RHP Michael Hunter Commits to the University of Pittsburgh
January 25, 2013
By Greg Williams
PA Directory of Scouting
Michael Hunter is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound RHP from Brandywine Heights HS who had a very impressive sophomore season in 2012. He went 7-2 with a 1.41 ERA and registered an eye popping 102 strikeouts in 64.1 innings of work. Hunter works out of a 3/4 delivery but has a very deceptive throwing motion and his fastball has quite a bit of arm side run. Add in his long, loose 6-foot-5 frame and it is easy to see why batters struggled to find any success against him, hitting a meager .187 a year ago.
Hunter has announced his commitment to play baseball at the University of Pittsburgh. Prep Baseball Report discussed his college choice and the recruiting process with the No. 23 ranked player in the PA Class of 2014.
PBR: Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?
Hunter: I have decided to attend college at the University of Pittsburgh. I really enjoyed the campus and the environment surrounding it. The coaching staff was really inviting and I believe in their philosophies on the game and how to operate. Another large deciding factor was the fact that the University of Pittsburgh is moving into the ACC in July of 2013.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Hunter: Along with the University of Pittsburgh I was also interested in both Penn State and Maryland.
PBR: Was distance from home a factor in your decision?
Hunter: No, not really, but it is a benefit that it is a bit closer to home so that my parents will be able to attend games and I do have family in the area if needed.
PBR: Where did the coaches first see you? How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?
Hunter: Coach Oakes, the pitching coach at Pitt, first saw me in a tournament at Coastal Carolina pitching for the Mid-Atlantic Evoshield Canes. However, I did not contact him until a few months later. After going on a visit to the University and meeting with the coaches I instantly fell in love with the school and knew that’s where I wanted to go.
PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Hunter: I’m expected to make key appearances for the pitching staff and the team as any incoming freshman should be and of course I need to prepare in such a way as to be able to compete against the greatest players in the country.
PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?
Hunter: I feel my biggest strength, composure and the confidence I have going onto the mound, not necessarily my skill set. If you have confidence and composure no matter what the situation is the rest of the team will feed off of that and perform at a higher level.
PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?
Hunter: I play for the Mid-Atlantic Evoshield Canes in the summer, now known as Chandler Baseball. The most memorable moment this past summer playing for the Canes was probably being a part of a combined no hitter where I threw four and a third innings in the PA State Travel Ball Championships.
PBR: What is your current GPA?
Hunter: As of this last quarter I am posting a 4.0 GPA.
PBR: Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your junior season?
Hunter: Personally I’m just going to keep working extremely hard to achieve the ultimate goal which is playing professional baseball. As a team the goal is always the same and that is getting a state championship. Last year we came so close to achieving that goal, losing in the state semi-finals. And although we have lost some great players I still feel that we are strong enough to get back to the semi-finals and hopefully surpass that and get a championship.
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