Ranked No. 16 in the Class of 2014, RHP Reece Eddins from Blue Springs SouthEddins has a projectable 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame that is built for pitching, and should be the anchor to a Blue Springs South staff that will face some tough competition for a conference championship.

Recently at the PBR Kansas City Prospect ID Showcase, Eddins, who committed to Nebraska in hte fall, impressed with a mid-80s fastball, that we expect to be in the upper-80s once the weather warms up, as well as above avergae off speed pitches. Eddins has climbed the rankings the past year, and has left an impression on the PBR staff.

PBR: Which schools were you considering prior to committing to Nebraska? 

Eddins: Other schools I was considering were Oklahoma, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri State, Missouri, and Wichita State 

PBR: What were the reasons that you ultimately chose Nebraska?

Eddins: There were a lot of factors that went into my decision making process, but I chose Nebraska because of the great coaching staff, amazing facilities and campus, the level of comfort that I felt with the coaches from the very start, commitment to academic excellence, and  I wanted to be close enough for my family to see me play. 

PBR: What was the relationship you had with the Nebraska coaches in the recruitment process? 

Eddins: My relationship with the Nebraska coaches during the recruiting process was great.  Coach Silva emailed me after he saw me at the Royals Fall Scout Team scrimmage.  When I called him, he was very easy to talk to and made me feel very comfortable.  If I ever had a question, he emailed back immediately.  When I went up on my visit, both Coach Erstad and Coach Silva made me feel valued and that I could really contribute to their program. 

PBR: Do you feel that playing in Missouri and facing the competition you do has prepared you to be a college player? 

Eddins: Absolutely. There is a lot of great baseball in Missouri and I feel privileged to be a part of it.  

PBR: What team did you play for over the summer and how did it go for you? Were there any aspects of your game that you wanted to improve during the summer?

Eddins: Last summer I played on both the FIKE Senior Team and the Junior Team. The Junior Team won the State Championship so that was great.  We all fought hard all season long and it was a great feeling for it all to come together for a State title. 

I want to keep focused on hitting my spots and developing my off speed pitches.  I also want to gain more velocity on my fastball.  I want to continue to keep working hard in the weight room as well. 

PBR: As you head into your junior year, is it good to have the commitment and recruiting process done?

Eddins: It is good to have the commitment and recruiting process completed going into my junior year.  It started a little bit last summer and then really escalated in September and October.  By November, it was crazy but fun.  Now that it is over, I can focus on getting stronger and faster for the upcoming season. 

PBR: Do you feel that this season will be any different considering that you know where you’ll attend college? 

Eddins: I don’t feel like it will be any different because I will continue to work hard both on and off the field.  There is always something to get better at and to strive for and I want to  stay focused to reach that next level. 

PBR: What do you hope to accomplish in this upcoming season on an individual level?

Eddins: My main focus will be to keep gaining velocity on my fast ball while maintaining command.  Last week at baseball tryouts I topped out at 89mph.  My goal is to reach in the low 90’s this spring and summer and to keep hitting my spots.  I have been working a lot on my off speed pitches as well. 

PBR: What advice would you give to other players who are just beginning the recruiting process? 

Eddins: I would say to enjoy it.  Be open to all the possibilities and keep your grades up. Academics are extremely important.  It gets really crazy at times, but making the connections and meeting the coaches is really important.  You will just know when it is right.   

Most of all…Never stop working hard.  Have a good work ethic and stay focused, both on the field and in the classroom.   

PBR: You recently participated in a Prep Baseball Report event, how do you think PBR aided in and prepared you for your recruiting?

Eddins: I had already committed to Nebraska when I went to my first PBR event.  I enjoyed the event and meeting the PBR staff.  They were all very helpful and knowledgeable.