Rufenacht Loves The Coaching Staff At Toledo

Samuel Rufenacht LHP / LHP / New Philadelphia, OH / 2025

NEW PHILADELPHIA - The Top Prospect Games helped Sam Rufenacht get noticed. By early July the incoming senior at New Philadelphia High School was committed to Toledo.

“It was shorter for me,” the 19th-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in Ohio related about his recruiting process. “I wasn’t well known. Before the Top Prospect Games D-II schools were talking to me, but a day after the Top Prospect Games my phone didn’t stop. It was very hectic.”

Enjoyable as well, with offers coming from Oakland in addition to Toledo.

“They saw me at the Top Prospect Games and then at a tournament in Indiana,” Rufenacht reflected about UT. “They came to watch me again and called to say they wanted to get me on campus. It was pretty quick.”

A visit took place on June 20.

“I loved their coaching staff,” Rufenacht said. “The staff is amazing. That’s what sold me on Toledo.”

UT was enamored with the potential of the 6-3 215-pounder.

“I’m a lefty, I assume that’s the biggest thing,” Rufenacht noted about what was the attraction for Toledo. “I have a little different angle and they really like that. We also connected when we were talking.” 

It was not long ago that the 114th-ranked 2025 in the state decided college baseball was in his future.

“I didn’t pitch seriously when I was younger, even going into sophomore year I didn’t see myself going to college,” Rufenacht explained. “Then I started pitching more and looking into it and I started thinking about it. Sophomore year winter is when I started taking training more seriously. “I realized I  wanted to play in college and I kept working and getting better and better and it happened.”

Improvement followed the newly-found drive to go on to the next level.

“I’ve improved a lot,” pointed out Refenacht, who was 6-1 190 as a 10th grader. “I was an upper-70s touching low-80s guy sophomore year and by the end of this summer I was 86-88 and hit 89 in my last outing at LakePoint. I worked every day.”

Being part of the Bo Jackson Elite program was also beneficial.

“I talked to the coaches there and did whatever they said I needed to do,” Rufenacht said. “They helped me so much, helping me with my recruiting. I also went to the Bo Jackson Scout Day and that helped.”

A commitment was an “awesome” feeling according to Rufenacht, a 2.9 student uncertain of a college major.

“I’m really happy to have this happen with how much work I’ve put in,” Rufenacht said. “It was non-stop. When something like that happens, it’s amazing.”

The 17-year-old believes he can make an impact in the Mid-American Conference program.

“I’m a good teammate who will try to fill whatever role they want me to fill,” Rufenacht noted. “My goal is to be a starter.”

There is more he is looking forward to when it comes to being a student-athlete at the university located close to three hours from home.

“The experience of being a college student at Toledo is going to be fun,” Rufenacht concluded. “I’m excited to be part of the baseball program and ready to bring energy. It’s going to be fun. I’m ready to get to work.”