Q&A with Upper Iowa commit Chayce Osterhaus
January 31, 2023
After a couple of impressive looks during the spring and into the summer of 2021, RHP Chayce Osterhaus (Markesan, 2023; Upper Iowa commit) earned an invite to one of our most prestigious events of the year, the PBR Future Games. During his time at our LakePoint campus for the 2021 Future Games, Osterhaus ran his fastball up to 88 mph and was also able to spin in a sharp slider that consistently earned swings-and-misses, which earned him a spot inside our '23 rankings. Fast forward into the spring of 2022, Osterhaus was dominant for his Markesan squad to say the least and he was looked at all season long on both sides of the ball. On the mound, Osterhaus surpassed the triple-digit mark in strikeouts, with 102, and throughout his 52.1 IP he held his opponents to just 17 hits. On the other side of the ball he logged a batting average of .552, which was the second highest in Markesan’s program history, with 11 doubles, two triples, and four homeruns. After this absolutely dominant spring season, Osterhaus earned a spot on our PBR Wisconsin All-State: First Team list and firmly solidified himself as one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state going into the summer. Across the summer circuit, Osterhaus attracted eyes and our most recent look at him came at the 17U PBR at The Rock Summer Championships. During his start there, he impressed as he ran his fastball up to 89 mph while also spinning in a late-biting slider and showing improved feel for a fading changeup.
Up until October, Osterhaus remained an uncommitted name-to-know in the state's senior class, that was until he announced his commitment to Upper Iowa University. We recently had the chance to talk with the future Peacock to talk about his recruitment process and much more in this edition of our Q&A series.
LATEST SCOUTING REPORT
OUR Q&A
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Osterhaus: When it came to the recruiting process, I didn’t know what I was getting in to, or what to expect. When it came to picking a college that I wanted to go to, it first had to have my major (Business, entrepreneurship). Next, it had to be at a place I could see myself enjoying, and growing as a person. Lastly, I wanted to go somewhere where I could make an impact right away.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
O: When looking for a college, I was looking for a place that I could drive home and see my family if I wanted. Upper Iowa was in a great location, because it’s within an hour of a lot of extended family and friends.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
O: The recruiting process got going for me immediately after the 2021 future games, and continued all the way until I committed. I had been in touch with Upper Iowa, and had visited the campus on a few occasions before they even saw me play.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
O: The things I like most about Upper Iowa, is that it has a small town feel that I can be comfortable in and it has what I want to study. Also, the baseball program is growing, and has a bright future ahead of it and I feel like I can make an impact on the team right away. Lastly, it’s close to friends and family.
P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
O: Mankato, Lewis University, Madison Area JUCO
P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?
O: OF Jake Schaffner (Janesville Craig, 2023; North Dakota State) is the toughest person I’ve pitched against in the state. He’s a gritty player that refuses to strike out. He has a great eye that doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone, and great bat to ball skills that allow him to spoil your best pitches.
P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?
O: I always thought that I had what it took to play college baseball. I started taking my game seriously when I was about 14 and had just started to play travel ball.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
O: My advice to younger players is to worry less about the process and what the future holds. Focus more on what you can control, and enjoy the game.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
O: My most memorable moment in baseball was at sectionals my sophmore year of high school, when we went in to extra innings of both games, and ended up losing in the sectional final.
P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?
O: The Future Games affected my recruitment tremendously. After it, I talked with multiple different Division 1 programs. After the Future Games, the recruitment was steady.
P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?
O: I would steal RHP Thomas Burns’s (Hortonville, 2023; Arizona State commit) length, and presence on the mound.
Scouting Report
Lean, wiry 6-foot, 160-pound with lanky limbs that project to add strength as he gets older. Took the mound for GRB Rays - Green and showed plenty of intrigue on the hill. Fastball sat 85-87, topping at 88 mph from a loose, easy operation that suggests more velocity is on the way. Feel to land a tight, firm upper-70s slider around the zone, could also profile as a swing-and-miss pitch if thrown at the glove-side corner of the plate. Former PBR Future Games participant and also earned PBR Wisconsin First Team All-State honors.