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PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?

Rudolf: I chose Concordia, St. Paul for a few reasons. What really pulled me was when I attended a practice and liked everything about the baseball program. The coaches and the team were very welcoming, everyone on the team came up and introduced themselves to me at one point or another, and they all seemed very supportive of my visit. Concordia is a top five program in one of the best conferences in the country, so they have a very strong team now and a great future. The other thing I really liked was the school itself. It’s close to home and I like that the campus itself is small, but it’s still in the middle of a big city.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Rudolf: I worked out for Mankato, St. Cloud State, Sioux Falls, and of course Concordia. I was also communicating regularly with Crookston, Luther, Gustavus and Bethany, and was starting to get some interest from a few Junior Colleges in the area.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?

Rudolf: The coaches attended a number of my High School and Legion games during my Junior year, and they also know a few of the guys at my Club program the Minnesota Starters. So by the time I had my first meeting with them, they already knew a lot about me.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?

Rudolf: I am very relieved to have finished the recruiting process. Now I can focus on helping my team make it to the State Tournament this year, and not get upset with myself every time I don’t have a great game when there is a coach in the stands. The recruiting process was a really fun and unique experience, and I met some great coaches, but it’s nice to be able to focus on one program now.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?

Rudolf: I have invested a lot of time making myself a better outfielder, hitter and pitcher over the years, and Concordia is willing to give me a chance to do both. At some point over the next few years one or the other might take over, but right now they are going to help me figure it out and give me a chance to develop in both areas.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?

Rudolf: My family has been the most influential and supportive of my baseball journey. They have always made sure I stay focused, stay positive and work hard. And they never miss my games.  I have also had a lot of great instructors and coaches over the years like Jim Brower, Aron Amundson, Joe Loftus, Ryan Schwertman, Ben Kelsey, Ryan Sheldon, Reid Mahon, Bret Mitchell, Cory Glieden, Adrian Turner and my current coach Ross Van Hauen. And of course, I need to thank the guys that work out with me during the offseason like Andrew Mahlke, Drew Bump and Nick Sandefur.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?

Rudolf: I expected it to be a lot more difficult and stressful than it was, but it was actually a fun experience and very exciting. I did a good job of staying organized. It was a lot of work especially when there were multiple colleges wanting visits in the same week, but I sat down with my parents and always figured it out.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?

Rudolf: I can’t say I know for sure. I would love to contribute as a Freshman, but I know I have to earn it and I’m ready to do that.  I know I have to continue to improve, but I’m willing to do whatever I can to get on the field as a Freshman, whether it is as a pinch runner, relief pitcher, defensive replacement, at this point I just want to help the team win.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?

Rudolf: In the past year I have had the opportunity to play at three Minor League stadiums, the Iowa Kernels field, the Sioux Falls Canaries field, and the Moondogs field in Mankato. It’s crazy to think that a few years ago I was playing on dirt infields with no dugouts or outfield fences.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?

Rudolf: When I was 13, I went to a Club tournament in Arizona and our first game was against a team they had just played Japan for the Little League World Series title. It was really cool to play a bunch of kids that I had just watched on TV and it showed me that there is definitely a next level of baseball out there, even at that age. I’m fairly certain that we lost handily, but I left knowing how much better I needed to get to compete nationally.