Nielsen Staying Close To Home To Pitch At Akron

Samuel Nielsen LHP / 1B / Wooster, OH / 2025

WOOSTER - When it came down to it, the decision was not too difficult. Akron would be the future home for Sam Nielsen.

“They gave me a good offer,” the Wooster High School senior said. “They made it clear they wanted me. It’s close to home and my college credits (from high school) will transfer.”

Akron saw the 24th-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in Ohio during the high school season in the spring when they came to watch Brady Bowen, a Wooster teammate who has also committed to the Mid-American Conference school.

“I came in to close and was sitting 87-89,” Nielsen reflected. “They called afterward and said they were going to follow me. Two or three weeks later they offered. It was the end of the high school season and they saw me at St. Ignatius where I was 88-91.

“I ended up playing in the summer to explore my options, but decided on Akron.”

A visit in June was part of the decision-making process.

“It was cool to see actual D-I facilities and to feel wanted at such a high level,” Nielsen related.

Admittedly, recruitment was far from easy for the 17-year-old.

“It was definitely stressful, every point of it,” Nielsen explained. “You always have to be responding. The most helpful thing for me was emailing coaches and getting them to come out to my games. I got a handful of coaches to come out in the summer.”

While there was other interest, it was not overwhelming.

“I was talking with some Ivys and other academic and athletic schools, but none I really pursued,” Nielsen said. “Due to the portal I wasn’t able to move forward with my recruiting.”

Akron was pleased to find a commit with the abilities of the 6-3 205-pound southpaw.

“They seemed to like my competitiveness,” Nielsen noted. “Once I’m on the mound it’s me against the batter. Nothing else matters. They also think I can only get better and better.”

Making improvements has been the norm for the 177th-ranked 2025 in the state.

“Last year I was sitting 83-85, and going into this year 85-86, topping at 87,” Nielsen related. “I climbed every week to get to the point of being 88-90. Putting on weight and getting stronger definitely paid off.”

High school teammate Ben Winge is credited with helping the cause.

“We’ve been lifting together for four years,” Nielsen explained. “Late night hitting sessions, pitching sessions, we’ve been putting in the work together.”

A major in pre-law is the plan for Nielsen, who carries a weighted 4.25 GPA at Wooster and a 3.95 unweighted GPA.

“Hopefully, I’ll graduate sophomore year or junior year first semester and then start law school,” Nielsen said. “It will definitely be hard, but I can buckle down. I think I’ll be able to handle it at that point in my life.”

When it comes to baseball, Nielsen is confident about what he can bring to the program.

“I’m looking to be a good weekday reliever my first year and after that I feel I can develop into a starter,” Nielsen noted. “That’s my goal.”

Making a commitment was a “giant weight off my shoulders” according to Nielsen.

“I can finally turn the phone off and just sit down in peace for the first time in nine months,” Nielsen said.

As for the future, there is a lot to look forward to at the university located just 45 minutes from home.

“Spending all the time with my teammates, getting close and experiencing all the student-athlete things,” Nielsen said about what he’s excited about when it comes to college. “Going on the road, competing on the field, I look forward to every part of it.”