Junior Catcher Elezaj Not Rushing The Recruiting Process

Anthony Elezaj C / 2B / Orchard Lake St. Mary's, MI / 2025

ROCHESTER - As a junior at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Anthony Elezaj has a good understanding of what the recruiting process is like after watching teammates go through it.

“You have to have patience knowing everything will happen for a reason,” Elezaj explained. “I’m not going to rush it. You can’t worry that others are committing. If I stay true to myself, good things will come.”

A solid performance at the Future Games ignited the recruitment of the third-rated 2025 catcher in Michigan, with Cincinnati, Kent State, Ball State and Eastern Michigan reaching out to Elezaj once Aug. 1 came around.

“I wasn’t sure what would happen,” admitted the 29th-ranked uncommitted junior in the state. “I heard from some really good schools and after that went to a camp at Eastern and performed well. I went on a visit and they offered. That was cool knowing the hard work is paying off.

“I liked what the coaches were like, they’re life coaches,” Elezaj added. “They took a lot of time with me.”

Trips to other universities have followed.

“From September to the end of October I went to camps at Cincinnati, Harvard and Duke,” Elezaj noted. “I enjoyed seeing the campuses, the different cities and the coaching styles, how they run practices. It’s cool to see the different ideas of how to run a program.”

As a member of the Orchard Lake program, the 47th-rated 2025 in Michigan has been the beneficiary of being around players with the same goal when it comes to baseball.

“When I made the decision in eighth grade to go to St. Mary’s is when I started thinking about college baseball,” Elezaj reflected. “I knew I loved the sport and wanted to take it seriously. I made a commitment to work when I went there. It’s been a big eye opener for me.”

As has been his recruitment.

“I thought it would go fast and I’d make a decision or I’d be patient and look at every single detail,” explained Elezaj, who pointed to the Future Games as the “biggest reason for exposure” during the process. “I didn’t know what to expect but nothing is surprising.”

Improvement has taken place along the way helping the 6-0 175-pounder make an impression on college coaches.

“I’ve been doing a lot of weight training, working on speed, strength and power,” Elezaj said. “I have a lot of good role models and I’ve really improved on the details with the game.”

His ability in different areas has been shown at college camps.

“Coaches like how I control pitchers,” Elezaj noted. “They like that I’m a leader on the field and that I’m very vocal.”

Adam Goodwin, Prep Baseball Michigan Director of Scouting, sees a bright future for Elezaj.

“Anthony is a solid athlete with versatility,” Goodwin pointed out about the 16-year-old, who also plays infield in addition to catching. “He had a strong showing at the Top Prospect Games which earned him a spot at the Future Games. I look for Andrew to take another step this spring for Orchard Lake.”

Elezaj, who carries a 3.9 GPA in high school and is considering a college major in finance, believes he can be a valuable asset to a program at the next level.

“I’m a leader, someone who will be the hardest worker every day and take no days off,” Elezaj explained. “I have a good connection with pitchers and will be a good representative of the team and what it’s about.”

Elezaj knows what he is looking for in a college.

“How much they value me is important,” Elezaj said. “What the city, the community is like, the people there. How the coaches are. It’s not just baseball only, I want someone you can go to with life situations.”

The upcoming months to begin 2024 are vital according to Elezaj.

“I feel this will be big,” Elezaj related. “I’m looking forward to showcasing the skills I’ve been working on in the high school season, how much stronger and bigger I’ve become.”

As for a timeframe on a decision, there is none according to Elezaj.

“I’m not in any rush,” Elezaj concluded. “Hopefully, I can showcase myself in the high school season and make a commitment at the end of high school or by the end of the summer ball season.”