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Q&A With VCU Commit Ben Dum

December 5, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Ben DumRHP/3B Ben Dum has had a 2013 to remember. The West Perry HS junior, ranked No. 15 in PA and No. 101 in the PBR combined Class of 2015 rankings, had a tremendous spring of high school baseball. The righty went 10-1 on the hill with 61 strikeouts in 66 innings and sported a 0.85 ERA. The lefty hitter batted .354 with 16 RBI and 20 runs scored.

Dum went on to be selected to represent Pennsylvania in the Big 26 Classic and at the PBR Midwest Future Games. Following his performance at the two high profile events, Dum began the process of visiting and evaluating potential college homes. His search ended this week when he announced his verbal commitment to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dum discussed his college choice and the process that led him to a final decision with Prep Baseball Report.


PBR:  Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?

Dum: I have decided to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.  Scholarship money and playing time were big factors in my decision but I felt at home on campus and the coaching staff is great and really formed a personal relationship with me and my family. VCU is a good fit for me academically as well.

PBR:  What other schools were you considering?

Dum: Ohio University, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech were of interest to me as well.

PBR:  Was distance from home a factor in your decision?

Dum: Distance was a small factor in my decision. I did not want to be too far from home but I believed VCU was the perfect distance. It had always been a goal of mine to go south to play and while I get that it is still a short drive from home.

PBR:  Where did the coaches first see you?  How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?

Dum: I first met the coaches when I attended a VCU game while I was on my high school team’s spring baseball trip to Virginia. They first saw me play at the Big 26 Classic this summer and they then initiated phone contact through my high school coach and through multiple phone calls and two visits the relationship built from there.

PBR:  What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?

Dum: The coaches expect me to be an impact player in my first year on campus and work into a weekend starter role in my sophomore year.

PBR:  What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?

Dum: My biggest strength as a player I believe is fastball command and my off speed pitches. I will buy into whatever my coaches are trying to do with the team and put team goals before my own.

PBR:  Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?

Dum: During the summer I play for West Perry Legion. My most memorable experiences from this summer were playing in the Big 26 Classic and getting a big league experience along with great exposure to college coaches, and playing in the Mid-West Futures games at Indiana University was a very memorable experience as well.

PBR:  What is your current GPA?

Dum: My Current GPA is a 3.0

PBR:  Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your junior season?

Dum: Some of my individual goals are working hard in the weight room and gaining velocity and resting my arm until we begin to throw again at the beginning of January. I would also like to work on being a leader on the team. This year my teammates and I believe that the sky is the limit for our group. We have won the league championships and the county championships the two years I have been at West Perry but we are not satisfied and are hungry for more. We believe we have the talent and work ethic to compete for the ultimate goals of district and state championships. We will take things one step at a time but I believe we have what it takes.

PBR: How did Prep Baseball Report aid you in gaining exposure as a potential college baseball recruit?

Dum: Prep Baseball Report made all the difference in my recruiting process and in me gaining exposure as a college baseball recruit. They got my name out there and helped me to get in contact with many schools. They also gave me countless opportunities to play in front of schools and the skill videos that they make are phenomenal. The staff is extremely helpful and I am very grateful to PBR for helping me get to where I am today.

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