Mintz enjoying the recruiting process

Tyler Mintz OF / RHP / Kenston, OH / 2020

KENSTON - “A once in a lifetime feeling.”

That is how Tyler Mintz describes his first encounters talking with college coaches on the recruiting trail.

“They started talking to me last winter,” the Kenston junior noted. “It was a weird feeling knowing they were getting so close to you. But it was a good feeling.”

The second-rated unsigned 2020 outfielder in Ohio has had visits to Dayton and Wright State, with MAC schools Ball State, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan all sending invites to camps. Dayton saw the 5-10 175-pounder at a PBR showcase his freshman year and Wright State at the Future Games at Grand Park and Top Prospect Games at Wright State in August.

“They like the way I play, how I’m able to play smooth and not panic,” Mintz related about those he’s talked with in his recruitment.

The right-handed hitting outfielder has a good idea what he is looking for in a college.

“I want to go where they’ll develop you as a player,” Mintz explained. “I want someone that cares about me as a player and person, not just as a number or statistic.”

The 46th-ranked 2020 player in the state has made improvement of late.

“I made a huge jump in the last year to this year as far as hitting for power and driving the ball to the gaps,” Mintz noted. “I’m getting stronger overall and it’s helped my arm strength.”

The number 10-rated junior outfielder in Ohio knows where more improvement can come.

“I need to adjust to pitchers earlier in the at-bat and not wait until my second or third AB,” Mintz pointed out. “I also need to get better at timing their breaking ball. I usually take awhile to adjust. That makes me struggle at showcases.”

Getting in front of so many scouts at the Future Games was a blessing for Mintz.