FRANKENMUTH - A year ago, Drew Titsworth had the chance to pitch for the Michigan Expos in the championship game of a tournament at the University of Michigan. It turns out that will not be the last time the Frankenmuth sophomore plays at Ray Fisher Stadium.

“Michigan has always been my number one dream school,” explained Titsworth, who has made a commitment to play for the Maize-and-Blue. “If given the opportunity I wanted to commit myself there. When they gave me a chance, I couldn’t refuse it.”

Interest from the Big 10 power began last August.

“I was down in Florida for a tournament and hit 86 on the gun,” noted the fifth-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in Michigan. “That got their attention and I’ve been talking to them ever since. I’ve been talking to coach (Chris) Fetter almost weekly and they’ve been watching my live streams.”

Titsworth, who had the top pitching velo at the PBR Little Caesar’s Scout Day event on Feb. 9, also went to a camp at UM in February.

“They have a really nice indoor facility,” reflected Titsworth. “They took everyone on a tour of campus but I had to leave before that for a basketball tournament.” 

Michigan saw enough of the 17th-ranked 2023 in the state to eventually give an offer a few months later.

“They like how I play,” Titsworth said. “They like my parents and my family and how I carry myself off the field.”

On the field the 6-3 190-pounder has made a lot of strides.

“I’ve been pitching since I was eight-years-old,” Titsworth noted. “I’ve been going through pitching coach Mark Krzysiak and he’s been huge. He’s gotten me where I am today.

“I started working with him when I was joining the Saginaw RiverDawgs at age 10. The big thing for me was getting my core involved and staying back. When I do that I get a couple more miles per hour.”

Adding size is another focus area.

“Since last year I’ve been lifting and gaining as much weight as possible,” Titsworth pointed out.

The hope is additional size helps bring more improvement down the road for the recently-turned 15-year-old.

“I’d love to be able to throw 95 by the time I go to Michigan,” Titsworth said. “I also want to develop very good mechanics and be able to spot the ball where hitters can’t hit it and fool them with my offspeed.”

The mental part of pitching is a big piece of the puzzle in becoming the best he can be.

“You have to stay positive,” Titsworth related. “Don’t get down about what already happened. You can’t control what already happened, so focus on the next pitch.”

The sixth player in the state’s 2023 class to make a college commitment has wanted to play at the next level for nearly a decade.

“I’ve been in love with the sport of baseball since I was six-year-old,” Titsworth noted. “Once I got to 12 I realized I have talent and a really good work ethic. I realized if I keep grinding and working hard I’ll be able to go to college and play college baseball.”

The Frankenmuth incoming sophomore looks forward to being a major contributor for the Wolverines.

“I think I will bring someone that wins,” Titsworth said about what he believes he will provide Michigan. “I also can make my peers around me work harder because of my worth ethic.”

That trait came from his parents, who Titsworth points to as his biggest influences.

“They’ve always been there to help me,” Titsworth said of his father Robert and mother Shelley. “They’ve driven me to practice and paid for lessons. They’ve pushed me and told me that I can have big things ahead of me and be able to play D-I baseball.”

A commitment to Michigan is proof.

“It’s an honor, but I want to stay humble and not let it get to my head,” explained Titsworth, who carries a 3.7 GPA. “I want to stay humble and be who I am.”

The drive to continue to get better remains, even with a commitment already made.

“As I get bigger, stronger and faster, all that will help me,” Titsworth concluded. “Good offspeed and location are the biggest things to work on.”