Ohio State Commitment Dream Come True For Hieber

Mack Hieber RHP / SS / Patrick Henry, OH / 2026

DESHLER - Attending a small high school in northwest Ohio, Mack Hieber was perhaps a bit underappreciated on the ball diamond.

Despite being 6-6 and 205 pounds, with a fastball reaching 91, the 10th-rated junior right-handed pitcher in Ohio was nearly ignored on Aug. 1, the first day that college coaches could make contact with players in the 2026 class.

“I had two calls, from Bowling Green and Toledo,” Hieber related. “That was it.”

But the Patrick Henry High School 11th grader was not discouraged.

“I decided to go to the Bo Dome for a Bullpen Showcase to get my name out there,” Hieber said. “I saw Ohio State was there along with some other schools. I threw 90 and sat in the high-80s.”

It did not go unnoticed.

“Coach Robinson later told me he went down there just to get to know the other coaches, not the players so much,” Hieber said in reference to the Ohio State pitching coach Tyler Robinson. “He was talking to another coach and stopped to watch me. After I was done, he ran across the complex to talk to me.

“A couple of weeks after, in early September, I pitched at UC and (head) coach (Justin) Haire was there to watch me. They called afterward and said we like what you have and have an offer prepared.”

Not long after the recently-turned 17-year-old was an Ohio State commit.

“I went on a visit and the coaches were everything I wanted,” Hieber explained. “They were personable and I felt I was valued by them. Ohio State was always the dream school and the visit was perfect. Everything lined up to pull the trigger to be a Buckeye.”

Hieber did not wait long to make a commitment.

“After the visit concluded I walked to the car and looked at my parents and said this is where I want to be,” Hieber reflected. “I called coach Robinson and they came out screaming. There were a lot of happy people that I was a Buckeye.”

While baseball is his number one sport now, at an early age basketball was his favorite. Still, his abilities on the ball diamond did not go unnoticed.

“I’m grateful to Prep Baseball for getting my name out,” Hieber related. “I didn’t know what Prep Baseball was about until Dylan Hefflinger (Prep Baseball Advanced Scout) called my dad in eighth grade and talked about getting into events. I want to give a special thanks to him for getting me out there.

“Going to the Ohio Games and Prospect Games opened my eyes that I can play with these guys,” Hieber continued about PB events he attended. “That motivated me to keep working and keep grinding everyday to get where I wanted to be.”

A two-sport standout at Patrick Henry, basketball has now taken a back seat when it comes to his most-liked sport.

“In high school I fell in love with baseball,” Hieber said. “I love pitching and I love to compete. I was told by multiple coaches I had what it takes, I just had to keep working.”

Improvement followed for the 25th-ranked 2026 in the state.

“The biggest thing is consistency,” Hieber explained. “It just worked on staying consistent and continued to be in the weight room, using a blue-collar work ethic and going in before school. That helped get my velo up. I also worked on my offspeed, finding ways to improve. I take pride in my command.”

Hieber also credited a throwing program with Armored Heat as beneficial in his improvement as a pitcher and Ohio State took notice.

“They really like my projectability, my fastball command and my offspeed,” Hieber said of OSU. “They just like how I compete, how I play, my arm action, just me as an overall player.”

Hieber is confident about having a bright future at the Big 10 Conference university located two hours from home.

“By the time I step on campus I want an MLB frame,” Hieber noted. “I already have the height, but I want to be 220-225.”

It has the high school junior excited about what he can provide the Buckeyes.

“I feel I can bring a lot to the program,” Hieber explained. “I’ll do whatever the coaches want me to do. Potentially, I can be one of their starters. I’m just going to keep working so when I get there I can play whatever role I’m needed to help win Big 10 championships.”

That would, admittedly, be special.

“I grew up an Ohio State fan,” Hieber said. “The dream was to play at Ohio State. The thought of putting on the scarlet-and-gray is bigger than me. It’s an incredible feeling. To have Ohio State across the chest is something I’ve always wanted.”

Hieber pointed to his father Bryan, youth travel coach Nolan Mericle, current travel coach Adrian Lebias, and high school coaches Brett Yungmann and Christian Petersen with providing valuable assistance on his baseball journey.

“I had help from lots of people,” Hieber related. “The recruiting process was a blessing, but very stressful. I’m glad to have the weight off my shoulders so I can have fun during my junior and senior years and work on my development.”

A 4.0 student unsure of a college major, Hieber has high expectations when it comes to his days ahead at OSU.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the guys and making relationships with them,” Hieber concluded. “I’m excited about playing for the coaches and being part of the baseball program, helping compete for the Big 10 title and the chance of getting to Omaha.”