Frink Showing More To His Game Than Just Power

SCARBOROUGH, Me. - Participating in PBR events and playing for Maine Lightning has eased the recruiting strain for Nic Frink.

“Being in Maine makes it difficult,” admitted the Scarborough incoming senior. “We don’t start the season until the beginning of May and they don’t come up to see you. You have to go south to be seen.”

The second-rated 2022 catcher in New England now has a solid list of colleges that have taken an interest.

“I’ve been mainly talking to my top four schools,” Frink said in reference to West Virginia, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Northeastern. “Most like my power, but recently they like my defense and how it’s grown over the last year. I wasn’t the best catcher, but I’ve grown a lot.”

That is where improvement in his game has come of late while playing as far south as Florida.

“I was just an offensive player for the most part,” Frink related. “But I’ve really improved my defensive skills. I’ve also been working on other areas like speed, flexibility and agility.”

Dennis Healy, PBR Maine Director of Scouting, sees a lot to like in the game of the 6-1 200-pounder.

“He’s an athletic, physical hitter who shows serious potential with the bat,” Healy noted. “He shows arm strength and good feet behind the dish as well. The athleticism is excellent and the frame projects as he matures. He is a very good prospect.”

Frink jumped on the map during his Little League years.

“ I won a 12U power showcase at Texas Rangers stadium and had schools come up to me and ask how old I was and what state I was from,” Frink reflected.

Winning the national home run derby, which included participants invited from every state, admittedly brought confidence to Frink.

“It showed I could play with other kids around the country, not just be one of the better kids in Maine,” Frink explained. 

Hitting coach Ryan Copp is credited with playing a major role in making Frink the hitter he is today.

“He’s been the biggest influence in my baseball life since I was 11,” Frink pointed out. “He taught me how to hit with power throughout the field.”

But according to Frink, more improvement in his game is needed to play at the next level.

“I still have to get better defensively and with spraying the ball all over the field instead of just with power,” the 10th-ranked 2022 in New England said. “It’s important to be able to go to right field more often.”

An improved arm has opened up another potential option in his game.

“I’m trying to get better as a pitcher,” Frink explained. “I took my first lessons last year and now I’m up to 88-89. But it’s hard to get recruited there since I only started pitching two years ago.”

No matter the position, Frink believes he can be a major asset to a college program.

“My character is a big part of what I can bring,” noted Frink, who in March was listed by PBR among the Top Risers across the country in the 2022 class. “People also say I’m a good leader.”

A 2.8 student planning on a major in business, Frink is also considering reclassifying to 2023.

“I’ll make a decision on that in the next month,” the third-rated uncommitted 2022 in New England said. “It would give me another year of high school. More schools could look at me and I could get my academics up.”

Visits to Rutgers, Seton Hall and Northeastern have already taken place and additional trips to schools are coming up, according to the 17-year-old.

“Hopefully I’ll commit somewhere in the next couple months,” Frink said. “I think I’m looking at the right schools. I think my level of baseball is showing and that I can play at the schools I’ve been looking at so far.”