Decision Time Is Nearing For Hard-Throwing Rabatin

PARMA - The velocity just continues to go up, and up, and up, and …

Interest from the next level is doing the same for Ben Rabatin.

“Through the offseason before 2020 I moved to Release and coach (Matt) Rosinski exposed me to PBR,” the Normandy sophomore reflected about his improvement. “I also went to Mike Grady (pitching school) to learn to be more efficient and the first day my velocity went up a mile an hour.”

That trend has continued for the second-rated uncommitted 2023 in Ohio.

“During the velocity phase of my offseason I started to use my legs more, knowing how important that is,” explained Rabatin.

The velo climb has become noticeable as evident by PBR events.

On Release Scout Day in February of 2020, Rabatin maxed out at 83.

In June of that year at the Southern Ohio Top Prospect Games it reached 85.

Two months later playing for Team Connecticut at the Future Games Rabatin touched 86.

In February of 2021, at the most recent scout day for Release, the velocity was now at 93.

“Ben has some of the most electric stuff in the state,” said Jordan Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting. “His fastball peaking at 93 with a sharp array of secondary offerings … that combination of stuff and pitchability could allow him to find an early role at the next level.”

Colleges are taking notice.

“I’m talking to two or three major D-I schools,” related the fourth-ranked sophomore right-handed pitcher in the state. “My first conversation came in late July and then there was a long break. After that I got up to 87 in the offseason and calls started coming in. It really amped up in February after I hit 93. I was getting a lot of phone calls every week. Now I’m trying to keep 93 consistently.”

There is more than consistency that Rabatin feels he can improve upon.

“I need to command my offspeed pitches more and keep them down in the zone better,” Rabatin pointed out.

Now that high school season has come to an end, a decision is looming closer.

“Once the season is over, I plan to get after it with colleges and think about why I should go there,” noted the 5-11 180-pounder.

A 4.0 student planning to major in some area of engineering, the 119th-ranked RHP in the nation feels there is an abundance he can provide a program at the next level.

“I have the ability to be coachable and the want-to-win when I’m out there,” Rabatin pointed out. “It’s just me and my catcher. I think that sets me apart.

“I’m a very valuable teammate,” added Rabatin, who just turned 16 in March. “I’m always the first one to be out there. I like getting the guys together for two hours to be a family.”

The idea of playing after high school has been there for some time.

“I always wanted to play in college, but when it became reality was with showcases in late July of 2019,” the 37th-ranked uncommitted sophomore RHP in the nation said. “It put me on the radar that I could play in college when I hit 83 five or six times.”

There have been a number of individuals that have been valuable throughout his development.

“The first person that brought me out was Mike Mancuso,” Rabatin reflected. “He was my pitching coach who took me under his wing and changed up my mechanics. That advanced me to my next coach, David Boranelli, who passed away two years ago. He brought my game to a higher level. Then coach Rosinski got me exposed to colleges.”

Admittedly, the process has not gone as rapidly as originally believed.

“My recruitment started off slow as a snail,” Rabatin explained. “But after a while it took a huge jump and went as fast as I thought it would. Now I’m visiting campuses that are interested in me and checking out the academics part of it.”

Where that takes the 407th-ranked 2023 in the country is to be determined, likely sooner than later.

“I want to go some place I can call home,” Rabatin said. “If I was to be stuck there for 10 years I’d be happy. I want to wake up happy and go out on the field with a great group of guys and coaches that can take me to the next level to play professionally.”