'Vision' At Eastern Michigan Gets Attention From Robbins

Kyle Robbins RHP / OF / Birmingham Seaholm, MI / 2024

BLOOMFIELD HILLS - Kyle Robbins was always a natural. Throwing hard came “naturally” as the Birmingham Seaholm senior called it.

High velocity brought attention.

“It all started from PBR a couple of years back when I hit 91.7,” Robbins reflected. “It was the winter of my sophomore year. I got calls from that.”

But it wasn’t always that easy.

“It had its dry spells,” Robbins explained. “It would pick up and then dry off. Sometimes I was talking to five coaches at once, but then not even one email. It was stressful for sure. I’m glad I no longer have to deal with that. It’s not the most fun thing to do.”

A commitment with Eastern Michigan has brought an end to a recruiting process that benefitted from improvement on the mound this past year.

“Last winter was my first legit winter,” related the 12th-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in the state. “I never really had physical training like last winter. I always threw hard naturally. But this winter I started to dial in my command while increasing my velo.”

That helped the 6-2 190-pounder come to a realization.

“I always played football and thought about playing college football,” Robbins admitted. “But in the last year I realized college baseball could take me further.”

A connection with Eastern Michigan made it a reality.

“I believe it all started when they saw me in the district finals, but that was before the coaching change,” the 17-year-old said. “There was no communication after that but probably three or four tournaments into summer we played at EMU and they saw me there, coach (Robbie) Britt. I guess he liked what he saw and set me up on a visit. (Pitching) Coach (Craig) Prince also saw me. They offered on the visit. One-and-a-half weeks later I accepted.”

While Robbins was talking with Air Force, Navy, Wayne State, Kalamazoo and “a little” with Michigan State, there were no other offers at that time. But it mattered little once the 41st-rated senior in Michigan took the visit to Ypsilanti.

“The coach, the facilities, the vision,” Robbins said about what stood out to him with the Mid-American Conference university. “Everything is on the uprise for Eastern Michigan.”

Robbins pointed to one aspect of his game that impressed the coaches at EMU.

“I think they like how I tunneled my pitches well,” Robbins related.

The hard-throwing right-hander, who was the second-ranked uncommitted 2024 pitcher in the state at the time of his commitment, gave credit to Kyle Fedorka with High Performance Training for playing a role in his development.

“He does a great job with Driveline and with everything you can need,” Robbins noted. “I’ve been working with him for years and I wouldn’ be the same pitcher I am today without him.”

To know where his college future lies is “pretty exciting” in the eyes of Robbins.

“I grew up in the small town I am in now,” Robbins said in reference to Clawson, a community of 12,000 people just east of Birmingham. “Hearing from all the people in town really feels good.”

A major in business management or sport management is being considered by the 3.7 student who looks forward to his days at Eastern Michigan, one hour from home.

“I think with our entire recruiting class we can bring a MAC championship with the pieces we have for a good foundation,” Robbins said. “I’m excited about it. I don’t have many ideas how it will all work out, but I’m excited for sure.”