Father Helps Minghine Find College Home At UIC

Dominic Minghine RHP / SS / Northville, MI / 2024

NORTHVILLE - The father of Dominic Minghine played a major role in helping the 16th-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in Michigan find a place to play at the next level.

“My dad did so much,” Minghine said of his father Anthony. “That's all he did, research this school and that school. He spent all his free time on college baseball, college baseball. He pushed me like nobody else. He really did a lot for me.”

That includes the discovery of the Illinois-Chicago baseball program.

“My dad watches random college baseball games on ESPN-Plus,” Minghine reflected. “They were showing the skyline at a game at Illinois-Chicago and he said ‘you have to see this. It’s the coolest ever.’ After that I followed an assistant coach on Twitter and then he followed me. Five weeks later he saw me throw and he saw me again in Indiana this summer. We scheduled a visit and they offered two weeks after.”

It was a memorable visit for the incoming senior at Northville High School.

“When I went there on a visit I was expecting a big-city feel but it was the perfect normal college campus feel,” Minghine explained. “But you can walk a short distance and it’s the big city.”

There is more that stood out.

“I like what the coaches said about the program,” related Minghine, who also had interest from a number of Mid-American Conference schools. “I just loved everything about it.”

The feeling was mutual.

“The main thing they liked about me was my pitchability, and the way the arm works,” the 6-0 165-pounder noted. “The big thing for me is to put on some weight.”

That is something that Minghine has been working on.

“I’ve put a lot of focus on getting bigger and stronger to be able to keep up with the bigger kids,” Minghine said. “I have a smaller frame so that’s the biggest thing I’ve been trying to do.”

There has been additional improvement in his game to go along with increasing his size.

“My baseball IQ has gotten a lot better through experience,” Minghine explained. “I know how to attack hitters. My pitching coach has really helped me with the mental part of pitching.”

Dealing with the mental part of the recruiting process was more difficult.

“It’s definitely a stressful experience,” Minghine admitted. “Every tournament you’re waiting to get an offer. I went to college camps and PBR showcases to get video and numbers out there. I was doing all I could to try and get myself in front of coaches.”

To finally have a commitment in hand is a dream come true.

“It’s definitely a big relief,” the 49th-ranked 2024 in Michigan said. “I accomplished my goal. There were nothing but smiles in the house. I fulfilled my dream.”

Minghine, who will turn 18 on Sept. 4, is confident about making an impact at the Missouri Valley Conference university.

“I will compete like nobody else,” said the fifth-ranked uncommitted RHP in the state at the time of his decision to go to UIC. “I will give 100 percent to be the best version of myself and push teammates to be the best version of themselves. Every time I’m on the field I will give it my all.”

A business-related field will be the major for Minghine, a 3.2 student at Northville excited about a college future in Chicago, four hours from home.

“I’m just looking forward to playing baseball,” Minghine concluded. “Every year you get to keep playing baseball is a gift. I want to keep playing as long as I can.”