Abler Hoping All The Hard Work Pays Off

NOVI - Since high school football season ended, Andrew Abler has been hard at work.

“I’m driving to Legacy six days a week,” said the Novi junior, who is working with Max Bain and Ryan Ford along with weight trainer Randy Young. “I’m lifting four days and doing plyoball two days. I’m throwing four days, doing infield two days and hitting two days. I’m also on a mobility program two days a week.”

It is all part of reaching the goal to play at the next level.

“I’m hoping the hard work I’ve put in this offseason pays off,” the third-rated uncommitted 2023 right-handed pitcher in Michigan said. “The main thing that appeals to college coaches is velo, but accuracy is my strong suit. So I’m working on my velo plus also trying to improve my curveball spin.”

It was just two years ago that Abler turned his attention to pitching.

“I was a hitter growing up, but one offseason I gained velo and was throwing 78-79 going into my freshman spring,” Abler reflected. “When I made varsity as a freshman, that’s when I decided I wanted to go for it.”

Add in strong academics, and the 6-1 194-pounder is getting attention from Division I coaches.

“I’ve been talking with Western Michigan a lot and I’ve had decent talks with Dartmouth, but I’m waiting for my ACT scores,” the 32nd-ranked junior in the state said. “I’ve also had calls with Eastern Michigan and Central.

“My coach reached out to Western and they came to a game and I pitched a shutout,” Abler continued. “Then they came to a game during a PBR Ohio Limited Series event at Mercy Field and I pitched well. Dartmouth saw me at the Future Games.”

That was a “really fun experience” according to Abler.

“Even though I was a PO, I stayed for two days,” Abler said of how much he enjoyed playing for Team Michigan at the PBR event in Georgia featuring players from more than 40 states. “That put me in front of colleges I’m usually not in front of. I didn’t have an amazing performance, I over-thought it, but it still got me on the list of a lot of colleges.”

Aaron Wilson was his coach at the Future Games and has high expectations about Abler.

“Andrew is a hard worker who followed up a strong high school campaign with a strong summer,” noted Wilson, the Director of Scouting for PBR Michigan. “Potential two-way prospect shows power at the plate while playing corner infield. On the mound has a good presence and the internal drive to continue to become better. He will be an asset to the college he lands at.”

The 10th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in Michigan believes he can be a major benefit to a college program.

“I’m a hard worker and I have a good GPA,” noted Abler, who carries a 4.0 unweighted GPA at a high school highly respected for academics. “I always put the team over myself. It’s good for the team culture.”

Abler understands what he is in search of in his quest to find the right college.

“I’m looking for a good coach I can trust,” the 16-year-old noted. “I want a good team culture and a school with a good academic program in engineering.”

Abler pointed to summer coach Scott Theisen with playing a big role in trying to find the right school to attend.

“He has a lot of connections in the area and has really been helping me out,” explained Abler, who was 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA in five starts playing for Theisen’s team this summer.

The upcoming months will be vital in the recruiting process, according to the eighth-rated uncommitted 2023 in Michigan.

“I’m going to a couple of camps, at Illinois and Northwestern,” Abler noted. “I’m playing long toss now, but not throwing off the mound. I’m going to see where I’m at there in a couple weeks. If I haven’t made the velo jump I want, I’ll look more at mid-majors. If I’m 89-90, I’ll shoot for more Big 10 schools.”