Future Games Helps Bring Strong Interest In Tuttle

OWOSSO - The Future Games helped spark the recruiting process for Jay Tuttle.

“I paid attention to the Future Games in the past and I saw kids that committed soon after,” related the Owosso High School junior, who was a member of Team Michigan at the PBR event in late summer. “I figured if I played well I could get that same interest.”

While a commitment has not been made, the 23rd-rated 2023 in Michigan is certainly receiving notice from college coaches since participating at the prestigious event in Georgia. Visits have been made to Michigan State and Northwestern along with Mid-American Conference schools Ohio U, Central Michigan and Western Michigan.

“The Future Games was the big one for picking it up a little bit,” Tuttle said of his recruitment. “There was nothing much before that.”

But while interest increased, with Bowling Green, Northwestern and USC-Upstate others that the second-ranked uncommitted junior in the state has been talking to, where the 6-1 185-pounder fits in is unknown.

“Some see me as a pitcher, some as a catcher and some as a two-way,” Tuttle revealed. “Ideally in a perfect world I’d like to be a two-way, but I understand that will be tough. I’d like to be a catcher and get thrown into pitching.”

Aaron Wilson, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting, believes Tuttle has the ability to do either one.

“Tuttle is a guy that brings his hard hat to work daily and gets it done,” Wilson noted. “He is a team-first guy that fits well in the dugout.”

There is more that Wilson sees in the 16-year-old.

“He handles the bat well with a line-drive approach,” Wilson said. “He’s a catcher with a strong throwing arm that can control the run game. He also showed big-time ability on the mound at the Future Games running his fastball into the upper-80s.”

Coaches have also mentioned positives with Tuttle when it comes to his overall game.

“They like my velo and that my changeup has consistency,” pointed out Tuttle, whose fastball was clocked at a personal-best 89 at the Future Games. “With catching, they like that I have a big arm that can control the running game.”

The top-rated 2023 uncommitted pitcher in Michigan sees playing each of those positions as a benefit to the other.

“Pitching helps catching for arm strength while catching teaches you to be athletic,” Tuttle explained. “You can see hitters from one aspect and try to get them out with the other aspect.”

Improvement with both has come by getting stronger.

“Lifting has been big for me,” Tuttle admitted. “Before this year I was never big in the weight room. Once I began hitting the weight room, it’s really helped with strengthening my body and getting me to where I can perform at a higher level.”

The idea of playing after high school began just a few years back.

“Around 12 or 13 I made a decision that baseball was something I wanted to do and I started to put more time into it,” Tuttle reflected. “It became realistic at 15U, the summer of 2020, when I started throwing harder. That opened up the pitching aspect of my game.”

Colleges have jumped on board since the Future Games.

“How one event could kick-start it all is a testament to the respect coaches have for the Future Games and PBR as a whole,” Tuttle said.

Finance or accounting are potential majors for the 4.4 GPA student, who feels he can be a major asset to whatever college program he joins in the future.

“My utility ability, athleticism and knowledge of baseball give me an edge on other guys who just play one spot,” Tuttle explained. “I can adjust to whatever change is needed and still play at a high level.”

Having his required degree and developing a strong relationship with the coaching staff are big conditions to find in a college according to Tuttle, who continues striving for improvement in his game.

“The last three or four months I’ve shut down my competitive pitching and been working on getting stronger and more flexible,” Tuttle said. “When I get back to throwing I think my pitching can pick up even more with all the work I’ve put in the last three to four months.”

The hope is a commitment soon follows.

“I was thinking I’d like to make a decision before high school season but that’s moved to before summer,” Tuttle concluded. “It’s not a hard deadline, but in a perfect world I’d like to meet that deadline.”