Competitive Stojanovic Commits To Play At Central Michigan

Evan Stojanovic RHP / SS / Birmingham Groves, MI / 2024

WEST BLOOMFIELD - The Top Prospect Games proved to be a turning point in the college baseball dream for Evan Stojanovic.

“The recruiting process began junior year of high school season, that’s when I got an email from Wayne State,” the Birmingham Graves senior related. “That was my first true interest. Then I went to the Top Prospect Games. That was the best thing I could have done. Without that I don’t know I’d be committed or where I’d be going to school.

“I think I did pretty well there, I hit 91 which was the number I wanted,” Stojanovic added. “That got me the exposure I needed.”

Central Michigan was one of the schools that was there and came away impressed with what the 18th-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in the state showed.

“They really like that I have good arm speed, a live arm,” Stojanovic explained. “I’ve been up to the low-90s so that definitely is something they enjoyed. The pitching coach also liked my changeup.”

Aaron Hilt’s initial viewing of the 6-2 190-pounder came while he was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Michigan.

“The first time he ever saw me was at the Top Prospect Games,” Stojanovic reflected. “What a good decision it was to go to that. He hit me up a month later and sent me a text asking to stay in touch or come on a visit.

“After that I went to a camp in August at Bo Jackson Elite in Ohio but didn’t see them on the list. I discovered coach Hilt had switched from Eastern to Central and he was there. I pitched well and after that I went on a visit to Central a week later and they gave me an offer.”

The 52nd-rated senior in Michigan had high regard for what he saw at the university in Mount Pleasant.

“I liked the campus, the baseball facilities were nice and it’s really really clean,” Stojanovic said. “I want to be a doctor and I liked the medical buildings.”

Wooster, Kalamazoo, Oakland and Wayne State were other schools showing an interest in the 17-year-old, before a commitment was made to Central Michigan.

“It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I really wanted to play college baseball,” Stojanovic revealed. “I’d thought about it growing up but hadn’t focused on it. Once I decided I wanted to try and take my game to the next level I started to get into the weight room.

“I was up to 84 as a sophomore but for a righty you have to be near 90 to go to bigger colleges which is what I wanted. So junior year I got in the weight room, changed my diet and gained 30 pounds. I also matured a lot.”

Stojanovic, who also grew four inches, credited pitching coach Tyler Thompson and the entire staff at All Fields Baseball Academy with helping his game get to the level to play in a program like Central Michigan. Paul Manz, his coach since the age of nine and travel coach with the South Oakland As, also had a major role “helping reach out to coaches and telling me what to say” in his quest to continue the sport of baseball after high school.

“It was a pretty easy decision when Central offered,” Stojanovic related. “I went on a couple other visits but in my opinion Central was the most impressive. I liked the weight room and the guys on the team were nice, they greeted me and asked questions. I really liked the environment. I felt like I was at home.”

Stojanovic is of the strong belief that he can be a huge asset to the program at CMU.

“I’m really competitive, I love to win,” Stojanovic explained. “I’ll pick my teammates up when they’re down and bring energy to the field. Off the field I’m a good guy that’s pretty social.”

Stojanovic, who carries a 4.1 weighted GPA and plans to major in biology at the university two hours from home, is excited about what lies ahead.

“I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my life,” Stojanovic concluded. “It will be fun meeting new people and making new connections. Baseball wise, I’m looking to get better and have fun with the team. I just want to win and have fun.”