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Player Spotlight: RHP Jacob Bohlken (Smithville, 2016)

July 7, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Jake Bohlken (Smithville, 2016) is a 6-foot-3 225-pound right-handed pitcher, and led Smithville into the Class 3 Final Four last spring.  He threw 46 innings for the Warriors, tallying 31 strikeouts and 14 walks, finishing with a 2.74 ERA. 

Bohlken has an ideal pitchers frame.  To create rhythm in his delivery, he has an Up-tempo vertical hand and knee lift, and he hides ball during arm stroke. Bohlken throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, with a fastball that has arm side running action, topping out at 82 mph. He has command of his secondary pitches, showing an 11/5 breaking ball and a change-up with sinking action.  In the classroom, Bohlken sports a 31 ACT.

Currently he is playing for Building Champions Baseball Academy and preparing for return to the Final Four next June. Here is a look into the recruiting process for Jake Bohlken.

PBR: What schools have expressed interest in you?

Bohlken: Grinnell College, Coe, Brown, and Dartmouth have all shown some level of interest.

PBR: Have you taken any visits, or have any visits scheduled in the near future? If so, what schools, and how recently?

Bohlken: I visited Brown University for wrestling and baseball in April

PBR: Are you looking for anything in particular in a school? (Example: high academics, certain academic program, local, etc.)

Bohlken: I am looking for a school that has high academics and a pre med/ biology tract that will prepare me for medical school. With that being said I am also looking for a school that takes pride in their athletics and competes in their conference.

PBR: How did you do your junior year? What were your high school statistics? Describe the feeling of playing in the Missouri Class 4 State Championship Final Four. Name some players that played a key role to Smithville’s championship run.

Bohlken: This spring I went 6-3 and threw 46 innings for my high school team. I had a 2.74 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 14 walks. Playing in the Final Four was an unbelievable experience. Representing my school and playing at the highest level against some of the best teams in the state was a great challenge and truly humbling. We had an awesome senior class but Mitch Orr, Logan Brown, and Alex Schram were big underclassmen contributors to the teams success this season.

PBR: What are you goals for your senior season?

Bohlken: My goals for senior season are to win conference, get back to the final four, and keep the tradition of excellence going at Smithville High School in any way that I can.

PBR: What travel team do you play for? Are you playing fall ball with a team?

Bohlken: In the Summer I play for Building Champions and they have fall workouts and games in the fall, which I plan on attending.

PBR: Do you play any other sports?

Bohlken: Along with baseball I play football and I wrestle.

PBR: What are your ACT and GPA?

Bohlken: My GPA is 3.9 and my ACT score is 31.

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