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Q&A with College of DuPage commit Jonah Meidl Zahorodny

December 23, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Wisconsin/Illinois

Jonah Meidl Zahorodny recently made his college commitment to College of DuPage in Illinois. Zahorodny is a catcher/outfielder from Wauwatosa East HS. Defensively we’ve seen him post pop times at 2.09-2.19 at 75 mph out of the crouch. From the outfield his arm plays at 83 mph. Meidl Zahorodny has strong hands at the plate and shows the ability to create plenty of bat speed at the next level.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

JMZ: From everything I heard from other people, I expected the recruiting process to be a long process. I just tried to stay patient and remind myself that I would end up at a good school with a chance to play baseball. However, once the recruiting process began to get serious, it became clear which schools I wanted to focus on. 

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

JMZ: I played well in the Hitters Spring League and then I performed pretty well at PBR’s Top Prospect Showcase in Illinois. After that during the tournament in Chicago when Coach Tyrrell came to see me play I had one of my better games.  I tripled, singled, and made some good plays in the outfield.   

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

JMZ: Location and distance played a big factor in my decision. I didn’t want to go to a school in the middle of nowhere and I also wanted to be far enough away from home that it felt like a new place, but close enough that I could easily visit friends and family back home. DuPage ended up fitting that mold perfectly. 

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

JMZ: I wanted a coach that was dedicated to winning and helping me become the best player that I could. Also with a junior college, I was looking for program that would give me a good opportunity to transfer to a competitive four year school.

PBR: Where did College of DuPage first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

JMZ: The head coach at COD, Kevin Tyrrell, first saw me at a tournament outside of Chicago while I was playing for Hitters. We had already been talking for a while and after seeing me play he became very interested in getting me down to see DuPage.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

JMZ: McHenry County College, Roosevelt University, Triton College.

PBR: What is your best attribute as a baseball player and how does that transfer onto the field for your team?

JMZ: My versatility. I don’t have any standout skills on the baseball field, but I like to think that I can do everything well. I am also able to play many different positions and I think this helps my team because I am able to help us win in many different ways. 

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

JMZ: Focus on the two things you can control: effort and attitude. Try and keep the same approach whether you are succeeding or struggling. Everyday try and do everything you can to make yourself a better player. Have fun on the field and hustle.

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