Oregon College Home For World Traveler Grabmann

OKOTOKS, AB - Matthew Grabmann has seen his share of North America. Add Oregon to the list after the 107th-rated 2022 right-handed pitcher in the country committed to the Power-Five conference school.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play Division I college baseball,” explained Grabmann. “I look forward to the experience and hope to show my abilities on the baseball field playing in the Pac-12.”

The route to the university in Eugene was a long one.

The fifth-ranked junior in New England lived in Nova Scotia until making his “home” in the United States in seventh grade. Now 17 years of age, Grabmann attended school in Connecticut at Choate Rosemary Hall before COVID-19 came into play.

“My school went on-line,” noted Grabmann. “I’m still taking classes there, but I’m living in Alberta doing baseball. The Okotoks Baseball Academy is one of the premier baseball academies in North America. They have contacts across the U.S. and have contacts at Oregon.”

A connection with Oregon actually began last fall after Grabmann participated at the T-12 in Toronto.

“I started talking with (assistant) coach (Jack) Marder after the third game of the tournament,” Grabmann related. “That’s when I first met him. I kept a relationship with him and have kept in contact the past couple months when I came to Alberta.”

Eventually, it led to a commitment from the 364th-rated 2022 in North America.

“Oregon was one of the first to call me,” the 6-1 199-pounder reflected. “I was a little nervous the first couple calls, but after a while I was more comfortable with coach Marder. Three weeks in I talked with the recruiting coordinator coach (Jake) Angier. We had a zoom call with my parents and that’s when they offered.

“He’s one of the leading factors I committed,” Grabmann added about Angier, the pitching coach at Oregon. “He talked to me about their entire pitching development program, everything they do with the pitchers.”

The fourth-ranked junior RHP in New England is evolving as a hurler after taking up the position just a year ago.

“I caught my entire life and also played middle infield up until last year,” explained Grabmann. “I never got into pitching until then. I stepped on the mound and after that it was about developing techniques. Velocity has always been there, it’s the main reason I pitch, but it’s more about control factors and offspeed.”

Admittedly, it took some time to adjust to the new position.

“It’s different,” Grabmann said. “I’m used to being behind home plate. I was nervous at the beginning but once I realized I controlled the game and what happened I started to like it.”

There has been more progress made since.

“This year there’s been a lot of focus on the smaller things in terms of techniques,” Grabmann pointed out. “I had issues with control at the start of the year but that’s getting better. I think when I enter Oregon two years from now the biggest thing I need to do is be ready to face all the good hitters. I need more in-game experience against quality hitters.”

Interest was extensive in Grabmann, who had previously committed to Harvard before a decommitment brought schools like Duke, Boston College, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Stetson into the picture.

“Besides the baseball portion and the facilities, the relationship I developed with coach Marder was the deciding factor,” Grabmann said of the decision to choose Oregon as his future home. “That’s what drew me there.”

With so much travel already in his life, the idea of going to school on the west coast was of little concern.

“I’ve gone to school in the U.S. for five years now,” Grabmann explained. “I’m used to staying in dorms and being away from my parents. I really have no worries with the college atmosphere and being so far away from home.

“I’m in Alberta now and have been here for five weeks,” Grabmann continued. “I went here when school announced it was going on-line. I wanted to go and try the baseball academy and see how I like it. I couldn’t go to the U.S. because of covid, so I’ve been able to experience some things here. It’s good to have the ability to play in the fall, I never had that before. I think developing in the fall is really going to help.”

His parents, which still live in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, a suburb of Halifax, have been vital in helping Grabmann get where he is in the sport today.

“While my mom is more of a hockey person, they both pushed me to put me in the right place for development,” Grabmann said. “Darren Deoucette, who played for the Cards and is now in Nova Scotia, has been another big factor in my overall development and going to tournaments like the T-12.”

As for college baseball at Oregon, Grabmann admits to some uncertainty.

“I hope to make an early impact,” Grabmann said. “But it’s hard to really honestly access what I can bring to the program since I’ve never experienced throwing against college hitters.”