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Q&A with Wichita State Commit Garret Kocis

August 1, 2016


By Brian Feekin
Prep Baseball Report Nebraska

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Name: Garrett Kocis
Class: 2017
Commitment: Wichita State
School: Millard West
Positions: INF 
Height/Weight: 6'4, 195 pounds
Throws/Bats: R/L










PBR COMMENTS: 6-foot-4, 195-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. 5.03 40-yard sprint. Open set-up. Short leg lift closes stance. Showed mature barrel control and approach to all fields. Above average contact. 87 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid infielder. Above avg. range to left and right. Able to show athleticism on the run. Solid feet and hands. Long 3/4 arm slot. Throws have above avg. carry with accuracy to bag. 85 mph arm strength.

PBR: Why did you choose the school you did? 
KOCIS: I chose Wichita State because Coach Butler and Coach Walker have both seen me play and they both love my swing and see me as a middle infielder/3B. They have helped a lot players improve their game over their college careers and they both have a history of getting players to the CWS and MLB. They have shown a lot of confidence in me being able to accomplish that.  When I was on my visit I felt really comfortable with all of the coaches and I was really impressed with their facilities.  Wichita State is an up and coming program. This past year they had 5 freshman all-americans. It is also close enough to home that my family can make it to some of my games.

 
PBR:  What other schools were you considering?
KOCIS: I was also considering Duke, Missouri, Missouri State, Texas A&M, Pepperdine and Nebraska.
 
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
KOCIS: Coach Walker heard about me from pro-scouts who were at most of our practices and games to watch Cole Stobbe, so he went to a couple of my games this summer and liked me a lot and after Coach Butler saw me play he wanted me to go on a visit as soon as I could.
 
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? 
KOCIS: I am very relieved now that the recruiting process is over so I can just focus on having fun playing the game and not trying to impress anybody.
 
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top? 
KOCIS: What put Wichita State over every other school I visited was the fact that they are about to be very good in the next couple of years and I have the chance to contribute to that right away.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
KOCIS: My dad and Coach Frey have helped me get to where I am today.  Ever since I was 4 I would drag my dad into the backyard right when he got home from work to play catch with me or throw me bp. He has taught me so much about the game and how to continue to improve.  Coach Frey has only been my coach for a year now but he has put so much time and effort into the Millard West program and it shows by how well our team has been playing.  He is somebody who is willing to put in time outside of practices if a player asks him to and he loves to compete. 
 
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
KOCIS: I was planning on committing right before my junior season, but I never anticipated how long it would take to find the right fit for me.
 
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season? 
KOCIS: Coach Butler and Coach Walker really believe that I can play right away, however I will have to prove myself.
 
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date? 
KOCIS: My most memorable baseball moment was hitting a home-run in Cary, NC during USA baseball trials.
 
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against? 
KOCIS: The best player I have played against is Matt Waldron, he could put any of his pitches wherever he wanted and they are all nasty.

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