TALLMADGE - Ohio State found a great deal to like about Michael Ciavolella

“They like my size and that I have good speed for my size,” said the 6-3 195-pounder, who has his time in the 60 now at 6.8 while making strides both at the plate and in the field. “When I get to Ohio State they see me as a power hitter in the 3-4-5 hole in the lineup.”

That will be in two years after the Hoban junior finishes his final two years of high school. But the third-rated 2024 outfielder in the state is confident about making the right college choice after a recent commitment to the Big 10 school located two hours from home.

“The first time he saw me was at the Future Games,” Ciavolella said in reference to OSU assistant coach Andrew See. “After the Future Games I was talking to them almost every day. Coach Mo (head coach Bill Mosiello) wanted to get me on a visit.”

That took place the weekend of the OSU football game with Toledo.

“A week before the visit they offered,” Ciavolella reflected. “At the time I was talking to OU and I was to have a visit there. I went, but it wasn’t the best fit for me.”

That was not the case with Ohio State.

“The visit to Ohio State was after a camp,” Ciavolella explained. “I met all the coaches and fell in love with the new staff. I talked it over with my parents and we felt Ohio State was best for me. I loved the OU coaches but Ohio State was a better fit with the training room and the school staff with counselors, that was big for me.”

Wright State, Toledo, Indiana State, VMI and Kent State were among the others showing interest in the 30th-ranked junior in Ohio, who only recently began thinking about playing at the next level.

“My freshman year when we won state I realized this was something I can do for a long, long time in the future,” Ciavolella noted.

The recruiting process had ups and downs from that point in time.

“It was very stressful with all the dead periods,” Ciavolella said. “I think what ended up being the best thing for me was when I took BP at the Top Prospect Games. That was the best in my life. Mike Eversole, who worked with PBR and is now coaching at Lake Erie, helped me out a lot and so did Jordan (Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting). I had a lot of good exposure with PBR posting on my profile, twitter and instagram.”

The idea of playing college ball was emphasized by Eversole.

“I started hitting with him in eighth grade the winter before Covid,” Ciavolella explained. “He said if we get your swing where it needs to be you’ll be doing big things.”

Andrew Bonnette, his head coach freshman and sophomore years of high school, along with his parents are also credited by Ciavolella with making an impact in getting where he is in the game today.

“My parents took me where I needed to go and coach Bonnette gave me a chance on varsity,” Ciavolella related. “All of my coaches prior to committing helped me in building the right mindset and in getting better at the game.”

When a commitment was made, emotions ran high according to the 16-year-old, who is projected to be a corner outfielder at the next level.

“The person who got the most emotional was my dad,” Ciavolella said. “He didn’t get the opportunity to play college baseball like he wanted. He’s the one that taught the game to me. He was my coach for a couple of years and talked to me about what I want to do for my future.”

Sport management is the planned major for the 4.0 student, who is excited to have the opportunity to make an impact with the Buckeyes.

“I’m ready for the brotherhood there and building relationships from day one,” Ciavolella said. “I can’t wait to talk to the coaches more and I look forward to being a good teammate.

“The main thing for me will be getting in the weight room more. The strength coach there is amazing. It’s about getting better, getting stronger and seeing where the future takes me from there.”