Duke Opportunity Has Raidt Ecstatic

STAMFORD, Ct. - “If you told me two years ago I’d be talking about going D-I I’d have thought you were crazy.”

The outlook on college baseball has certainly changed for James Raidt, who no longer has doubts with a commitment to Duke now in place.

“I always dreamed of committing to a Division I school but I never thought at such a high level,” the Kings School sophomore admitted. “I’m still in shock to have an opportunity at such a prestigious school.”

Interest from the Atlantic Coast Conference program began in late summer.

“I was talking to a few schools but nothing seriously,” Raidt reflected. “When I started talking with Duke I really wasn’t sure about it, I was focusing more on schools in the northeast area.”

That changed after the Future Games in early August.

“They said before I went there that the whole staff would be watching me at the Future Games,” Raidt noted. “After the Future Games I talked with coach (Josh) Jordan and he said he loved what he saw.”

An offer was made but the fourth-ranked 2023 in New England was hesitant.

“There was a call with my family and (head) coach (Chris) Pollard and I said ‘before I make a commitment I had to take a visit,’ ” Raidt related.

An answer came quickly upon arriving at the university in Durham, N.C..

“When I stepped on campus I couldn’t see me going anywhere else,” Raidt said. “Walking around, the kids seemed friendly and welcoming. I got the right vibe.”

Three days after arriving home, the second-rated sophomore right-handed pitcher in New England committed to Duke.

“In talking to the coaches they were very straight with me,” Raidt pointed out. “They said you’ve done everything right to now, it’s yours to lose.”

The 15-year-old made an impression on the Duke staff.

“They like how I have good character along with baseball skills,” Raidt said. “They can find right-handed pitchers that throw hard anywhere, it’s about character for them.”

But throwing hard does not hurt.

“When I went from Little League to travel ball I started going to events like the Future Games,” Raidt noted. “Those were eye-openers. It drove me to work harder in the weight room to better my skills.”

Boston College, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke were the final four choices from a long list of colleges including Connecticut, Xavier, Miami of Florida, St. John’s, Michigan and Stetson.

“A lot of the credit goes to my coaches,” the 54th-ranked 2023 RHP in the nation said. “They motivated me to send out videos and I talked to my first school (BC) after my first PBR event. That was when I thought this might really happen.”

Raidt pointed to family for support, coaches for guiding him and teachers for making sure he stayed on the right path in helping the college baseball dream turn into reality.

“Going in, I went in blind,” Raidt said of the recruiting process. “I had no idea what it would be like. I had an older brother who went to Holy Cross for football but he never went through anything like this. It was definitely an eye-opening experience.”

An experience that has Raidt, a 3.6 student uncertain about a college major, headed south to play ball at the next level.

“What a great opportunity,” the 222nd-rated sophomore in the country explained. “I definitely looked in the north first and local colleges were taking a look at me. The furthest I went was Pennsylvania for the Future Games which was a big part of this happening.”

Now Raidt looks forward to making an impact at Duke.

“I definitely want to get bigger and stronger,” the 6-2 170-pounder said. “I want to develop my pitches more and make sure I hit my spots better.

“I think I’ll bring a good spirit to the program,” Raidt added. “I love winning and believe I can be someone they can rely on.”

That is, once the shock of making a commitment to Duke wears off.

“I’m still in disbelief,” Raidt said. “I worked hard enough, I guess, and I’m lucky enough, but I never expected this. I’m so excited.”