LIVONIA - The recruiting process has just begun for Dominic Krupinski.

“I feel I’m in the first half of my recruiting stage,” explained the Livonia Churchill junior. “I got a late start before I stopped travel hockey and started the recruiting process in baseball. Then a year after covid hit. It’s been a little tough for everyone.”

The 30th-rated 2022 in Michigan picked up valuable exposure at the Future Games in August to help the cause.

“Most of the schools I talked to - Akron, Oakland, Northwestern, Eastern Michigan - saw me at the Future Games,” Krupinski related. “Michigan also reached out after the Future Games.”

Ironically, interest came after a substandard outing according to Krupinski.

“In my opinion my Future Games performance was not the best,” the 5-10 164-pounder said. “But it was a good experience.”

Michigan Director of Scouting, Aaron Wilson, sees a lot of upside in the fourth-ranked junior catcher in the state.

“Dominic is a left-handed hitter that fits in the top of the batting order,” Wilson explained. “He has a line-drive approach working the middle of the diamond. A catcher by trade with middle infield instincts, he shows a unique skill set and versatility on the diamond. He can play up the middle as well as behind the dish at the next level.”

Krupinski is open to playing anywhere as long as it gets him on the field.

“Most schools are looking at me as a catcher but middle infield is also an option,” Krupinski said. “I’m also starting to work on being two-way. I’ve been pitching under the radar the past one-and-a-half years to see where it takes me.

“This past season I pitched three or four times closing out games,” Krupinski continued. “I’d be more of a closer-type pitcher if I do that. I was up to 83-84 in the last year and this offseason I’m hitting 87.5. But there’s a lot more than velocity with pitching. A lot of it is control and IQ more than just throwing it hard.”

Krupinski is making strides in other areas of the game as well.

“I’ve really increased my speed a ton,” Krupinski noted. “My power has also gotten up there. All my tools are starting to come together at once.”

It could not happen at a better time in the eyes of the seventh-rated uncommitted 2022 in Michigan.

“This is one of my biggest offseason’s ever and I’m not halfway through it,” Krupinski pointed out. 

The desire to excel is a big part of Krupinski as a player.

“When I first started playing travel ball I wanted to be the best,” Krupinski reflected. “I have the mentality that I don’t NOT like being the best on the field.”

The 16-year-old credits his father, Dave, as being his biggest influence.

“He had offers to play Division I baseball but decided to be a cop,” Krupinski said. “He knows a lot about it. He’s coached me his whole life and is a big part of where I am today. From a mental standpoint he’s helped the most. He told me you’re not going to be perfect, pros make mistakes. Just learn from your mistakes and become a better baseball player.”

Where it takes Krupinski is to be determined.

“High school and summer will be the biggest of my career,” Krupinski said. “I’ll be going to some big tournaments, the PBR 17 National Championship and WWBA, and schools all over will be at them. I hope to get some looks and make a decision by the end of summer or beginning of senior year.”

A 3.6 student planning on a major in business/entrepreneurship, Krupinski has a blueprint of what he is looking for in a school.

“It really comes down to the best fit,” Krupinski  noted. “I don’t want to go to a huge school and not play for two or three years. I want to go to a school where I get playing time my freshman year or sophomore year at the latest. I want a place where I’m not behind one of the best players in the country.

“Going down south would benefit me because I could play year ’round, but being close to family would also be a good thing. I really don’t have my heart set on one thing. I’m open to every single option right now.”