Corbin Looks Forward To Being A Student-Athlete At Maryland

Parker Corbin SS / C / Cincinnati Country Day, OH / 2024

LOVELAND - Parker Corbin will be playing in the Big 10 after all.

Maryland will now be the future home of the Cincinnati Country Day senior, who reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Ohio State back in the summer of 2022.

“To play in the Big 10 is special,” explained the second-rated 2024 shortstop in Ohio. “With the expansion going on, it’s going to be awesome with West Coast trips. It’s going to be a more competitive baseball conference.”

In Maryland, Corbin will be part of a program that won both the Big 10 regular season and tournament championships this past season.

“One thing that stood out about Maryland is how the coach goes about his program,” Corbin noted. “He talked about how the body moves and that they can get the most out of your body. That was eye-opening for me.”

The results at Maryland intrigued Corbin.

“The last two years their offensive stats have been crazy,” Corbin pointed out. “As a hitter that really stood out to me. I love to hit.”

That is what got the attention of Maryland.

“They love my swing, my approach at the plate,” Corbin said. “They also like my actions in the field, how I’m a leader and how I act around teammates. It’s more than just the skill set of a player, and that means a lot to me.”

Interest in the 13th-ranked incoming senior in Ohio came from a number of schools, with Marshall and Davidson at the top of the list in addition to Maryland.

“I also had some Ivy interest but decided that wasn’t for me and also military interest but decided that wasn’t for me,” Corbin explained. “With Maryland it all happened fast. They saw me in Atlanta and after that I was in contact with three of their coaches. They obviously had an interest in me and me in them. I’d narrowed it down to a couple of schools and I took a visit the following week. It all happened quickly.

“I flew out on a Sunday night, had breakfast with two coaches in the morning and spent the whole day with the coaching staff, mostly the head coach and recruiting coordinator,” Corbin reflected. “They’re building a new indoor facility and the stadium has a cool backdrop.”

A commitment to the university in College Park brought an end to a recruiting process that Corbin insisted would be different from the first one that culminated in a decision to attend Ohio State back in September of 2021.

“This time around I wanted to enjoy it more,” Corbin related. “The first time around it was stressful. I was a 14-15 year old talking to all these big schools. As I’ve matured it felt easier, relationships were easier to develop. I talked to coaches from 50 schools and visited at least 15. I saw things from a brand new perspective. Having that over the last three years made the process easier and the decision more comfortable.”

Admittedly, the decommitment did bring some motivation.

“It was a reality check that I need to get back to work and find a home,” Corbin explained. “It also put a chip on my shoulder. I was motivated to find a place where I'd be happy again. I put work in the weight room and cages, with footwork and speed. The whole process made me want to get better and find a home I can excel at.”

That place, in the eyes of Corbin, is Maryland.

“I love the staff and I love the facilities,” Corbin said. “I knew it was a place I wanted to be at. It’s a relief to commit, but it also brings excitement. I have my senior year still to go, but I’ll be heading there in early summer.”

As for a position, the 5-9 170-pound left-handed hitter believes it will be “anywhere in the infield, wherever my bat takes me.”

A 4.39 student at Country Day, Corbin remains uncertain about a college major with business, political science and economics under consideration.

“I’m thinking about Law School, but obviously I want to play in the majors,” noted Corbin, who turned 18 on July 22.

For now, the focus is on his final year of high school before moving on to play in the Big 10 for the two-time defending champions.

“On my visit I talked to a player that was down there for the summer and he said he was having a really good time,” Corbin concluded. “I’m excited to create a brotherhood with the team. The whole environment of being a student-athlete, going to sporting events, I’m looking forward to all of it.

“Maryland allows me to have the full perspective as a student while being lucky enough to play baseball. That will make the experience that much better.”