Commitment Spotlight: Caleb Herd
September 29, 2020
Today, We had the pleasure of catching up with 2021 C Caleb Herd of Cienega High School. Herd recently made a commitment to the University of New Mexico to further his baseball career. Herd was a standout behind the plate for Team Arizona at this year's PBR Future Games. Herd's frame gives him a low center of gravity and ability to get under pitches low in the zone. He also has good catch & release skills that shuts down running games. He showed these skills in Georgia this year where he picked off several runner's in live game action. His bat has been improving over the course of the last year. UNM got one of the top catchers in the class in Arizona. Today, Herd took some time to answer some questions for us about his college recruiting experience.
PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
Herd: I chose The University of New Mexico because the coaching staff was awesome. The campus, baseball field, just the whole program was something I really wanted to be apart of.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Herd: Oregon, Grand Canyon University, Santa Clara and The University of Oakland.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?
Herd: The coaching staff originally asked one of my coaches to see if he had a 2022 catcher. We sent video, and they ended up liking what they saw. My relationship grew with them as we talked about their baseball program, coaching philosophy and how I would fit in as a Lobo.
PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
Herd: I do feel relieved the process for me is over. It gives me a lot more time to focus on baseball and growing as a player.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
Herd: For me there was no one deciding factor. I just really like what they are doing at New Mexico and it’s something I want to be apart of.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Herd: There is a whole list of people that have helped me get to where I am today. All of my family, coaches, teammates and friends. I will make sure they know how much I appreciate them.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
Herd: For me, I really did not know what to expect until it started to happen. I think, COVID changed a lot about how the process normally works. Sending game and workout videos to many schools and having a plan to follow up was essential. My coaches helped me tremendously through the process.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
Herd: They plan to help me become the best baseball player possible so I can contribute to the success of the Lobo program. I hope to help my high school and summer team succeed over the next two seasons and arrive on campus at UNM ready to go.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Herd: There have been so many. I’ve been fortunate to play baseball in several states and even in Mexico. There are so many friendships and memories it’s hard to pick one. But, when I told the UNM coaches I was ready to commit to them, the excitement they expressed made me feel like I really made the right decision.
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
Herd: Wow. There is a long list of really good players I have competed against. Impossible to pick just one. There is a lot of talent out there and they are all working to achieve their goals.
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