Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Q&A with Saint Louis Commit 3B Nick Mehlin (BV Northwest, 2016)

October 14, 2015

Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

Nick Mehlin (Blue Valley Northwest, 2016) is an athletic-framed 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hand hitting third baseman and right-handed pitcher. He was named All-Eastern Kansas League - 1st Team in 2015 and committed to Saint Louis University this summer.

Mehlin has an athletic set-up at the plate, with a light stride, and no load. He has a short path to the ball,  and takes an aggressive swing with quick bat speed.  He had an impressive round of batting practice with a series of hard hit line drives in the middle of the cage at the Pre-Season All-State Invite in February. His exit velocity was 86 mph, and he ran a 4.38 home-to-first.

During infield work he showed athletic actions, with soft hands and quick exchanges. Mehlin has a quick high three-quarters arm action, and makes accurate throws. He has an 80 mph positional velo.

Nick is preparing for his senior season at Blue Valley Northwest, a team with talent to make a run at the state championship.  Here a deeper look into the recruiting process for Nick Mehlin. 

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

Mehlin: Going in, I was worried that it was going to be a difficult and stressful experience. I felt nervous thinking about talking with coaches because I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. But, it turned out to be quite easy after starting to develop relationships with coaches. They want to get to know and impress me as much as I do them so it turned out to be fun and a great experience.

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

Mehlin: Yes, I narrowed down my list from the beginning to schools that were in the Midwest and about a 5 hour car ride or less. I want to be close enough to home where I can visit without making big arrangements, but also far enough away that I feel like I am in a new place.

PBR: Where did St. Louis University first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Mehlin: SLU first saw me in our Nashville tournament in late June and our relationship started developing from that point on. Coach Will Bradley recruited me the whole way and we talked on a weekly basis about how I played when he could not come see me. Then, in early August he invited me down to campus where I met with Coach Hendrickson, toured around the campus, and received my offer. Also, the whole recruiting process with SLU was kick-started by K-State pitching coach Sean McCann. He has a good relationship with Coach Hendrickson and gave him my name at the beginning of the summer as a possible recruit, so I cannot thank him enough for that.

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

Mehlin: As a pitcher, Joey Wentz is without a doubt the best hitter I have faced. He can hit any pitch on a line into a gap. He also impressed me as a pitcher and first baseman.

As a hitter, Riley Pint is the best pitcher I have faced. With an upper 90’s fastball that he can make run and cut, as well as a change-up and breaking pitch, it becomes more of a guessing game than anything else.

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

Mehlin: Keep your head down and work hard. Never be satisfied with where you are, because someone else is coming for your spot. Also, don’t get too distracted with rankings and other people committing earlier than you because at the end of the day it comes down to whether you can play or no, and if you can, then there will be a spot somewhere for you. 

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

Mehlin: So far this offseason, I have been working out at SSP or Simoneau Sports Performance. Tim McCrary runs the baseball segment of workouts there and he does a great job keeping me in shape for the season. We work on a lot of arm mobility and flexibility to keep our arms in shape as well as normal lifting like squats and dumbbell bench press to gain strength. My school team also conducts workouts to build team chemistry and comradery going into the season.

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

Mehlin: When I was 12 my team traveled to Cooperstown, New York to play in a tournament. Up until this point I had not hit a homerun in my life. But, that all changed when I launched a grand slam over the left center field fence. It was the first home run of my life and in such a cool place too, that made for one memorable experience.

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

Mehlin: Drury, SEMO, and Missouri Southern State were in the running until the final moments. I really liked the coaching staff, facilities, and baseball history of all three, but SLU was just a better fit for me academically and athletically.

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?

Mehlin: I wouldn’t say that there was a particular moment or game that turned the corner for me, but at the end of the summer after I had visited all the campuses, it finally hit me that it was time to make a decision. I had to lay out everything I liked and disliked about each school and decide which college was right for me. 

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 Blue Valley Northwest in 2016.

Mehlin: I feel like we are set for a very successful season. With the amount of returning seniors, we hope to at least make state and whatever happens after that is a bonus. Seniors like Cole Duensing, Jack Knutson, Jack Duke, and Nathaniel Vossman will all play a critical role this year. We are already very close from playing together for the past couple years so it should make for a successful season.

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

Mehlin: I play and have played for Building Champions for the last 2.5 years, and I have been coached by Shane Halter the whole time. Jeremy Jones oversees the whole program and also played a crucial part in my recruitment. He knows what is best for kids like me and tried to steer me in the right direction from the very beginning. The summer going into junior year, my team was in Springfield for an 18u tournament even though most of us were only 16 at the time. We were facing a kid throwing mid 90’s who was going to the MLB draft. Each team had like three hits the whole game and we were leading 2-1 going into the last inning. They had the bases loaded and no outs and Tommy Barnhouse came in and struck out the side for the win. That game sent us to the final 4 in a tournament of around 60 teams. It was the most exciting and nerve wracking game of my life.

 

For More PBR News