Michigan Was Number One From The Start For Hultink

BATTLE CREEK - A commitment to Michigan has relieved the pressure on Cody Hultink … but only to a degree.

“I can finally relax now that I’m committed, though there’s still some pressure since everybody will look at me as committed to Michigan,” the Pennfield incoming senior said. “It’s just not as much pressure as before.”

An offer from the Big 10 power came just before July, with a video from PBR, phone conversations and on-line facetime helping bring the interest during this COVID-19 era.

“They like my tools,” noted the seventh-rated 2021 shortstop in Michigan. “My power and speed go hand in hand. They also like my ability to be a teammate before a player.”

Talks with Penn State, Michigan State and Toledo took place, but the first offer for Hultink came from the 2019 national runners-up.

“It was my number one school going into high school,” Hultink said. “I felt the most comfortable talking to the Michigan coaches and feel it’s the right fit for me as a player.”

Once an offer was made, it took two days for the 37th-rated senior in the state to make it official.

“I told my family and a couple friends what I was going to do,” Hultink reflected. “Since I was younger I’ve wanted to go D-I to play. It’s a great baseball school, they just got second place, and it’s a top-five academic school. So, it’s a win-win for me.”

In particular, Hultink was impressed with the staff at Michigan.

“They’re really into relationships with players,” Hultink pointed out. “They like to invest in relationships with players and players’ relationships with each other.”

Correspondence with Michigan came at a time when the 6-0 180-pounder was working out on his own during the coronavirus lockdown.

“I did in-home lifting, threw into nets and hit off tees,” Hultink related. “I tried to do something every day with the limited sources I had to work with to lift. But I feel I got better every day.”

That continues to be the plan for the 17-year-old who lives two hours from the Ann Arbor campus.

“I really need to fix my arm strength,” admitted the second-ranked uncommitted 2021 shortstop in the state at the time of his decision to become part of the UM program. “I’ve always been able to hit, my infield ability has always been my weakness. I’ve got to get better at that if I’m going to play as a freshman or sophomore.”

The potential is also there to make an impact as an outfielder as well.

“I grew up an infielder but I’m fast so I can play outfield,” noted Hultink, who has played shortstop, a little third base and outfield with the DBacks Elite this summer.

No matter the position, Hultink believes he can be valuable to the Michigan program.

“I’m a good teammate who’s versatile enough to play anywhere,” Hultink said. “I can bat anywhere in the lineup and can give you speed or power, whatever is needed.”

A 3.9 student considering a major in psychology or criminal justice, Hultink admits the recruiting process was not what he anticipated. 

“It was a lot different not being able to talk in person,” Hultink explained. “I feel it was a lot different than it was 20 years ago, even from what it was last year. To commit over a phone call with no official visit is not what I expected.”

But the feeling in the end was still as good as it gets.

“My parents were really excited,” Hultink said of the decision to make the University of Michigan his college home. “They couldn’t be more happy for me. They were a big part of this and so were my friends who always pushed me. When I told my friends my plans they were really proud and couldn't have been happier for me.”

The commitment made Hultink the first-ever Division I athlete at Pennfield.

“That feels great and I hope it continues,” Hultink said. “I want other kids to see it and help put us on the map a little bit.”