Dream Of Playing At Cincinnati Fulfilled By Voegele

Ben Voegele SS / 2B / Ross, OH / 2025

HAMILTON - Ben Voegele will get his wish.

“I’ve wanted to wear a Bearcat uniform since I was a little kid,” noted the Ross High School sophomore, whose dad and grandfather both played for the University of Cincinnati, his father a middle infielder and grandpa a catcher. “We’ve had season tickets for football. It was a perfect fit for me.”

Interest from UC came during the summer after Voegele was seen playing in Fort Myers and Indianapolis.

“The recruiting coordinator sent a text and said he wanted to talk on the phone,” the fifth-rated 2025 shortstop in Ohio related. “We had a good talk and I ended up going on a visit.”

There were visits the same week to Dayton and Wright State prior to UC, but the lifelong wish to become another family member to play at Cincinnati helped make the decision of where to attend college and play baseball much easier.

“It’s cool now to say I’m following in my grandpa and dad’s footsteps,” Voegele admitted. “I didn’t think of it before, I was just trying to find the best spot for me.”

The elder Voegele’s have been huge influences in the life of the 17-year-old.

“My grandpa has been really big,” the 29th-ranked junior in the state said of Joe Voegele, a former coach at LaSalle. “He came on board the Ross coaching staff this year and would stay after practice working with me. My dad, who’s the head coach at Ross, was big in my recruitment. He’s also helped immensely in making me a better player and a better person.”

Griffin Merritt, a LaSalle grad who played for UC from 2019-22 after transferring from Tennessee, is another “role model I grew up watching” according to Voegele, who made an impression on the staff at Cincinnati during his recruitment.

“They like that I’m quick defensively and have a left-handed bat,” the 6-1 170-pounder noted. “They’re big on the defensive side.”

A commitment brought an end to a recruiting process that wasn’t always easy.

“The week after Fort Myers was stressful,” Voegele explained. “Some schools that were interested gave deadlines. But every school that talked to me mentioned my PBR profile. Getting invited to the Top Prospect Games and other showcases was really good for my recruitment.”

The focus now is on making improvements.

“Last spring I had an alright year but not as good as my freshman year,” Voegele admitted. “I didn’t have a real good summer so I changed my swing a little this fall and the ball is coming off the bat harder. The biggest thing for me now is getting bigger and stronger, mostly arm strength. That’s the top priority.”

The feeling of making it official with UC was “awesome” according to Voegele.

“I got a lot of love from everybody that helped me get where I am,” Voegele related. “It’s cool to say I’ll be playing in Cincinnati where I’ve always wanted to play.”

A major in a business field is planned by Voegele, a 3.6 student at Ross who is confident about making an impact at the university located a half hour from home.

“I’ll bring them really good defense,” Voegele said. “UC hasn’t been that good in the past, but I know (first-year head) coach (Jordan) Bischel will change that and I feel I can fit right in defensively which is big to him.”

Being part of the program at Cincinnati  brings a lot of excitement from the Ross High School junior.

“I’m looking forward to playing at the highest level,” Voegele concluded. “They’re in the Big 12 now and I’ve always wanted to compete at the highest level against the best teams in the country.

“I can’t wait to experience college baseball,” Voegele added. “It’s going to be fun meeting all the other players from around the country.”