. Being part of such a talented team and dedicated coaching created opportunities that I may have never gotten. I have always wanted to be a part of a strong program with a great reputation and Top Tier has given me that and so much more. The respect TT gets at every tournament makes you want to work hard to help make the program proud. Top Tier has given me great training, great experiences and great opportunities. It has always been an honor to wear the TT jersey and play with some of best baseball players in the country!
Talk a little bit about the recruiting process and how everything went down.
The recruiting process was an incredible experience for me. A bit overwhelming at times but something I will never forget. Over this past year, I performed in a few university sponsored showcases, several PBR events, Prospect Wire events, and PG events. During those events college coaches would inquire with my Top Tier coaches or the coaches of the specific event I was participating in. I would contact those coaches that expressed interest in me, so we could talk about the possibility of me playing ball with that school. My coaches at Top Tier were so supportive throughout the recruiting process encouraging me to talk to every school, so I could get the experience and confidence talking to college scouts and coaches. This helped me narrow down the colleges that were right for me. Eligibility day, September 1st of my junior year, is a day I will never forget. It was awesome to be able to receive direct text messages, calls and emails from coaches first thing that morning. After speaking and meeting with the coaches from FGCU several times, I knew it was the school for me.
What were some of the priorities you looked at when deciding where you wanted to commit?
Some of the priorities for me when deciding where to commit were the expectations from the baseball program, the likelihood of receiving playing time, the quality of education the school could provide and if the school and baseball program were a good fit for me. The fact that I get to stay in Florida is just a bonus!
What challenges do you see ahead of you before you get to campus?
Some challenges that I will face before getting to campus are getting bigger, stronger and more consistent with pitching but also preparing myself for the college classroom as well.
What are some of the goals you have set for yourself as a college baseball player?
Some of the goals I have set for myself include being a great teammate, being coachable and always wanting to continue to learn and grow as a player and student. I want to help my team win the conference and the College World Series. I want to create opportunities for myself to take that next step and be a MLB player.
Is there anybody you would like to give a shout-out or thanks to?
I would like to thank my mom, dad and brother for all their support and sacrificing their time and choices over the years to give me the opportunities to follow my dreams. If it wasn’t for them I would not have had the experiences I have had thus far. I would also like to thank all my coaches at Top Tier, coaches from PBR and my high school coaches. They all have taught me to be the teammate and player I am today. I will take the values they have instilled in me to college and I hope to make everyone proud!
