Willeman Takes The Next Step With Commitment To BGSU

Landon Willeman RHP / 3B / Napoleon, OH / 2020

NAPOLEON - The footsteps are there to follow and Landon Willeman has taken the initial step.

A commitment to Bowling Green has the incoming senior at Napoleon on the path older brother Zach took en route to professional baseball.

“He gives me a lot of motivation,” admitted Willeman of his older brother, who played collegiately in the Mid-American Conference as well with Kent State prior to being drafted in the 19th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and signing with the Dodgers’ organization. “He’s showed me things I can go through, it’s just a matter of working at it. Once in awhile he talks to me about mechanics, but it’s mostly about motivation to keep working.”

While his older brother is pitching in the Class A Midwest League for the Great Lakes Loons, the 71st-rated player in Ohio’s 2020 class continues to work on improving his game.

“I have more faith in all my pitches now,” explained the 6-0 165-pound right-hander. “Last year I couldn’t throw a change but now I have that, my fastball is better and my curve has more break on it.”

Colleges, like Bowling Green, took notice.

“They like my pitchability,” noted Willeman, who received consideration from Toledo and had also taken a visit to Miami before a trip to Bowling Green in the early spring of this year helped sway his college choice. “They like how I have command in most of my games.”

Communication with colleges took off after the Top Prospect Games last June at Prasco Park.

“I threw well,” pointed out Willeman, who drew more interest from a PBR prospect camp at Wright State in the summer while also showing his all-around ability in the field and at the plate at the PBR ACME/Legion Showcase last July. “I commanded the strike zone and my curve was working well. After that, a lot of emails from Division I schools as well as Division II schools came.”

Bowling Green took an interest and a visit by the 31st-ranked 2020 right-handed pitcher in the state eventually took place.