Q&A With Minnesota Commit: '16 Gabe Knowles- New Ulm Cathedral

January 8, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

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Name: Gabe Knowles
Position: OF
Class: 2016
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds
High School: New Ulm Cathedral
PBR Rank: #23 in MN 2016 Class

PBR: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
KNOWLES: I chose the University of Minnesota because of the sense of family I got when I visited. The staff and players all welcomed me with open arms and were very friendly. I could tell that every one of them had a serious passion for the game of baseball, just as I do. The other schools I visited did not feel as welcoming and accepting as the U of M.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
KNOWLES: The other schools I considered were Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Augustana.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
KNOWLES: The coaches at the U of M first saw me the summer before my junior year in the American Legion State Tournament. About a week after, they emailed me and had me fill out a recruiting form. We occasionally had conversations over the phone and by texting. Later that fall, I had my first unofficial visit. I met with the players, coaches, and the academic advisor. During the visit, I instantly knew the U of M was my choice.

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?
KNOWLES: Being able to say I know where I am going to college as a junior in high school is very relieving. I am able to concentrate on school and baseball without worrying about where I am going to school.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
KNOWLES: My high school coach, Bob Weier, has helped me get where I am today. I played varsity baseball since I was in 8th grade, and he is the one who has helped me grow as a player and especially as a person. The main reason I was scouted by the U of M is very interesting. The head coach of our biggest rival, Springfield, is very close friends with Head Coach John Anderson. When Springfield's coach, Bob Fink, saw me play as a sophomore, he immediately contacted the Gophers coach and said "this is a kid you need to look at." I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was given by Coach Fink.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
KNOWLES: I expected the recruiting process to be a lot harder than it was. I thought that it was going to be hard to get noticed, but in the world of baseball, word gets around fast and in a short period of time any coach can know your name.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
KNOWLES: The coaches do not plan to red-shirt me. They plan to have me play either right or left field. And as many coaches say, there is always room for improvement. A focus will be to help develop my swing.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
KNOWLES: My most memorable moment in baseball was in the summer before my sophomore year in VFW. I hit a walk-off double to go to state against a very good team in the bottom of the 9th.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
KNOWLES: The best player I have competed against was this past summer. RHP Nick Hanson from Prior Lake; he topped out that game at 93 mph several times. It was a lot of fun to face someone who I will be seeing over the next few years.