Grandfather Inspires Baseball Dream For Kiafoulis

MILFORD - Anthoni Kiafoulis made a major discovery back in 2019.

“Lefty’s are a hot commodity which I never realized until I picked up pitching two years ago,” the Orchard Lake St. Mary's junior reflected.

Now the fifth-rated 2023 southpaw in Michigan, Kiafoulis has gone from a rookie on the mound to a commit at the University of Pennsylvania.

“I started talking to Penn in the middle of my summer season,” Kiafoulis said. “I saw they were following me on Twitter and I reached out to coach (Mike) Santello. I think it was only video online, but I was surprised how much they knew about my mechanics. I have confidence they took a lot of time looking at me. It’s a different way that I got my offer, not seeing me in person.”

A visit seven weeks ago made it official for the 54th-ranked junior in Michigan, who broke his leg playing football this fall.

“That gave me time to look at more colleges,” Kiafoulis said of the injury.

It also gave him an opportunity to visit the Ivy League school located nine hours from home.

“When I was leaving the coaches said we really like you and that they can see me being part of their program,” Kiafoulis noted. “Two days later they called and offered me a spot.”

Projectability on the mound attracted Penn.

“I’m new to pitching and still getting my mechanics figured out,” Kiafoulis explained. “They said they like my velocity and that I have a high ceiling. I have an odd form and they said they can see helping me develop.”

The move to the mound came with some guidance.

“My brother played at Michigan and he had a huge power swing,” related Kiafoulis, who still wears the same uniform number as his older sibling, Ty Kiafoulis. “I thought I had to be like him, I never opened up my mind to pitching. But a Cubs’ scout looking at my brother, Ward Elliot, reached out to me and said he thought I had pitching potential and to look up a pitching coach in Michigan named Dick Pole. I gave it a shot and did what they told me, that pitching was my future.”

The ability to pitch did not happen overnight.

“I had no idea what I was doing, I just tried to throw as hard and close to the zone as I could,” Kiafoulis admitted. “It was a rough summer. I probably had a 16 or 17 ERA.”

But persistence paid off for the 6-3 190-pounder.

“I worked out and saw my velo jump from 82 in August of 2020 to hitting 89 at a PBR event in January of 2021,” Kiafoulis said. “I think it was a sign from heaven. My grandpa died four days before I hit 89. He was a lefty in the minors and I think it was him putting his hand on my shoulder going from 83 to 89 in one week.

“He’s the one that got me started in baseball,” Kiafoulis continued about his mom’s father, Frank Sikina. “I’d spend all day hitting tennis balls in the front yard at his house. I’d play catch with him even though he blew out his rotator cuff in the minors. He rarely missed my games.”

The love for his grandfather remains strong for the 16-year-old.

“I have a new glove with a lot of stuff about him on it,” Kiafoulis said. “I want to do this for him. Even after he died, he was my driving factor.”

Now the hard-throwing left-hander has found a future home and his recruiting process is over..

“Off the bat I was only looking at high academic schools,” explained Kiafoulis, who carries a 4.17 GPA at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and plans to major in business in college. “I talked to a lot of Ivy League schools, and Penn was always my dream. My dad was a Division I football player at Air Force, but before Air Force came to him he was committed to the University of Pennsylvania. It’s definitely odd that he chose Penn and I chose Penn, though the story is different. I’m very happy with my decision.”

Kiafoulis looks forward to being a huge contributor at the school located in Philadelphia.

“I have the velocity aspect and every day I’m working on the location part a little bit more,” Kiafoulis said. “My mechanics are difficult for hitters and I 100 percent believe I can give my share of assistance to help the team win the Ivy League.”

That is just one thing Kiafoulis is looking forward to at Penn.

“MLB has always been my dream, but there are steps before that and college baseball has become that,” Kiafoulis concluded. “I’ve always wanted to play Division I and compete with the best of the best. I’m looking forward to going out and fighting for my spot and proving I belong at this level.

“It’s going to be a big challenge with baseball and the academic side of things at an Ivy League school,” added Kiafoulis. “You just have to come out of the classroom and flip that switch to the baseball side of things.”