Opportunity To Play For ‘Home State School’ Excites Morin

Kaiden Morin C / RHP / Brewer, ME / 2025

BREWER, Me. - Hypnosis is credited with helping Kaiden Morin reach his dream of playing college baseball.

“Seeing a hypnotist was a game changer for me,” the Brewer High School senior related. “I started out the summer not doing too well, not performing the way I wanted. I like to be a perfectionist and I told my mom I’ve got to do something, see a hypnotist or psychologist. She had a friend who was a hypnotist and I went to see her. For me it was about seeing myself not in a negative way. It’s what’s in front of you, not what’s behind you.”

The visit in late July helped prove to have a positive effect on the ninth-rated 2025 catcher in New England, and within a month a commitment was made to the University of Maine.

“I’d been in contact with (head) coach (Nick) Derba since my sophomore year of high school,” Morin said. “I did a bunch of PBR events, and being 20 minutes from there it was easy for them to see me.”

The third-ranked senior in Maine pointed to coaches Jason Harvey, Ryan Copp and Brandon Portwine with benefitting the cause, with a visit to Maine taking place at the beginning of August.

“I’ve followed them all my life being a Maine kid,” Morin said of the university located in Orono. “It fits geographically for me and is a good fit with baseball.”

High Point also offered the top-rated 2025 catcher in Maine, but the opportunity to stay close to home was too much to pass up.

“It’s a big honor to play for my home state school at the highest level,” Morin explained. “My family is all from here.”

Making it more exciting is the chance to be a two-way player as both a catcher and pitcher.

“That’s a big deal for me,” the 5-10 170-pounder noted. “Growing up I could always throw hard, but being a PO was not on the table. That’s not what I was looking to do. They like me more as a catcher.”

There is more that stands out about the 17-year-old, who went to football, hockey as well as a few baseball games at the University of Maine growing up.

“They not only like my abilities, but that I’m hard working,” Morin said. “I play with a chip on my shoulders. Nothing in baseball is given to you and they like that about me. I’m willing to work for my goals.”

The work ethic was vital in reaching the point of becoming a Division I college baseball commit.

“I’ve always thought about it since I was younger, I remember thinking about it in second and third grade,” the 83rd-rated 2025 in New England said about playing at the next level. “When I got to middle school I wanted to play in high school. I always wanted to achieve more. Since seventh and eighth grade I’ve wanted to play in college.”

There was assistance in making it happen during his recruitment.

“Prep Baseball helped a lot with the Top Prospect Games,” Morin related. “After that coaches were texting me to come see them. The Procase got my name out there even more.

“For me it was all about wanting to play at the highest level,” he continued. “The stressful part was thinking what if I’m not good enough. I couldn’t see myself not playing at the highest level.”

That’s when hypnosis came into play, with Morin also crediting his parents for their important role in his baseball journey.

“My parents (James and Jen) have been huge in all of this, wanting the best for me and wanting me to succeed in whatever I do,” Morin noted. “I’ve made tremendous strides with the mental part of the game. You don’t take anything for granted. My sophomore year I was batting .450 three-quarters of the way into the season and then I got in my own head and it carried over into my junior year. I didn’t want to let that define me in the summer.”

Relief came with a commitment before senior year of high school began.

“For me the weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Morin explained. “I was happy. It was a surreal feeling. I believed in myself and I actually did it. There was no more stress wondering where I’m going.”

It brings a lot of anticipation to his days ahead at college.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the team,” concluded Morin, a 3.7 student in high school planning to major in business in college. “I’m rooming with a good friend on the team, Erik Swenson from Scarborough. I’m excited about that, the college baseball environment and the level of training.”