Q&A with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Commit Nicholas Urban-Michalak

March 18, 2016

By Matt Huck
Area Scout

2017 SS Nicholas Urban-Michalak recently committed to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He was a member of Team Wisconsin at the 2015 PBR Future Games, he is the tenth member of the team to commit to a Division I school. Here is a report on Urban-Michalak from the 2016 Fox Cities Preseason ID Showcase.

Nicholas Urban-Michalak 2/21/16 - Quick, twitch athlete with wiry strength at 6-foot-1, 176-pounds. Right-handed hitting shortstop. Toolsy player running the 60 at 6.74. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws showed carry throwing an event best 93 mph across the infield. Plays fast with quick footwork while playing thru the ball. At the plate hits from a crouched stance with a long stride and good balance. Line drive gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm and some explosion in the hands. Showed strength thru contact with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee.

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

Urban-Michalak: I expected to get looks considering the amount of time and commitment I put forward to baseball as well as having some of the top numbers in the state and country for showcase events as well as the number of “showcase events” I have attended. It was not as I expected. It seems that timing goes a long way in this process. If you happen to be at the right place at the right time and perform as well as your work ethic, positive things happen. I can’t say whether it was easy or difficult considering I don’t have any comparables to a process such as this.

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

Urban-Michalak: I was looking for a Division 1 baseball program which I felt would incorporate the same work ethic which would be able to continue my development as a player. I was looking for a program that truly wanted me as a player as I felt that it would help with being a mutual fit.

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

Urban-Michalak: Yes. I had several offers for division 1 schools on the table. One of the schools felt like they would have been a very good fit for me. However, I choose a school who not only feels like a good fit, they are also in a climate suitable for year round outdoor baseball.

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?

Urban-Michalak: The PBR Future Games in Indiana last year was the major turning point. Seven programs contacted me after that event. It was the largest scouted event that I performed in. It stood out from any “showcase” event I had attended in the past. To me, Future Games was the real deal.

PBR: Where did the college you chose first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Urban-Michalak: They first saw me at Future Games. We kept on going back and forth messaging and having phone conversations.

PBR: What do you like most about the college you committed to and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Urban-Michalak: I had to make sure that whomever I choose was going to be right for me. They have an excellent business program which is what I plan on majoring in. Their coaching staff seem to have the style and goals that I am seeking as a player, student, and person. The campus atmosphere clicked with me immediately. Everything just felt right and I easily see myself as an Islander one and a half years from now. They are also located in one of the best possible climates I could be in.

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

Urban-Michalak: Central Michigan, UW-Milwaukee, Harvard, and Memphis.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Urban-Michalak: Alec Marsh showed to be the most difficult opponent I have faced in the batter's box. He has great control with his curve ball and kept me off balance a few times when I faced him.

PBR: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

Urban-Michalak: I realized I was college caliber when I first threw 90 and could take the ball yard in travel ball.

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

Urban-Michalak: Work ethic is everything. Love what you do. Don’t let obstacles deter you from your goals, the obstacles make you who you are. A bad game doesn’t define you. Don’t settle or be told you can’t make it as a certain type of player. Have fun!

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Urban-Michalak: Hitting for the cycle against Puerto Rico during an Illinois tournament.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?

Urban-Michalak: We will be a young team and we will adapt during regular season. We'll also be doing some major upsetting during playoffs as we have done the past two years.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Urban-Michalak: I just switched to Prospect Training Academy and my most memorable experience so far, thanks to my coaches and trainers there Cody Smith, Alex Puskarich, Brett Bailey, Ryan McShane, Travis Thompson, and Tony Urbaniak, would be when I threw 98 MPH on radar.

Q&A with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Commit Nicholas Urban-Michalak

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