Opportunity At Purdue Blows Walendzak Away
September 11, 2020
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Opportunity At Purdue Blows Walendzak Away
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Connor Walendzak
Class of 2023 / OF
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2023
-
Primary Position: OFSecondary Position: SS
-
High School: PerrysburgState: OH
- Summer Team: Bo Jackson Elite
-
Height: 5-11Weight: 195lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Position
6.69
60-yard
(08/02/20)
82
INF Velo
(08/01/20)
85
OF Velo
(08/01/20)
100
Exit Velo
(08/01/20)
4.47
H-1st
(06/12/19)
![Trackman](/images/stat_logos/trackman.png)
Trackman - Hitting
99.8
Exit Velocity (max)
(08/02/20)
90.7
Exit Velocity (avg)
(08/02/20)
210
Distance (avg)
(08/02/20)
361
Distance (max)
(08/02/20)
Hard Hit %
(08/02/20)
Sweet Spot %
(08/02/20)
Line Drive %
(08/02/20)
Fly Ball %
(08/02/20)
Ground Ball %
(08/02/20)
2020 PBR Future Games (Ohio Invite Only)
Aug 2, 2020
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
99.8
Exit Velocity (avg)
90.7
Distance (avg)
210
Distance (max)
361
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
![Blast](/images/stat_logos/blast.png)
Blast - Hitting
24.6
Hand Speed (max)
(07/21/20)
22.5
Hand Speed (avg)
(07/21/20)
80.8
Bat Speed (max)
(08/02/20)
74.0
Bat Speed (avg)
(08/02/20)
Rot. Acc (max)
(07/21/20)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(08/02/20)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(07/21/20)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
(07/21/20)
2020 PBR Future Games (Ohio Invite Only)
Aug 2, 2020
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
22.6
Hand Speed (avg)
22.1
Bat Speed (max)
80.8
Bat Speed (avg)
74
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 21, 2020
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
24.6
Hand Speed (avg)
22.5
Bat Speed (max)
77.9
Bat Speed (avg)
68.9
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
Videos
(8/2/20)
Player News
- All-State Athletes Weigh In On Playing More Than One Sport - Dec 20, 2021
- 2023s On The Rise - Dec 16, 2020
- Opportunity At Purdue Blows Walendzak Away - Sep 11, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games - New Look, Same Excitement - Ohio Prospects - Aug 13, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games - Ohio Prospects Advanced Analytics - Aug 7, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games - Team Ohio Day Two Game Notes - Aug 6, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games - Team Ohio Day One Game Notes - Aug 6, 2020
- Results From 2020 Northeast Future Games - Aug 3, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games - Team Ohio Workout Day Notes - Aug 3, 2020
- 2020 Northeast Future Games: Meet The Team - Team Ohio - Jul 29, 2020
- 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Advanced Metrics w/Trackman and Blast Tech - Jul 27, 2020
- 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Quick Hits - Jul 27, 2020
- Results From 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Jul 23, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Underclass - Complete Evaluations - Mar 8, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Underclass Wrapup - An Opportunity To 'Show Their Skills' For Underclassmen - Feb 14, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Underclass - Advanced Pitching Metrics - Feb 13, 2020
- Results from 2020 Preseason All-State Underclass - Feb 10, 2020
- 2019 Future 50 At Ohio State - Class Of 2023 - Complete Evaluations - Jul 2, 2019
- 2019 Future 50 At Ohio State - Class Of 2023 - Top Performers - Jun 14, 2019
- Results from 2019 Future 50 At Ohio State - Class Of 2023 - Jun 13, 2019
Opportunity At Purdue Blows Walendzak Away
“Purdue just blew me away,” related the Perrysburg sophomore. “I was looking for the best fit for me where I could thrive academically and athletically. Once Purdue presented itself with an opportunity, I had to jump at it.”
Interest came during summer play as a member of Bo Jackson Elite.
“I started talking to Purdue a couple of weeks into the summer,” Walendzak reflected. “Coach (Jimmy) Onate got in contact with them when we were in Georgia. Coach (Cooper) Fouts was easy to talk to. He said they liked what they were seeing.”
An impressive performance at the Future Games helped the cause for the eighth-ranked 2023 in Ohio.
“They were watching PBR live streaming,” Walendzak noted. “Coach Onate sent them a lot of videos of my at-bats in the summer and then seeing me at the Future Games is how they stayed updated on me.”
The 5-11 195-pounder recorded a time of 6.69 in the 60, hit 100 on the exit velo and 85 on outfield velocity while at the premier event of the year.
“They like my bat and my speed and athleticism in the outfield,” pointed out Walendzak, who turned 16 in mid-August just after the PBR experience in Pennsylvania.
Tentative plans are for Walendzak to be an outfielder and utility player at Purdue.
“I developed really well this summer,” explained the second-rated 2023 outfielder in the state. “The coaches at Bo Jackson, my teammates and my hit coach all really helped me out. Coach Onate also helped me out big time with the mental aspect.”
But the need to continue making strides remains.
“I have to improve every aspect of my game,” Walendzak said. “The transition to outfield this year went quick. One of the things I’m looking to do in high school and summer is improve my outfield play .. the jumps and everything I need to improve to make an impact there.”
Miami, Bowling Green, Wright State, Cincinnati and Ohio State all had major interest but Purdue proved to be what Walendzak was looking for at the next level.
“I didn’t know much about Purdue but this summer I took the opportunity to learn about it,” Walendzak noted. “On my first call coach Fouts took me on a tour of the facilities.”
There was also an in-person trip to the West Lafayette university in Indiana as well.
“I loved the campus,” Walendzak said. “They had super nice facilities.”
A commitment caps off a recruiting process in which the Perrysburg product made a name for himself.
“He has an advanced hit tool for his class,” PBR Ohio Director of Scouting Jordan Chiero said about Walendzak after his performance at the Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games in late July. “The combination of feel/burst makes his BP one you sit back and watch.”
Walendzak is happy that his recruitment has come to an end.
“I’ve dreamed about playing college baseball since I picked up a bat,” pointed out Walendzak. “I was surprised when I started talking to all the coaches this summer, I never saw that before. Coach Onate and Bo Jackson guided me through it. But there is still a lot of work to be done.”
His parents, high school coach Dave Hall and hitting coach Tom Rummells have been vital in the baseball journey for Walendzak, a standout on the gridiron as well - something that has proven beneficial.
“It takes a lot of toughness, mental toughness and grit to play,” noted Walendzak, a running back on his high school team at Perrysburg. “There’s a lot of different interaction with teammates in football.”
Walendzak looks forward to making a difference in a Purdue baseball program that has made two trips to the NCAA Tournament in the past decade, 2012 and 2018.
“I think I can bring a hard work ethic … a grind mentality,” Walendzak said. “I’ll bring my athleticism and a great teammate to the program.”
Academics are also important for Walendzak, who carries a 4.3 GPA.
“I want to do medical school, so whatever sets me up with an opportunity for that,” Walendzak said in deciding between biology and science as a college major.
No matter that decision, Walendzak is pleased to know where his future lies.
“It’s super exciting, it was exhilarating when it all happened,” Walendzak said of making the commitment. “Now I’ve got to go out and just keep getting better.”