I had the chance recently to speak with [URL=”http://www.wildcatrecruits.com/playerProfile.php?Contact_ID=981&Recruit=Casey-Schroeder”]Casey Schroeder[/URL], a catcher/third-baseman out of Glandorf, Ohio. A senior now at Ottowa-Glandorf High, he has already received All-American accolades. PrepBaseballReport ranked Schroeder as the #6 prospect in Ohio, and he has played in the East Coast Pro Showcase (ECPS) in Lakeland, Florida (Tigertown) and the Tournament of Stars in North Carolina. He told me he was a 16U USSSA All-American in 2009 as well.
I asked Casey what he thought of the ECPS and he said it was great. He said it was the first event on that kind of stage he had participated in and the talent, coaching and atmosphere was really impressive (note: the ECPS is an [URL=”http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100801&content_id=12919270&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb”]invitation-only event[/URL], where the invitation is by a pro-level scout). When I asked him to recall his best baseball moment of the past year, he said it would either have to be the ECPS (where he played really well) or when his American Legion team (River Bandits) won state.
Schroeder originally committed to Tennessee, but when there was a coaching change he re-opened his recruitment (a rarity in baseball). Schools on his new list included North Carolina, Florida, Wake Forest, Virginia, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Penn State among others. I asked why he chose Kentucky and Casey said that other schools had asked him to come for visits, but Kentucky coaches came to visit him. He then expected to wait until after the ECPS to take visits, but Kentucky came to the showcase as well and offered him a scholarship. Since Casey has family near Lexington, it’s close to home and there is no better competition than the SEC, he decided Kentucky was the right choice.
I asked if any Major League scouts had been in touch, and Schroeder said that at the showcase he met scouts for the Athletics, Yankees, Reds, Brewers, Padres, Rangers, Blue Rays and Tigers. His favorite MLB team to watch is Cleveland (he is from Ohio after all), but his favorite player is Philadelphia second-baseman Chase Utley.
Casey batted .460 last year and hit 4 home runs as a switch-hitter. I asked him what he thought the best part of his game was, and he said it was his catching. He said that he can play shortstop and third base (and some schools were recruiting him for those), but he prefers catching. Casey calls his own pitches and feels he calls a good game. He also likes throwing out runners.
Finally, I asked about his goals for his senior year. Casey said his goal every year is to bat .500, but he just wants to keep winning and get past districts next spring. Schroeder is the fifth commit in UK’s baseball class of 2012, joining Zack Storm, Zach Arnold, Chase Mullins and Kyle Barrett.
Big thanks to Casey for talking with me; bright guy has a bright future.
