Q&A with Notre Dame commit Keenan Mork
November 18, 2022
Last summer, our staff came away impressed with RHP Keenan Mork (River Falls, 2023) after turning in a solid five-inning start, while sitting in the low 80’s. Following this, we heard a ton of reports of the strides Mork had made on the mound and throughout the offseason he garnered more and more intrigue from our staff. It seemed that these “strides” that he made in the offseason were no joke as he may have put together one of the most dominant spring seasons on the mound that we have seen in recent years. For River Falls, he finished the season with 85 strikeouts across his 46.1 innings pitched and an ERA of just 1.36, all while competing in arguably the states most talented conference, the Big Rivers. After earning PBR Wisconsin All-State: First Team honors after his dominant WIAA season, Mork continued this trend across the entire summer circuit highlighted by earning an invite to the PBR ProCase - Midwest where he sat 89-90 mph in his simulated inning and mixed in a steady dose of sharp, short breaking sliders.
After this breakout year for Mork he was previously one of the top uncommitted prospects not only in the state, but in the Midwest and in September he announced his commitment to the University of Notre Dame. We got the chance to talk with Mork about his recruitment process, along with many other baseball related topics.
LATEST SCOUTING REPORT
OUR Q&A
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at? What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Mork: I didn’t know what to expect going into the recruiting process. I was looking for a great program that will help me go to the next level! I looked for a program that fit me the best and a coaching staff that could bring me to the next level.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
M: No it did not. Notre Dame is a once in a lifetime school so being close to home didn’t matter much for me.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
M: This summer after I pitched against the South Charlotte Panthers. I was able to pitch a great game on a big stage and Notre Dame was able to see me pitch many great games many consecutive times. Which is what brought them to recruit me.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
M: First and foremost I picked the University of Notre Dame due to the relationship built with the pitching coach and the staff. The amazing facilities and the amazing history of the program. Also the strong academic side of Notre dame is very important to me and my family.
P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
M: Wichita state, Toledo and San Fransico.
P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?
M: The best hitter I have faced in Wisconsin would be Thomas Curry. This was at the ProCase down in Chicago. He battled off many great pitches and managed to get a hard ground ball. He had this approach to him like no one I have seen and was very confident and put up a great fight.
P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?
M: Most of my life I was very lazy and didn’t like working hard. But around start of junior year I started hitting the weight room daily and throwing daily. I really built off this and saw big jumps in my numbers.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
M: Find a club team that will work with you and bring you to the next level. This also comes with a lot of hard work yourself and hitting the weight room daily and hitting/throwing on a daily basis. You have to want it very badly.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
M: Pitching in Atlanta this summer. I pitched against the current #2 team in the nation, the South Charlotte Panthers and held a one hitter through five innings, all while battling the 100 degree heat and had a blast with my boys on the top stage in the United States!
P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?
M: We are a very talented, hardworking team that has a very high possibility of winning it all. We have a lot of upperclassmen that are going to be great leaders for us. We will also have some help from some talented underclass men that will bring a lot of energy and some fire power!
P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?
M: I don’t think I would take any tools from anyone. I still believe I have a big upside and believe I have a lot more development coming soon.
P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?
M: If I had to choose a couple talented guys. I would choose LHP Caden Nelson from East Ridge Minnesota who is currently a 2025 from Great Lakes Baseball Academy. Caden is a hard throwing lefty with a big frame. Another one would be RHP/OF Auden Pankonin from River Falls, WI. Auden sits 82-85 mph T87 and is a 2025 with a lot of room to grow with a great mentality! These boys are the future of both my high school and club programs.
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Scouting Report
We had heard positive reports on Mork coming out of western Wisconsin after he dominated for River Falls this spring in one of the Badger State’s top conferences. All of that proved true when the 6-foot-2, 190-pound uncommitted incoming senior came out hot in his start, pounding the zone with an 89-92 mph fastball. Mork’s arm speed and conviction allow him to rip off a swing-and-miss slider at 77-79 mph, equating to a loud two-pitch mix conducive to missing bats at the next level. An arrow-up prospect, Mork’s talents on the hill likely take him off the market sooner rather than later.