Huge Feels Right At Home In Milwaukee

Riley Huge LHP / West Geauga, OH / 2020

CHESTERLAND - Living in the snow belt east of Cleveland, Riley Huge is familiar with extreme weather conditions. So a little cold on a college visit was not bothersome.

It also did not prevent the West Geauga junior from deciding on the University of Milwaukee as the place to play college baseball.

“They sent me a text and said this is (head assistant) coach (Cory) Bigler, we’ve seen you throw a little bit and we’d like to talk to you on the phone when you get back from vacation,” the 6-4 200-pound left-handed pitcher reflected. “We kept in touch and eventually I went on a visit.”

The initial contact came in January after a Brownlee Showcase at the Ben Simon facility. Milwaukee coaches had also seen videos of Huge, who had gained prior exposure through a Bo Jackson Showcase.

“We flew out there on the coldest day in Milwaukee,” the 61st-ranked 2020 in Ohio said. “Everything was closed down, so it was more of a private visit. But I wasn’t intimidated, they made me feel important and valued.

“It was too cold to walk around campus, so we drove. I liked the look of the surroundings and that everything was so close together. We went back to the pavilion (sports headquarters) and walked around the weight room and trainers room. Then I picked the brain of a pitcher and how he got to Milwaukee. He said he didn’t see himself going to Milwaukee but was happy with his decision.”

An offer was presented but there was a lot for Huge to weigh.

“We wanted to come back and look at it again when there were more people there to see what the atmosphere was like,” explained Huge, who had also been shown interest from Toledo and Wright State. “We talked about it and decided we can’t do anything now. Two weeks later I made the decision.”