Prospects Of Pitching In Maine Excites Poole

Michael Poole RHP / 1B / Westerly, RI / 2025

WESTERLY, R.I. - The thought of playing baseball in the state of Maine is not for everyone. But Michael Poole sees it differently.

“I like how Maine is isolated,” the Westerly High School junior explained. “That would help me develop as a player since all I will do is baseball and school.”

A visit to the University of Maine sealed the deal for the top-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in Rhode Island.

“I love the coaches,” Poole said. “Their main intent is to develop players and most of all win and that’s what I’m looking for.”

The 27th-ranked junior in New England connected with Maine through Scorpions’ travel team coach Cody Ortega.

“I got on the phone with (associate head) coach (Scott) Heath about what they were looking for,” Poole related. “They saw me in high school and we stayed in touch until the new rules. When I could start talking to them again they offered.”

That took place around mid-August.

“I went on a visit in the middle of September,” Poole reflected. “I liked the environment and how everything is enclosed.”

The coaches at Maine found the 6-4 200-pounder a nice fit to the program.

“What they said was they liked how I had a projectable body and could help them win in the future,” Poole noted.

Playing baseball beyond high school became a goal for Poole in eighth grade.

“That’s when I started to take baseball seriously and when I thought I had a shot to play college baseball,” Poole explained. “I knew I wanted to play, but after freshman year it got in my mind that I wanted to play Division I baseball and after that things took off.

“I went to my first PBR showcase freshman year,” added Poole. “Definitely going to the two Future Games helped get my attention. A lot of coaches that reached out said they saw me there. Once Aug. 1 came around it was hectic thinking about where I wanted to go. I focused on a couple and that’s when I went up to Maine.”

Bryant was also a strong consideration for the 13th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in New England, who has made big strides in his game.

“Gaining weight, gaining size and a lot of throwing,” Poole said of what has helped him improve. “My pitches developed a lot this past season. I added a splitter which helped a lot at the Futures.”

The 17-year-old, who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball and slider in addition to a splitter, believes he can be a strong asset to the American East Conference program.

“I just want to bring a work ethic and an intent to win,” the second-ranked junior in Rhode Island said. “I want to try and develop into a draft pick one day and help them win a national championship.”

Poole, who pointed to his parents, Hops where he trains, and “all my teammates that supported me and helped me get better” as influential in getting where he is in the game today, was thrilled to make a commitment.

“My parents were definitely excited with the decision I made,” noted Poole, who carries a 3.6 GPA in high school and plans to major in business in college. “They told me after the fact that’s where they wanted me to go. When it was over it hit me that this is a dream come true.”

Poole sees more good times ahead at Maine, which is located 51/2 hours from home.

“I’m looking to have fun,” Poole concluded. “Playing baseball is all there is to do, have fun and win. Along the way I hope to develop life skills through it.”