Florida Atlantic Dream Comes True For Oborne

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario - A family vacation to Florida turned into a dream for Dylan Oborne.

“I was 15-years-old when I first went down there,” the third-rated 2022 third baseman in Ontario reflected. “My grandparents have a condo down there.”

Oborne watched a Florida Atlantic baseball game while in the Sunshine State and became enamoured with the idea of going to school there. Living in Canada made that possibility difficult, especially with covid going on, so the Westmount CI High School student went to Florida for a long stay back in January.

“I came down to get some looks,” the two-way prospect reflected. “Phone calls were pretty consistent and Florida Atlantic came out to watch me pitch.”

A no-hitter at his high school (Northeast) down south, was the highlight of the season until a performance during the summer in Georgia helped bring an offer from the Conference USA East Division school.

“The location with how close it is to family was big,” Oborne said about the decision to make a commitment to his dream school, FAU. “Plus, being in Florida for baseball is definitely an advantage. When they gave me an offer it was a no-brainer. The academics, the baseball team, the facilities, the coaching all made the decision easy for me.”

The chance to pitch as well as play in the field added to the excitement.

“I like both so much,” noted Oborne, who is expected to play corner infield and pitch at the next level. “Being able to have an opportunity to do both means a lot. It made the decision easier. When they offered both it wasn’t a question of if I’d commit but when.”

Rutgers, Georgetown, UMass-Lowell, Stoneybrook and East Tennessee State were among the schools that were recruiting Oborne along with a number of JUCOs, but Florida Atlantic was always the top choice with the interest they had in the 27th-ranked 2022 from Ontario.

“They like my IQ for the game, knowing what to do in certain situations,” Oborne said of FAU. “I know what pitches to throw. They like the energy I play with, that I have a strong arm and the power in my bat.”

The strong work ethic took off at the age of 15, the same time Oborne began thinking about Florida Atlantic.

“It was at that time I wanted to go as far as I could go with it,” Oborne noted. “College baseball became the next goal.”

There were a number of influences along the way, starting with his father John and mother Georgia, along with numerous coaches.

“Mark Klein, my pitching coach, has been a huge help in the recruiting process,” Oborne said. “He’s a great mentor with a great mind for the game. Eric San Pedro, my hitting coach, has really helped me improve my swing and mental approach at the plate.

“Jen Stitt, my first coach, always had my back and believed in me, helping me become the person and baseball player I am today. Mark Bui, my strength trainer, is always there for support and someone who always stood up for me. He’s great at strength and conditioning training.

“Rob Butler has also been a great coach for me and an even better mentor,” continued Oborne. “He’s guided me in the right direction and is a huge reason for my love of the game.”

Admittedly, going to Florida this year was a major benefit in the recruiting process.

“With the COVID situation in Canada it was tough to have coaches come see you,” Oborne explained. “When you go to Florida they can come see you and that was really helpful with my recruiting. It was kind of slow before going down there.”

In making the decision official, the 17-year-old acknowledges a wonderful feeling.

“It was fun to call my parents,” related Oborne, who is now back home in Canada before a return to Florida next month, with plans for high school this year still uncertain (online or an Academy are possible). “It was so exciting to share that moment with my roommate, coaches, family and friends. To see all the hard work in the past pay off is a nice feeling.”