Pece Believes 'This Is Going To Be My Year'

Sam Pece LHP / OF / Walsh Jesuit, OH / 2024

SOLON - The recruiting process has “been a little slower” than expected for Sam Pece. But the Walsh Jesuit junior is confident it will pick up soon.

“I’m going to the Release Scout Day on Feb. 11 where I’ll hit better numbers,” the second-rated 2024 uncommitted left-handed pitcher in Ohio said. “That’s when my recruitment will get faster.”

Interest to date has come from Xavier, Oakland, Queens University of Charlotte and Seton Hill, but no visits have taken place.

“I need to get my videos out there,” Pece pointed out. “Once the high school season starts I just need to be playing well.”

Recent improvement will be helpful in the eyes of the 6-1 185-pounder.

“I’ve improved a lot,” the fifth-ranked junior southpaw in the state explained. “Last summer I was 83-84 and last week I was 89. I’ve put on 15 pounds so now I’m adding strength. I feel much stronger and I’m a lot more mobile. Understanding the weight room and understanding how my body is working really helps.”

There is one major ingredient Pece believes he can provide at the next level.

“I’m hard working and dedicated to baseball,” Pece pointed out.

Playing in a program like Walsh Jesuit is very beneficial according to the 17-year-old.

“Being around the other players and the way they act and go about their business is very professional,” Pece said. “We play to the best of our abilities and take it seriously. We’re very locked in with training and in the games.”

Jordan Chiero has high praise when it comes to the 39th-rated 2024 in Ohio.

“Sam is one of the more physically talented players in the state,” the PBR Ohio Director of Scouting said. “On the mound the movement profile is very fluid and athletic, the type of film college coaches will fall in love with. It’s not a matter of if, but when he takes his next velocity jump. Offensively, there are few players as explosive as he is when he’s on. Similar to on the mound, he still has a ton of untapped juice as he fills out and physical maturation takes its course.”

An outfielder (with 97 exit velocity and 7.03 speed in the 60) when not pitching, Pece has an idea of what he is in search of when it comes to a future home.

“I’m looking for a program with development and that has good coaches,” Pece said. “I want a place where I feel at home, so I feel good all four years.”

Admittedly, Pece is of the belief he is a bit underrated at this point in time.

“Honestly, I kind of feel there are times I’m at the same level as guys that are committed to all these great schools,” Pece explained. “But I think this is going to be my year to show I’m with these guys and can play at that level.”

It was in junior high when Pece began to focus on a future beyond high school.

“In seventh or eighth grade is when I really thought college baseball was what I wanted to do,” Pece reflected. “That’s when I started taking it more seriously. I was seeing all these coaches watching us and guys I was playing with started committing to colleges. Freshman year I had my first call with Xavier. That’s when I started thinking this is real and I can do this.”

The 10th-rated uncommitted junior in Ohio pointed to PPA as playing a big role in getting to this point.

“They’ve been training me on and off the field,” Pece said. “They’re making me a better person off the field and a better player on the field.
Pece, who had a 3.4 GPA this past semester at Walsh Jesuit and plans to major in business finance, looks forward to the immediate future with hopes his recruiting process takes off.

“This year with the showcase coming up and then the high school season, I’ll be throwing a lot more and coaches will be able to see me playing,” Pece related. “Last year I only threw 15 innings as a sophomore, but this year I’m hoping to be in the number three spot in the rotation. That’s what I’m working toward.”