Kurlan Trying To 'Catch' The Eyes Of College Coaches

Michael Kurlan C / OF / St. Johns Shrewsbury, MA / 2020

WESTBORO, Ma. - With senior year of high school to begin in less than two months and no college decision yet made, Michael Kurlan admits to being somewhat uneasy.

“It’s a little stressful,” the St. John’s Shrewsbury 2020 admitted. “But it’s also exciting, I’m hoping to find something by the end of the summer. I’d like it to be a school around here.”

Interest has picked up in the 106th-ranked New England senior following the recent Top Prospect Games.

“I got a lot of interest after the last PBR event,” the 5-10 170-pounder said. “I got emails from Wheaton (Massachusetts) and Salve Regina after the TPG in Connecticut and Holy Cross and John Hopkins are also interested.

“They like my hitting and the way I make contact and they like my work behind the plate,” the sixth-rated uncommitted 2020 catcher in New England noted. “They did say they want me to improve my footwork and I’ve been working on that.”

Defense is an area that Kurlan has made big strides of late.

“My catching ability behind the plate has improved drastically,” pointed out Kurlan, who recorded a 1.98 pop time at the PBR Evolution Scout Day event in February. “I really worked over the winter on my blocking and receiving and I’m throwing more fluid than a year ago.”

It is a position that Kurlan turned to a few years back.

“I made the switch from pitcher to catcher around the age of 13,” noted Kurlan, who just turned 17 back on May 17. “I did both before but my arm was constantly sore, so my parents said I had to make a choice. It’s always been my favorite position, I feel more comfortable there than anywhere else.”

Having been a pitcher prior has proven beneficial now that he is a catcher-only.

“It’s definitely helped knowing how the hitters hit what pitches and in what count,” Kurlan explained. “It’s helped my baseball IQ. I see as a catcher that hitters are looking at certain things.”

What Kurlan has been looking at is finding a way to play ball collegiately.