Bigger And Stronger, DeVooght Throwing Harder

WALLED LAKE - Recruitment is heating up for Gavin DeVooght. It started for the Walled Lake junior a year ago.

“I went to the Procase and did pretty well,” reflected the 15th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in Michigan.

The just-turned 17-year-old is hoping the upcoming Procase keeps things rolling, with Central Michigan, Illinois, Oakland, Ball State, Michigan State and Wright State among those on his radar.

“I went to a few PBR things and Twitter has also been a big help,” DeVooght related. “I threw 91 at my training facility back in early December and everything picked up.”

That is in big contrast to 2020.

“The recruiting process started slow for me,” DeVooght admitted. “I was wondering when I’d get my opportunity and it finally came. It’s been cool, I haven’t had any bad experiences. Right now I’m texting with Oakland figuring out a date to visit.”

Recent growth has aided recruitment as well as development.

“I was 6-4, 185 last spring,” pointed out the 45th-ranked junior in the state. “This past summer I worked out five days a week and made sure I was eating enough calories. Now I’m 6-5, 225.”

It has proven beneficial in the eyes of DeVooght.

“I feel I’ve gotten better the way I move on the mound more,” DeVooght explained. The weight has also helped me throw harder and it’s helping my mechanics.”

College coaches have liked what they have seen.

“My size is one of the things they mention,” DeVooght said. “I’ve grown a lot and put on muscle with it, so size and projectability is something they like.”

With 99 exit velocity along with 86 infield velo from a year ago at the 2021 Procase, DeVooght even has possibilities of helping out as a first baseman.

“Gavin is a strong-framed two-way prospect that runs his fastball up to the upper-80s,” noted Aaron Wilson, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting. “He shows clean mound presence on the mound and has upside with the bat making him a potential two-way guy for a program.”

But after hitting 87 at last year’s Procase, DeVooght believes his future may be pitching.

“I really decided to go for college baseball in 2020 when Covid hit,” DeVooght explained. “I decided to do as much as I can to make it happen. I was a big hitter then, but then my velocity grew and I began focusing on pitching more after the Procase.”

When Central Michigan came to watch him pitch in the summer, it started to become realistic according to DeVooght.

“I’ve pitched since Little League,” DeVooght pointed out. “Throwing harder definitely makes it more fun. Getting good offspeed to make them look silly is also fun. My fastball, curve and slider have always been there, now  I’m working on my changeup. That will give me a lot more to work with in different situations against different hitters. I’ll have more options to go to.”

High School coach Tom Hening and pitching coaches Greg Haeger and Kyle Fedorka are credited with playing major roles in development for the 18th-rated uncommitted junior in Michigan, who believes he can be a big asset to a program at the next level.

“I like to compete, that’s the main thing,” related DeVooght. “What I enjoy most is competing and wanting to win.”

That is something the hard-throwing right-hander looks to do in the coming months.

“I plan on doing my part to help the high school team win as much as we can,” DeVooght said. “We have a shot to win the conference.”

Business is the planned major at college for DeVooght, a 3.2 student at Walled Lake who hopes to have his future planned out soon.

“I’m thinking by the end of summer I’d like to make a decision, unless the right opportunity came along before,” DeVooght concluded. “I’m looking for a place that can develop my pitching. I want to play at as big of a school as I can … somewhere that will develop me the best. That will be the big factor.”