Lybarger Happy Michigan Will Be His Future Home

Brayden Lybarger RHP / 1B / Elida, OH / 2021

LIMA - Brayden Lybarger grew up with a family divided when it came to college athletics.

His dad was a Michigan fan and mom an Ohio State fan.

“I stayed in the middle,” Lybarger related.

But that is no longer the case after the state’s 10th-rated 2021 made a commitment to the University of Michigan.

“Last summer (2018) was the first time they reached out,” Lybarger said. “We talked a little but then it died down in the winter. After the Future Games they contacted me again and we talked a couple times. They asked if I’d come on a visit.”

The hard-throwing right-hander, who had received an offer from Oklahoma State after the Future Games and also had one from Kent State, came away from his Ann Arbor trip with Michigan as his top choice.

“I’ve always kind of wanted to go to Michigan to make my dad proud,” Lybarger admitted. “When I went there I fell in love with the facilities and the campus. I knew it was where I wanted to go.”

Participating in the Future Games for the second year in a row, Lybarger made a bigger impression this time around to help show colleges what he is all about.

“The first Future Games I was completely nervous and overcome by it,” the Elida junior explained. “There was a lot to take in. My mindset the second time was to just go out and perform. It was a lot easier the second time.

“I’ve worked a lot on my slider and changeup. I attribute a lot of my success to that. But I’ve got a ton of room to grow there and everywhere else.”

Michigan is more than happy that growth will take place up north.

“They said I have a bunch of upside,” noted Lybarger. “Right now there is no strength or weight to me, so there’s a ton of room to grow.”

This past year the 6-5 178-pounder made a lot of progress on the mound.