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Q&A with Kansas State commit RHP Jared Marolf (SM Northwest, 2016)

July 21, 2015

Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

Jared Marolf (Shawnee Mission Northwest, 2016) has committed to play college baseball at Kansas State. 

Marolf, a Team Kansas representative in the 2014 Future Games, has a very simple delivery with limited moving parts. The 6-foot-3 180-pound righty comes from a three-quarters arm slot, has clean arm action,  and an athletic finish. Marolf has body control and repeats his delivery well.  His fastball with mostly cutting, also works an arm side running fastball, 84-86 mph, topping out at 87. He has a short breaking ball,  and commands it well at 74-75 mph. His change-up is at the knees and lower with a 78-80 mph velo. He throwa a high percentage of strikes.

Recently, Marolf reviewed the process that led him to Kansas State.

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

Marolf: I expected the recruiting process to be exciting and I thought that more schools would reach out to players, but I learned that if you want to go to a particular school you have to reach out to them to make sure they notice you and they know you are interested in their school. 

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

Marolf: Yes.  I have always wanted to go to Kansas State and I like the idea of being close to home.  I also like it that it will be easier for my family to come watch me play.  My sister goes to Kansas State also so we visit often and I already feel very comfortable there. 

PBR: Where did Kansas State first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Marolf: The Midwest Blacksox coaches really helped develop my relationship with them.  Our 18U coach Bryan Peterson played at Kansas State and they took my team to Kansas State for a practice and a tour when I was a sophomore, but I wouldn’t really say they watched me then.  My coach Kyle Bates, knew that I really wanted to go there and talked to Kansas State about me and made sure they had our schedule so they could come watch us play.  The first time that I’m aware that the Kansas State coaches watched me play this year was at our showcase at Emporia State. 

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

Marolf: My high school, Shawnee Mission Northwest played Shawnee Mission East in  Regionals and I pitched against Joey Wentz.  He hit one of the hardest balls I had ever seen when we were at the Futures Games in 2014 so I knew to choose my pitches carefully when he was at bat. 

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

Marolf: I was seeking a college program that put emphasis on academics as well as athletics.  I would only consider schools that had strong computer engineering departments and I wanted to be with a team that valued the athlete’s majors and interests on and off the field. 

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

Marolf: I think young baseball players should keep working hard even if it looks like things may not work out like they’re hoping.  If they keep working hard it will pay off!  Also, don’t be afraid to check out several schools and consider every aspect of the college experience, not just the baseball portion.  Make sure the school feels right for you on and off the field.  Then reach out to those schools and try to be proactive and go to the school of your choice! 

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Marolf: Midwest Blacksox introduced me to PSP3 and I do strength training, arm care and stretching with Coach Hemphill throughout the week and I do conditioning as well as throwing sessions at the Fieldhouse with the Blacksox.  During the offseason, I typically rest my arm from November to January and just focus on stretching and strengthening.  I also focus on my nutrition so I can gain weight during the offseason.  Coach Hemphill and Coach Bates communicate and work together to make sure we are all working towards the same goals. 

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

Marolf: My most memorable moment was pitching in the semi-finals of the State Championship at Hoglund this past May which sent my team (Shawnee Mission Northwest) to the championship game.  We had a very close knit team this year and that made our success even more fun! 

9)  What do you like most about Kansas State and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Marolf: I had always wanted to go to Kansas State because I felt like it was the best fit for me.  I like its location, I love Manhattan, I’m majoring in Computer Engineering and they have an amazing engineering department (and are opening up a new wing for Computer Engineering in August 2016).  Once I got to meet the coaches, I wanted to go there even more because I felt very comfortable with them, how they communicate and what they expect from their players and the team atmosphere they create.  I love the facilities, the living arrangements, the Training Table with our own athletic nutritionist, the team academic advisor and everything about the program and all of the support they provide their athletes.  The coaches made me feel very welcome and excited to join the team and I feel confident that they provide all of the support we need to make sure we are all successful both as athletes and students. 

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

Marolf: Nebraska

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?

Marolf: I felt like I turned the corner at the February PBR event, but recruiting calls and texts didn’t really start happening until May and June. 

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Shawnee Mission Northwest in 2016.

Marolf: We had an extremely successful season in 2015 since we made it to the State Championship.  We are losing some key seniors, but a lot of our team remains intact.  Since so many of us are returning, I expect that we will have another great season and would love to get back to the State Tournament and win it next spring!   One great thing about our team is that we all work together and different guys step up at different times, but some of the players that will play a key role for our team are Matt Drummond, Garrett Stephens, Dylan Dirks and Zack Reeder.  The seniors this year had a way of welcoming and accepting everyone from sophomores to seniors to the team, and we will follow their precedent as seniors this year to create that same team atmosphere.  Our Athletic Director Angelo Giacalone and our Varsity Coach Domenic Mussat are very supportive of us and they set the bar high for our team goals.  Their inspiration combined with the amazing support we get from our student body will launch our success again in 2016.  It was a lot of fun this year and I’m hoping it’s just as fun next year! 

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

Marolf: I play for the Midwest Blacksox and have for the past 2 years.  When I started at Blacksox, I wasn’t sure if I was going to even continue playing ball beyond high school.  They convinced me that they had the resources and a winning plan and if I worked hard I had potential that I never knew I had!   They believed in me and saw what I could become so they helped me realize my own potential and inspired me to continue playing ball in college.   The coaching staff at Blacksox has been extremely diligent about talking to me and listening to what my personal goals are and helping me reach those goals.  I gained and continue to gain a lot of strength and flexibility through PSP3 and the Blacksox put me in contact with PSP3.  My coaches asked me which schools I was interested in and then talked to other coaches about me to raise awareness.  I made it hard on them because I really only wanted to go to Kansas State!  My most memorable experience was when we were out of town at a showcase and I got the call from Coach Sawyers at Kansas State inviting me for a visit.  If it weren’t for Kyle Bates and the Midwest Blacksox, I would not be fortunate enough to have the honor of pitching for Kansas State in college!

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