Joseph Conrad (right) is a versatile 5-foot-11, 175-pound OF/RHP/MIF from St. Joseph Central HS. He has impressed scouts at the Top Prospect Invite Showcase and Unsigned Senior events with fundamental play in the field, a strong swing, and consistency off the mound.

PBR: You put up some impressive numbers and opened a lot of eyes last season as a junior, have you received interest from colleges, and what colleges are you interested in?

Conrad: I had accepted an invitation to visit a very good Division ll campus and have had discussions with some very good Junior Colleges in the areas, but I just have not found the right fit yet.  I want to go to a school where the coaches are going to push me to get better everyday.  I still have aspirations to play at the division one level, and I understand that I may have to go the junior college route to achieve that dream.  That being said I am not against going to division two school or NAIA as long as it is a good match academically, and athletically for me.    

PBR: What are you doing now in preparation for the high school season?

Conrad: I’m working as hard as I can to prepare for my senior year.  I have been spending a lot of time in the cage to get my mechanics all in sync.  I’m also doing as much long toss as I can to increase my arm strength.  I try and throw two pens a week as well.  I have also focused on getting faster, and putting on some muscle mass this fall and winter.

PBR: You participated in some higher profile showcases and tournaments over the summer, what did you take away from those experiences?

Conrad: Being able to participate in high profile showcases and tournaments really taught me how to compete at a high level.  I had the opportunity to play against great competition, and I really enjoyed that.  Mostly it taught me how to take everything one pitch at a time, and play within myself.

PBR: You have played with and against some top talent in the Midwest, how do you feel that has prepared you going into your senior year?

Conrad: Playing against such great competition has helped me learn how to compete at a very high level.  The better the competition the faster the pace of the game, and playing against great talent helped me become accustom with that pace.  This has helped me become an even better player.  

PBR: Do you feel playing in Missouri prepares a player to be ready for college?

Conrad: Missouri has this reputation of being a cold weather state putting their players at a disadvantage, but I disagree with that.  In Missouri we are able to play most of the year, and I think the winter is a great time to straighten out mechanics.  Sometimes being able to take a few months off to refocus, and get back to mechanics can be a blessing.  Missouri has developed some great players in the past, and the 2012 class has some outstanding players in it. 

PBR: When you’re not competing in the spring, are there certain things you do to stay in the best physical shape you can?

Conrad: This fall I made the difficult decision to focus on baseball after being an All-Conference safety my junior year.  Not playing football allowed me to get in terrific shape, and put on a little weight.  Also I was able to get my 60-yard dash down to 7.0 at a few camps, and I was pleased with that.  Basketball, this winter, has helped me keep my agility, and of course I’m still lifting.  I always find time to get into the cage, throw bullpens, and play long toss as well.

PBR: As you go into your senior season, are there goals you have set out to accomplish?

Conrad: I think I have a really good chance to hit .500 this year, so that’s a big goal for me.  From a pitching standpoint I really want to get ahead of hitters with first pitch strikes.  Lastly I would like to be more aggressive on the base paths.  I would like to get a few more hustle doubles and steal fifteen bases.   

PBR: Looking back, who did you play for this summer and how did you feel you fared against summer competition?

Conrad: I played for the Andrew County Kings this summer, and it was a great experience.  We were able to play in a few wood bat tournaments, and I had a lot of success swinging a wood.  We played some great competition, and I always took this as a personal challenge to increase my level of play.  Due to that I had a lot of success this summer.