Asmussen Sees A Bright Future At Pittsburgh

Benjamin Asmussen RHP / OF / Detroit Catholic Central, MI / 2025

NORTHVILLE - “Tall and uncoordinated” is how Ben Asmussen described himself up until eighth grade.

“I wasn’t very good,” the Catholic Central senior admitted. “I went to a pitching coach, got my mechanics together and got my body in shape. My freshman year I dominated and I’m thinking I might be on a path to go to college and play baseball.”

It has now become a reality with a commitment to the University of Pittsburgh.

“Sophomore winter I was working out throwing and I hit a couple high numbers,” the 28th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in Michigan reflected. “I got 91 and I sent info out to Pitt and a few others.”

This past summer interest peaked.

“I sent my rotation out and they came to see me,” Asmussen said. “The pitching coach liked what he saw and they invited me to a camp. They said they had one more spot left on the (2025) roster and ‘right now you’re our top guy.’ I went to the camp on July 31 and threw well.”

An offer came on Aug. 22 and a little more than a week later the 6-1 180-pounder made a decision to attend the Atlantic Coast Conference university, located 41/2 hours from home.

“I narrowed it down and committed on Aug. 31,” noted Asmussen, who was also considering Michigan State, Butler, Princeton and Central Michigan. “Pitt just stood out. I feel the communication was always there with them. They were always the one that stood out.

“The campus was cool, with kind of a city vibe,” Asmussen added. “The business school fit me academically and the coaches there have a history of sending guys to the next level. I like talking to coach (Matt) Gilbertson, the pitching coach, he’s been there and done that. And the ACC is a good baseball conference.”

The Pitt staff sees a bright future for the 74th-ranked senior from Michigan.

“They like my pitchability,” Asmussen related. “They think I’m very projectable. They said I have college stuff already with my fastball and three other pitches (change, slider, curve).”

It was freshman year of high school when Asmussen’s journey to play college baseball took off.

“I got on a program, lifting, working on my mechanics, working on my diet,” explained Asmussen, who credited Kyle Fedorka at High Performance Training with playing a key role in his development. “I put on weight to be able to throw at a higher velocity and I worked on being a pitcher instead of just throwing. That put me above the normal level and helped get me to a place like Pitt.”

Improvement eventually helped his recruiting process.

“My recruitment had ups and downs,” Asmussen related. “I had a great year starting varsity as a freshman but got hurt my sophomore year. I went to LakePoint sophomore summer for the Prep Baseball national championship and this summer my recruitment picked up with phone calls instead of small talk. Doing PBR events this year around Michigan got my numbers out and allowed coaches to come out and see me.”

The decision to attend Pitt was memorable for Asmussen, who turned 18 on Sept. 25.

“I sat down with my parents and coaches and made a list of pros and cons,” Asmussen explained. “Everything pointed to Pitt. It has a great environment.”

Asmussen, who carries a 3.65 GPA and plans to major in business, is confident he can make a strong impact in the ACC program.

“I’m the ultimate competitor,” Asmussen said. “From day one I can add to the pitching staff, whether it's against ACC teams or non-league teams. I’m going to dominate from day one.”

That is just part of what he is looking forward to at college.

“I’m excited for the brand of baseball Pitt brings,” Asmussen concluded. “Being in the ACC is going to be intense, hard-fought games. I’ve got to be at that level or I’m not going to succeed. It will push me to be better.”