Commitment Spotlight: '20 Nick Friedges, C, South St. Paul

November 22, 2019
Andy Judkins
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

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Scouting Report

10/20/19- 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.50 runner. Balanced open stance. Rhythm to load. Lower half gets through swing well. Good swing plane. Gap to gap approach with line drive contact. Consistent barrel and flashed pull pop. 90 mph exit velocity. C- Good frame and sits low. Balanced setup. Glove is smooth and moves well. Holds pitches well. Clean and quick exchange with average footwork. 1.98-2.02 pop times. 78 mph arm strength with good carry and average accuracy to bag.

6/17/19- 6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. #71 ranked player in MN 2020 class. 7.38 runner. Body load, quiet rhythm in swing, consistently barrels baseball, gap to gap approach, hard line drive and fly ball contact, 83 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet, fields out front, good hands, clean arm action with accuracy to bag, 84 mph arm across infield. Low target with flexibility, projectable athletic frame, longer arm action, sticks pitches in zone, high blocking position, 78 mph arm strength with 2.06-2.09 pop times.

3/17/19- 5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.78 runner. Slightly open stance. Leg lift trigger and rhythm in load. Comfortable in box. Dives in plate. Good swing plane. Pull approach with line drive contact. Flashed average pop with consistent barrel contact. 84 mph exit velocity. C- Good frame. Comfortable and works hard. Moves well. Average receiver. Good feet and clean exchange. 1.98-2.13 pop times. 78 mph arm strength with good accuracy and carry. IF- Good actions. Moves well to field. Good glove and fields ball out in front. Quick release on throws. 86 mph arm strength with above average carry and accuracy. Continue to add strength could make for a solid 2020 follow.

6/17/18- 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.8 runner. Young smaller frame, easy leg kick trigger, clean path through baseball with mid/pull approach, easy actions in box, has requisite mechanics and will continue to improve with added strength, 78 mph exit velocity. Flexible behind plate, athletic movements, holds pitches in zone, slight hitch in release, accurate arm to bag, 72 mph arm strength with 2.02-2.13 pop times.

3/17/18- 5-foot-8, 145-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Friedges is still a significant way away physically, but the foundation that he showcases should allow him to make big jumps once he gets stronger. The left-handed hitting catcher has a relaxed rhythm at the plate and a smooth stroke. His load works fluently down and back with a minor leg kick before the barrel works slightly uphill through the zone with a loose, two-handed finish. He demonstrated to hit line drives to all fields. Behind the plate, he featured looser hips and soft hands, and was able to produce pop times as low as 2.0.

10/22/17- 5-foot-8, 145-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 8.32 60 time. Open stance, strides to square, shoulder load, some looseness to hands, shows ability to use gaps, line drive and fly ball hitter, 74 mph exit velocity. Shows footwork, works through plate, slight hitch in arm action, avg. carry to bag with above avg. accuracy, has flexibility behind plate, needs additional strength to hold pitches in zone, 70 mph arm strength with 2.27-2.34 pop times.

PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?

Friedges: I chose St. Cloud State because they have a historic program and they expect to win every time they take the field. That is the type of environment that breeds success and I wanted to be a part of that.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Friedges:: I was considering going to St. Johns, Luther, Iowa Central community college, or Hamline.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?

Friedges:: The first time they had seen me was I believe when I went to their showcase they held my sophomore year. I needed to develop a lot more if I wanted to go there. Our relationship developed simply by staying in touch with coach Dolan the past few weeks and then coming on a visit.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?

Friedges:: I feel incredibly relieved. All the work that I have put into keeping this dream alive now finally feels validated, and I have finally accomplished that dream every ballplayer has as a kid of someday playing college baseball.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?

Friedges: The deciding factor for me was the fact that from the moment I stepped onto the campus I knew and felt deep down that St. Cloud State was where I wanted to be.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?

Friedges:: I would have to credit my parents for getting me to where I am today. I couldn’t have done this without all of the time and effort they have spent bringing me to the field and traveling across the country so I can play baseball. They are also my biggest supporters and have always believed in me taking this next step.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?

Friedges:: I was expecting the recruiting process to be a lot different. As a sophomore when I first started thinking about college, I thought that schools were going to find me. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Most of the time a relationship would be built by reaching out to a coach and sort of putting myself out there and hoping I would stick someplace.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?

Friedges:: We are still figuring out what my role will be when I arrive next fall. I don’t know what will happen but all I can do is control my work ethic and continue to prove myself day in and day out.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?

Friedges:: My most memorable baseball moment to date would have to be my sophomore year when our squad at South St. Paul was able to punch our ticket to the state tournament for the first time in school history since the 1970s. The feeling that we all got knowing that our entire city was behind our back rooting us on was very motivating and I think that was one of the coolest things I have experienced on and off the diamond.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?

Friedges: The best player I have competed against would have to be Ben Hernandez. we played against him in Indianapolis over the summer. His stuff is unbelievable. He was throwing around 92 and his changeup was FILTHY. Long story short he struck me out in three pitches.