Uncommitted Junior, Brandt Is 'A Must-See Arm'

WAPAKONETA - “A must-see arm this spring.”

That is the view of Jordan Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting when talking about Wapakoneta junior pitcher Landon Brandt.

“He had one of the more electric Scout Day bullpens we saw this winter,” Chiero said of the 6-0 205-pound right-handed hurler. “Not only did the velocity tick up to 91, but maybe more impressively was the advancement of the secondary. The changeup was well above average when in the zone and both breaking balls showed present swing/miss. All three pitches showed substantial upgrades since we last saw him.”

The uncommitted 17-year-old has certainly made strides over the past year.

“I had a bad spring season last year, I needed to prepare better,” the Wapakoneta High School junior admitted. “In the summer I was better prepared and pitched well. I did okay at the Top Prospect Games and talked with Wright State and Eastern Michigan after that but I didn’t get many more looks the rest of the summer.”

Brandt has since switched summer teams to Bo Jackson Elite while also training in the winter with Brian Garman.

“I really got after it and owe a lot of my recent success to him,” related Brandt, whose first college contact was with Bowling Green in early 2021 following the PBR Southern Ohio Preseason All-State.

“I was up to 87-88 and I talked with BG that night,” Brandt said. “That got me excited about my future and I knew then I wanted to do baseball.”

Recent camps at Ohio State, Cincinnati, Wright State and Indiana have added to the excitement.

“All four said they need to see me more,” Brandt noted. “I’ve been talking with Cincinnati and Wright State since and also with Northern Kentucky, Miami, Eastern Michigan and BG. They all want to see me pitch in-game.”

But what Brandt has shown to this point has resulted in a lot of interest, including one D-I offer in December that “didn’t seem to be the right fit for me,” according to the hard-throwing righty.

“Most of those that I’ve talked to say I have a repeatable delivery,” Brandt explained. “I understand how my body moves and I can make adjustments.

“My offspeed skyrocketed this winter,” Brandt added. “A lot of them like my slider and change, they move in opposite ways. They also said I have a fast arm. The biggest thing I need to work on is timing up my upper half with my lower half.”

Hitting 90 for the first time was a memorable experience.

“I thought I was at 90 but wasn’t sure,” Brandt reflected. “I told my dad to go back and see where I’m at and my first throw was 91. So I hit 91 before 90. Then I was 89 and then 90. It’s funny, I was always 89, 89, 89 on the Wapakoneta scoreboard.”

Brandt pointed to hard work as beneficial in helping make it happen.

“The biggest improvement was physically I gained 26 pounds,” Brandt said. “I put on a lot of muscle mass.”

The ability to understand instructions is a plus in the eyes of Brandt.

“I like to get told how to do it and why to do it,” Brandt explained. “I think that will help when I go professional, learning how and why to do stuff. I’ve started a journal which has helped me understand myself more.”

It was the summer of 2019 when Brandt decided college baseball was in his future.

“Ohio State played Vanderbilt in the regionals and we know Seth Lonsway and went to Vandy to see him pitch,” Brandt noted. “It was amazing, kind of a culture shock. That game inspired me and from that moment on I’ve tried to shoot for the top.”

His father Jason, who also happens to be his high school coach, has been instrumental along the way.

“As a kid my dad being a coach was a big deal,” Brandt said. “I remember in 2012 when they went to state I cried the whole way home after they loss. They went again in 2018 and that made me want to help bring home a state championship. It has really driven me.

“He got me involved with baseball at four-years-old and then once I went to the game at Vanderbilt that just kicked things up a notch to be the best I can be.”

Kinesiology or exercise science are probable college majors for Brandt, a 4.0 student who feels he has had a rocky recruiting process.

“I wish it had gone better but I understand,” Brandt said. “I struggled last spring but this year I want to prove I'm not just a guy who shows up at showcases when coaches come to see. I’ve changed. I’ve figured it out and I’m working more to help give me a better chance.

“PBR definitely has been a help,” Brandt added. “I’ve been to three events. The first one was the Preseason Southern Ohio as a sophomore which gave me a lot of confidence and a lot of college looks. After I was invited to the Top Prospect Games that got my name out there even more. Then Bo Jackson helped get me ready for school ball this year and summer. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

Bigger goals loom for Brandt, who hopes to make a commitment in the near future.

“I’m hoping we can get to state and win it,” Brandt said. “I want to hit 95 by the end of the school season, if not, then by the end of summer. I hit 85 as a freshman and 90 as a sophomore. My goals are 95 as a junior and 100 as a senior. I also want to throw all four pitches in any count. I’m just trying to hone in my craft and make it the best it can be.”