Commitment Spotlight: Cayden Collins
June 22, 2020
We had the pleasure of catching up with 2021 RHP Cayden Collins from Mountain Ridge. Collins recently committed to Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. Collins was a member of #TEAMARIZONA for the 2018 PBR Future Games and has been regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in his class over the last couple years. He was even one of the first DI commits off the board in the class of 2021 in Arizona before reopening his recruitment after a coaching change. Today, He took some time to answer some questions for us about his college recruiting experience.
Take a look at what Cayden Collins said about his college recruiting experience:
PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
Collins: I chose Yavapai because it’s a great program that will keep me close to home and also playing in amazing weather.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Collins: I had a narrow list, but I was considering Dixie State in Southern Utah.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?
Collins: We had been talking a bit before but the coaching staff first saw me in at a tournament a couple weeks ago.
PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over, and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
Collins: Yes, I do feel relieved, now I can focus on my main goal and what I’ve been striving for my whole life which is to get to the next level no matter the circumstances.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
Collins: The deciding factor was being really close to home and not having to worry about having to take a long drive home if I needed it.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Collins: My parents have pushed me the most and they won’t stop pushing me whether it’s school or baseball.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
Collins: My expectations were to find a school where I would fit in and that I would also have a shot to be able to play my freshman year, it was difficult for a while but easier towards the end.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
Collins: They have plans for me being a starter and going out and winning games for them.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Collins: My most memorable baseball moment was a couple years ago in Georgia and pitching against Team Elite.
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
Collins: The best player that have competed against is Brock Selvidge
Related Content
Scouting Report
10/14/18 - 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame. Lean projectable body. Rated as the top uncommitted sophomore arm in AZ and his bullpen at this event made it clear why. Collins effortlessly pounded the zone with 83-86 mph fastballs from a low 3/4 arm slot. Tons of physical projection remains in his 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame and it's easy to see Collins sitting comfortably in the low-90's or better a few years from now. The pitch that stood out even more on this look was his 72-75 mph changeup that was thrown in the zone with fastball arm speed and big fading action, projecting as a future plus pitch. Breaking ball will need to be tightened, but was thrown in zone; would like to see it developed into a shorter, hard SL.