Q&A With Indiana Commit Seth Benes
July 13, 2022
A former PBR Future Games participant, RHP Seth Benes (Liberty Wentzville, 2023) has an intriguing mix of polish and upside on the mound. Hailing from a family full of baseball pedigree, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Benes throws his entire arsenal for strikes and he’s started to tap into what his ceiling on the bump is over the last few months.
Benes attended the Missouri Preseason All-State event in February, reaching a 92 mph high with his fastball while exclusively pitching at 91-92 mph throughout his ‘pen. He spun his low-70s breaking ball at nearly a 2,600 RPM average while also effectively killing both spin and lift on a low-80s changeup.
Benes parlayed that success into the spring, where he pitched to a 1.79 ERA over 47 innings, striking out 80 batters over that span. He started the summer off on a high note, including an impressive showing at the Midwest Premier Super 17. All of that, and his countless hours of work throughout the off-season, recently earned Benes a commitment to the University of Indiana.
We recently had the opportunity to discuss what the recruiting process looked like for Benes, what he ultimately looked for in his future home, and other baseball-related topics. You’ll find our brief conversation below.
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Seth Benes RHP / Liberty-Wentzville, MO / 2023 |
OUR Q&A
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Benes: I was looking for a good program that will develop me and give me a great chance of getting drafted.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
B: Yes, I wanted to stay relatively close to home.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
B: The recruiting process really sped up for me over the winter. Indiana noticed me then, and first saw me throw in May during my high school season.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
B: I love the coaching staff and the culture that Indiana has. That really made the decision easy for me.
P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
B: Wichita State and Missouri State
P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?
B: INF Brock Daniels (Vianney, 2021; Oklahoma). I faced him my sophomore year, it was really tough because of his speed and how well he worked the counts. He jumped on everything in the zone and didn’t miss.
P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?
B: My sophomore year when I made a big velo jump on the mound.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
B: Do everything you can to make yourself the best ball player you can be and always bet on yourself.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
B: Getting the opportunity to play at the 2021 Area Code Games
P: Preview Liberty-Wentzville’s season for us. How do you feel your team will be?
B: I feel like we have a lot of potential to be good
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