Kann Finds ‘Something Special’ At Toledo

Preston Kann RHP / SS / Standish Sterling Central, MI / 2026

STANDISH - “Something special kind of hit me.”

That is how Preston Kann explained his visit to the University of Toledo. Now the Standish Sterling Central junior is a commit to the Mid-American Conference school located two hours and 20 minutes from home.

“The atmosphere was very cool,” Kann related. “As soon as I got there I was talking to the coaches and fell in love with everything there. It felt like home. They treated me very well.”

Being a D-I commit was not something Kann thought might happen until recently.

“I never would have guessed it,” the fifth-rated 2026 right-handed pitcher in Michigan admitted. “It’s definitely a huge achievement, but I didn’t think this is where I’d be. I wasn’t getting a lot of recognition until I played with Scott Tousa. After that there were no doubts. I just never expected it until last year.”

Kann had high praise for Tousa, his coach with Legacy.

“He’s a very loyal guy who is truly there for the kids,” Kann said. “He has a great heart.”

The 16-year-old also pointed to three other coaches - assistant coach Jeff Klein, pitching coach Nick Alexander and assistant coach Jason Abbate, who passed away last year - that were instrumental in his baseball dream being accomplished.

“Last year was my first year with Legacy,” Kann noted. “They have had a big role in this.”

A tournament at LakePoint was a major factor in the right-handed hurler getting noticed by college coaches.

“I pitched five innings and allowed one hit against the Dirtbags and after that I got invited to pitch at the Future Games,” Kann reflected. “Before that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. LakePoint was the first time I got a lot of recognition. Then Adam Goodwin (Prep Baseball Michigan Director of Scouting) invited me to pitch a bullpen in front of him and that’s when I was invited to the Future Games. That really helped. There wasn’t much recognition before that, other than going to Prep Baseball tournaments.”

A few days after the Future Games, on Aug. 1, Kann discovered there was a lot of interest.

“Seven coaches reached out,” Kann related about the first day that college coaches could make contact with players in the 2026 class. “I talked to five the first day and two later that week.”

One of those was Toledo, which invited Kann on a visit.

“I talked to the coaches, saw the campus and was given a pretty good offer,” noted Kann, who also took a visit and was offered by Central Michigan.

Toledo sees a lot of promise in the 6-1 155-pounder.

“My frame, you can put on more weight,” the 15th-ranked junior in Michigan said about what Toledo liked about him. “Where I’m at now, they think I can get to another level. I can be a dude some day.”

It was just a year ago when Kann began thinking about college baseball being part of his future.

“I’ve played baseball my whole life, but sophomore year I fell in love with it,” explained Kann, who also plays basketball in high school. “I went to the Future Games and then it all happened.”

Kann, who carries a 3.4 GPA and is considering business as a possible major at Toledo, realizes playing at the next level is going to be a challenge.

“It will definitely be different,” Kann said. “Everyone will be a good hitter, but with a little work I think I can help. I’m very positive, never a negative kid. Academically I’m good, and I’ll always help my teammates. On the mound I’ll do what I can do to help the team win.”

It has Kann filled with anticipation about what lies ahead once his high school days are over.

“I’m definitely looking forward to being with the team,” Kann concluded. “I’m excited about the new experience and being away from home. I can’t wait to see how it works out.”