Giesting more than just a left-handed pitcher

Spencer Giesting LHP / OF / Badin, OH / 2020

HAMILTON - Being a southpaw certainly has benefits.

“The coaches I’ve talked to say they have a shortage of left-handed pitchers,” noted Spencer Giesting, a Hamilton Badin junior that fits the bill in that regard.

But the 33rd-ranked 2020 in Ohio does not want to rely on being a left-handed hurler as a reason colleges have an interest.

“It’s a lucky thing that I am left-handed, but I don’t want to be a prospect strictly because I’m left-handed,” Giesting explained. “I want to work hard enough to be able to do what others do and not be recruited just because I’m left-handed.”

It is a trait learned from his father.

“My dad played high school baseball and basketball and won state in baseball,” Giesting said of his father Brian, a graduate of Badin who went on to play baseball at Belmont. “He always taught me to work hard and not take anything for granted.”

Hard work has followed helping bring notoriety to his game that escalated during the summer. Giesting has been on the campuses of Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami and Ohio University as well as Charlotte. Talks have also taken place with Wright State and Xavier with an upcoming visit planned to North Alabama when time can me made around the high school basketball schedule at Badin.

“For the most part, summer ball and local tournaments are where they saw me,” Giesting said of his college interest. “The Top Prospect Games played a big role in giving a jump-start to the summer. Then after summer I went to Fort Myers (with D-Bat Elite) where southern schools saw me.”

What they witnessed was a tall left-hander showing plenty of promise.

“Most like, obviously, that I’m left-handed,” said the sixth-ranked unsigned junior in the state. “They like my frame and see a lot of projectability. They also like my offspeed, my curve and change. But most want to see more command out of me.”

That is an area Giesting is working to improve.