Qualls Excited About Opportunity At Kent State
March 14, 2021
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Qualls Excited About Opportunity At Kent State
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Josh Qualls
Class of 2021 / SS
Rankings
StateRank: 66 / POS: 15
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2021
-
Primary Position: SSSecondary Position: 2B
-
High School: Amherst SteeleState: OH
- Summer Team: Force Ohio
-
Height: 5-9Weight: 160lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Pitching
82
Max FB
(09/24/19)
79 - 82
FB
(09/24/19)
68 - 71
CB
(07/18/19)
Position
7.10
60-yard
(07/21/20)
87
INF Velo
(07/21/20)
95
Exit Velo
(02/06/21)
4.65
H-1st
(06/19/18)
![Trackman](/images/stat_logos/trackman.png)
Trackman - Hitting
92.3
Exit Velocity (max)
(02/06/21)
87.8
Exit Velocity (avg)
(07/21/20)
177
Distance (avg)
(02/06/21)
323
Distance (max)
(02/06/21)
Hard Hit %
(07/21/20)
Sweet Spot %
(02/06/21)
Line Drive %
(07/21/20)
Fly Ball %
(02/06/21)
Ground Ball %
(07/21/20)
Scout Day: Force Ohio 2.6.21
Feb 6, 2021
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
92.3
Exit Velocity (avg)
85.8
Distance (avg)
177
Distance (max)
323
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 21, 2020
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
92.1
Exit Velocity (avg)
87.8
Distance (avg)
153
Distance (max)
293
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
![Blast](/images/stat_logos/blast.png)
Blast - Hitting
20.7
Hand Speed (max)
(07/21/20)
19.5
Hand Speed (avg)
(07/21/20)
71.0
Bat Speed (max)
(07/21/20)
68.6
Bat Speed (avg)
(07/21/20)
Rot. Acc (max)
(07/21/20)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(07/21/20)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(07/21/20)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
(07/21/20)
2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 21, 2020
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
20.7
Hand Speed (avg)
19.5
Bat Speed (max)
71
Bat Speed (avg)
68.6
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
Videos
(2/6/21)
(7/21/20)
Player News
- 2021 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Quick Hits - Feb 12, 2021
- Results From 2021 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Feb 8, 2021
- 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Advanced Metrics w/Trackman and Blast Tech - Jul 27, 2020
- 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Quick Hits - Jul 27, 2020
- Results From 2020 Northern Ohio Top Prospect Games - Jul 23, 2020
- Qualls Shows 'Advanced Defensive Abilities' - May 22, 2020
- 2020 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Complete Evaluations - Mar 17, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass - Blast Metrics - Mar 16, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass- Complete Evaluations - Mar 8, 2020
- 2020 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Quick Hits - Feb 21, 2020
- 2020 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Advanced Hitting/Pitching Metrics - Feb 19, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass- Quick Hits - Feb 16, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass Wrapup - A Great Event To 'See Where You Stack Up' - Feb 14, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass - Advanced Hitting/Pitching Metrics - Feb 13, 2020
- Results from 2020 Preseason All-State Upperclass - Feb 10, 2020
- 2019 Central Ohio Fall Limited Series - Pitching Velocities - Sep 17, 2019
- 2019 Top Prospect Games - Class of 2021 and 2022: Complete Evaluations - Aug 18, 2019
- 2019 Central Ohio Limited Series 16U/17U - Pitching Velocities - Jul 26, 2019
- Results from 2019 Top Prospect Games - Class of 2021 and 2022 - Jul 17, 2019
- 2019 Ohio Top Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Jun 27, 2019
- Results from 2019 Top Prospect Games - Jun 6, 2019
- Amherst Steele Comets - Mar 9, 2019
- Scouting Notes: Top Uncommitted Prospects from the PBR Team Showcase at Baldwin Wallace/Oberlin/Walsh - Aug 29, 2018
- 2018 Northern Ohio Prospect Games: Complete Evaluations - Jul 21, 2018
- 2018 Northern Ohio Prospect Games - Sneak Peek - Jun 26, 2018
- 2018 Northern Ohio Prospect Games - Top Performers - Jun 26, 2018
- Results from Ohio's 2018 Northern Ohio Prospect Games - Jun 22, 2018
- 2018 Scout Day: Force Ohio - Sneak Peek - Feb 8, 2018
- The Ohio Future 50 - Class of 2021 & 2022: Complete Evaluations - Jul 30, 2017
- Ohio Insider: 2017 Future 50 Showcase - Sneak Peek - Jul 4, 2017
Qualls Excited About Opportunity At Kent State
“I wouldn’t say nervous, but I was a little anxious to see when it would come and coaches would start talking,” the Amherst Steele 2021 said. “I felt wherever I’d go it had to be the right fit, but knew something positive would come my way. I just tried to stay positive.”
Eventually, it all worked out for the 15th-rated senior shortstop in Ohio with a commitment to Kent State.
“I first got in touch with Kent my sophomore year when I went to a camp there and played well,” Qualls reflected. “They liked my abilities and wanted to see how I progressed from there.”
But the opportunity to be seen in person did not happen in 2020, so the focus turned to improvement.
“Everything completely stopped with covid,” Qualls said of his recruitment. “It was really hard to work out more, but I just found a way. I practiced whenever I could and worked on developing my swing and getting more physical. Without a high school season there was an opportunity to develop more physical-wise. I was able to fine tune my defense, footwork and arm strength and get stronger as well.”
Still, for a time period few noticed.
“There were no coaches watching during summer ball, but then some interest picked up in the winter,” Qualls said.
That is when all the hard work paid off and a connection with Kent State returned.
“I went to a winter PBR with Force Ohio and after the showcase PBR and Jordan (Chiero, Director of Scouting in the state) reached out and my summer coach said he started seeing interest from them,” Qualls related about Kent. “We had conversations for a couple weeks. They said they like my game and that they felt I’d be a perfect fit.”
Progress had certainly been made since attending the Kent State camp as a sophomore.
“They said I’d definitely gotten more physical over the years,” Qualls noted. “They like my defensive ability and said the way I move impressed them. They feel they can develop me and make me better.”
Until the recent interest from the Mid-American Conference school, the 68th-ranked 2021 in the state was weighing other options.
“There were some JUCOs I was talking with, so I was thinking of maybe going down south,” Qualls said. “Wright State showed interest and also some Division II programs in Ohio.”
But Kent State proved to be what the 17-year-old was looking for in a school and baseball program.
“I really like the coaching staff,” Qualls pointed out. “I feel I can go there and develop my game and understand it better. It’s a good program and I’ve always wanted to go play good baseball at a Division I school.
“PBR really helped with an opportunity to reach out to them,” Qualls added. “I don’t expect I’d be going there without PBR.”
Qualls admits there was comfort when a commitment finally came.
“What a huge relief not having to worry about it during the season and worry about the numbers I’m putting up,” Qualls noted. “I can just go out and play. What a relief for my family and coaches after all the work I’ve put in.”
The 5-9 160-pounder, who carries a 2.7 GPA and plans to major in business, now turns his attention to getting better.
“I’m looking forward to making adjustments when I get there,” Qualls said. “I’m going to be working on building my body, making use of the facilities they have and being ready when the time comes.”