By Mike Penn
Director of Scouting

Sam Shutes (Three Rivers HS) recently committed to the University of Toledo less than a month after attending at PBR event in December. Shutes was impressive that day sitting 84-88mph with his fastball. Additionally he showed a good breaking ball, as well as a good change, that will get outs at the next level.  

For Shutes it has been a long journey back as he suffered a freak injury during the 2012 spring causing him to miss most of the spring and summer.  As a result Shutes dropped off many recruiting boards until his recent performance for PBR. 

You can read more about Shutes' story here: Unsigned Senior Spotlight

Here is what he had to say about his recruiting process, commitment and futures plans:

PBR:  Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?
Shutes: I have decided to attend the University of Toledo because the coaching staff and their philosophies mesh well with my personality and pitching style.

PBR:  What other schools were you considering?
Shutes: I was considering Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Ball State, Western Michigan, as well as Wayne State.

PBR:  Was distance from home a factor in your decision?
Shutes: Distance was a factor in narrowing down the list of schools I was interested in, and Toledo was within a very reasonable distance from home.

PBR:  Where did the coaches first see you?  How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?
Shutes: The coaches first saw me about two years ago in Cincinnati, but my contact information was out of date and there was no way for us to connect at the time. We were recently reconnected at a PBR event on December 28^th 2012 and I was lucky enough to regain contact with them. 

PBR:  What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Shutes: I was informed that I would immediately compete for game time as a freshman. Whether I remain in the bullpen or end up a starter will be based on performance.

PBR:  What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?
Shutes: I would consider my biggest strength my competitiveness. I would get after it in a game of checkers if you asked me to play. I believe competitiveness is a very contagious quality and is a vital piece to building a championship caliber team.

PBR:  Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?
Shutes: I play for the Kalamazoo Maroons 18u in the summer. My most memorable experience has to be the Wood Bat World Series in East Cobb, Georgia that we competed in and placed in the top 8 out of nearly 200 teams. The competition was unbelievable and the weather was perfect.

PBR:  Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your senior season?
Shutes: Individually I would just like to ensure that my team has the best chance possible to win every time I step on the mound, and the rest should follow. As a team, like any team, we would like to extend the season as long as we possibly can and hopefully win Conference, Districts, Regionals, Semi-Finals and State Finals.

PBR: Who is the best player you have played against in the state?
Shutes: The best player I have played against in state would have to be Zach Fish my freshman and sophomore years. You had to be so careful to execute every pitch perfectly in all counts; otherwise he was sure to make you pay. It is safe to say that he got the best of me throughout our high school encounters.