With signing day taking place earlier this month, thousands of athletes from around the country honored their commitments to their respective schools. One of these players was OF Nate George (Minooka, 2024), who will continue on at Eastern Illinois next fall. Recently making his debut in the Top-10 of our updated 2024 rankings, George has seen a steady climb within the state for some time now. His pure athletecism and tools make him one of the more eye-opening prospects in the area; boasting a 6.39 60-time, 104 mph exit velocity, and mid-90s arm from the outfield. 

We had the chance to discuss the recruiting process with George, along with some other fun topics along the way.

Our Q&A

Prep Baseball: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Nate: I was looking for a school where I was going to be given a fair opportunity to play at a place where I know I am going to be treated right. I wanted a school with great coaching, great teammates and where everyone has each other's back.  

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

N: Yes, I definitely didn’t want something too far from home.  

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play? 

N: The recruiting process really started at the beginning of my sophomore season, and started to heat up towards the middle/end of the travel season. Eastern first saw me at their skills camp. 

P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision? 

N: Close to home. Great coaching staff, great environment, and everyone has each other's back. I know that Eastern Illinois is going to give me a fair opportunity and treat me right while I am there.  

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

N: Illinois state, Michigan state, Iowa, U of I, Ball state and UIS. 

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent? 

N: Joe Chiarodo, junior pitcher from Edwardsville high school. Solid fastball, good movement on his off-speed. 

P: 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? 

N: Freshman year I knew that I had the skills and work ethic to make it to the next level. It was a matter of being patient and trusting God's plan.  

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

N: Be humble, keep your head down and just work. No matter how good you think you are there is always going to be someone out there who is better.  

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

N: Hitting an inside the park home run against Plainfield South in the regional championship. We then went on to hit a walk-off to advance to sectionals.  

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be? 

N: We have a lot of good bats in our lineup this year. I’m feeling confident in our team that we are going to go out there and get it done this season and go far in the playoffs.  

P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)? 

N: I believe that playing in the State Games helped my recruiting process, just being given the opportunity to play against the top competition in the state and doing well really got my name out there to these schools. 

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from? 

N: 2023 OF Mikey Murphy’s speed. 

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program? 

N: Jimmy Anderson 2024 SS Joliet West High School. 

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