Eckelman Enamored With 'Michigan Culture'

BRECKSVILLE - The “Michigan culture” sold Mason Eckelman.

“It’s the term coach Bakich and coach Schnabel use,” Eckelman said in reference to the head coach and top assistant at the Big 10 program, Erik Bakich and Nick Schnabel. “It’s a family. I’m only a sophomore in high school but I can already feel that mentality of a family way. These are my brothers. We’re going to compete our asses off for each other and nobody’s gonna stop us.”

A commitment to become a Wolverine came after a recruiting process that included talks with an impressive list of colleges, starting off with Michigan’s rival back in eighth grade.

“I first talked with Ohio State and slowly it became some other smaller schools,” Eckelman noted. “Michigan was the next big one in early winter. They’re one of the schools that stuck with me. I felt they took a lot of their time for me.”

The top-rated sophomore catcher in Ohio went to a camp at the university in Ann Arbor with a cousin, Henry Kaczmar, prior to the virus. While Eckelman liked what he saw at the campus, Michigan came away impressed with the Walsh Jesuit 2023 as a player and person.

“They depended a lot on what they saw from me at the camp,” Eckelman explained about his recruitment. “I think they saw me some in the past, but after that they got some video and watched me live-streamed.

“They see me as an athlete, as a catcher and a hard worker in general. I think they base their recruits off of that and have done a good job of recruiting good guys.”

There were additional characteristics that Michigan took a liking to in the third-rated 2023 in Ohio.

”They like my leadership qualities and the type of person I am,” Eckelman noted. “They see me as a competitor.”

A connection took place on both ends.

“For me, trust and honesty was one of the bigger things,” Eckelman said about what sold him on the U of M. “They kind of were the backbone of the recruiting process for me. I could always rely on them. From the beginning they showed a lot of interest.

“Then when I saw the facilities I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Between that and the coaching staff and the direction they’re heading, it was really something that stood out.”

Xavier, Cincinnati and Kent State were soon eliminated from consideration with Miami of Florida, Indiana and Duke next to go. 

“A couple of schools started talking to me at the end,” Eckelman related. “West Virginia showed a lot of interest and I liked the campus and the staff, but when I was there it didn’t click all the way for me. Campbell was another, the coaching staff was really nice.

“Pitt was another one up there at the end. I visited there but when I was at the field it didn’t click, either. Kansas State ended up being the second option. I didn’t visit there but I liked their offer.”

However, it was Michigan that could not be surpassed.

“I always felt a soft spot for Michigan, I just didn’t notice it,” Eckelman said.

Ironically, a big boost came for Eckelman when Vanderbilt, the defending national champions - which defeated Michigan in the 2019 finals - showed an interest.

“I felt that was a huge stepping stone in my recruitment and overall confidence,” Eckelman explained. “When you talk to them it made you feel like you were one of the best players in the country.”

The 41st-ranked 2023 catcher in the nation had the chance to show off his skills at the Future Games in August when the recruiting process was nearing an end.

“I think at that point I was eliminating other schools,” Eckelman said. “I felt other people needed the Future Games more than me, but at the same time it was one of the best experiences a kid can have with the competition and to experience the whole process.”

By mid-September, an offer from Michigan came with Eckelman committing the next day.

“I remember I was so nervous I had to leave class for 20 minutes,” the 15-year-old said about the phone conversation that took place during school resulting in an offer. “It was the quickest 20 minutes of my life. It was the first time I talked to the head coach except briefly at camp.

“It reminded me when I was talking with (assistant) coach (Mike) Baxter at Vanderbilt and how he knows exactly what you’re looking for. When he said the offer I was honestly speechless. I couldn’t stop smiling knowing I had found the place I wanted.”

The 342nd-rated sophomore in the country believes he can bring a lot to the Michigan program.

“I’m gonna do whatever I can to be a team player,” Eckelman pointed out. “I want to be the best person I can be, a team-first person that makes sacrifices to help carry that culture with us.

“From a performance standpoint, I’m confident in my play behind the dish and will bring a big stick. I’ll be the guy that rallies them up and be the best team player and motivator I can be.”

Nobody has been a bigger influence in the left-handed hitting Eckelman than his father Alex.

“I’ve been around baseball my whole life, traveling in my mom’s stomach when he played,” Eckelman reflected about his father, an Ohio State graduate now the director of hitting development for the Cleveland Indians. “He has that positive mindset and built me into the person I am today. What he does and talks about I implement into my everyday life. He gives me a sense of what I need to become to get to that level.

“He’s my role model and I want to prove to him it’s a game that’s going to be in my future. He’s been everything to me in the whole process.”

Eckelman also credits his mother Katie for support and his cousin Henry Kaczmar for helping along the way.

“He taught me about work ethic,” Eckelman said in reference to the Walsh Jesuit junior, a Michigan commit. “We despise losing and that’s brought an insane level of competition for both of us.”

But there has been one catch in joining his cousin in committing to the school up north.

“I’ve been getting a lot of comments and remarks,” admitted Eckelman, an Ohio State fan growing up. “My whole family went there .. my mom, my dad and my uncle. But then my cousin committed to Michigan two years ago. It’s funny us choosing Michigan. I’m definitely a Buckeye fan during football season now, but that may change when I get to the Big House.”