Q&A With Wartburg Commit: '16 Joey Baumann- Hill-Murray

November 18, 2015

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

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Name: Joey Baumann
Position: C
Class: 2016
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 165-pounds
High School: Hill-Murray
PBR Rank: #112 in MN 2016 Class

Evaluation: 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.57 runner. Front heel turn trigger. Leans back into contact. Out and around at contact to pull side. Consistent solid contact. Gets barrel to ball. 81 mph exit velocity. Receives well middle/up in zone. Needs to work underneath low pitch. Quality low set-up behind plate while maintaining laterally movement and blocks extremely well. Good feet behind plate. Uphill on release. 2.13-2.22 pop times with 71 mph arm strength.

PBR: Why did you choose Wartburg College?
BAUMANN: There were a lot of reasons. First of all Academic programs; I made sure the schools I looked at had the majors I wanted. Coaching philosophy, team success, and tradition. The fact that they had two teams helped. I’m confident that I’ll make the varsity team, but just in case I don’t, I just want to play. Their facilities are also very nice.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
BAUMANN: Hope College in Michigan and St Mary’s in Winona.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
BAUMANN: They first saw me at the MN High School Showcase. I first got a letter, then we started e-mailing and then texting. I went down for a campus visit and later for an overnight visit with the team.

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?
BAUMANN: Yes, very relieved. There are so many things going on this year so having that major decision out of the way is a huge relief.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
BAUMANN: There are many factors that affected my decision but I think the overnight visit with the team closed the deal.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
BAUMANN: My dad.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
BAUMANN: I didn’t really know what to expect but I went to a lot of showcases and the calls and e-mails just started coming in. After that it was actually easier than I thought.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season? BAUMANN: I’m not really sure yet but they only carry four to five catchers for both the varsity and junior varsity teams so I expect to get a fair amount of playing time.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
BAUMANN: Probably playing in the American Legion State Tournament. So many high school athletes never make it to a state tournament and I’ve been lucky enough to get to one in both hockey and baseball.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
BAUMANN: Cole Gnetz from Cretin-Derham Hall who is at Miami-Ohio University now.

Q&A With Wartburg Commit: '16 Joey Baumann- Hill-Murray

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