PARMA - Ben Rabatin has been working on pitching since the time he started playing catch with his father. The development has been staggering, with a fastball now clocked at 93 and a mdi-70s curveball to go along with a slider and change that can each reach 81.

While the recruiting process has been a challenge, the 117th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in the country is happy with a decision that has the incoming Normandy junior committed to Kent State, about an hour from his Parma home.

“Kent State started talking to me at the end of spring/beginning of summer,” Rabatin related. “Right away I could tell they were dedicated to me and wanted me to be a Golden Flash.”

A trip to the Kent campus with his dad, Todd, helped in making the final decision.

“I saw facilities and I looked up some people and asked those going there that I know about it,” explained Rabatin, who also had strong interest from Ohio State and Miami of Ohio. “It’s closer to home and I’m kind of a homebody. I wasn’t going to try and go far away. I saw the facilities and the campus and it was all great.

“With the coaching staff I’m going to have one of the top pitching coaches in the nation,” added Rabatin about what stood out with the baseball program. “They have a very, very good understanding of what is going on now and what the next step is going to be in terms of being a better athlete, a better player and most of all a better pitcher.”

Kent State sees a lot to like in the 5-11 180-pounder ranked fourth in Ohio among 2023 right-handed hurlers.

“They like that I have multiple pitches and that I’m confident with them all,” Rabatin noted. “They like how I can pair my offspeed with my fastball.”

Work at becoming the pitcher he is today, featuring a four-pitch mix, began early.

“Since I was little I played around with pitches playing catch with my dad,” Rabatin reflected. “I gripped the ball differently to see what was comfortable. Last year I became comfortable with all of my pitches. With repetition I got more feel with how pitches move and when they move.”

There is also more velocity, which increased 10 miles an hour from February of 2020 to February of 2021 at two PBR Release Scout Days.

“I can’t credit one person or one thing, a lot went into it,” Rabatin explained more velo on the fastball. “Lifting in the weight room, growing and working with Mike Grady and understanding everything all helped. That made my change and slider sharper.”

Engineering is the planned major for Rabatin, a 4.0 student excited about the prospects of making Kent State home.

“I think it’s going to be great to be part of that winning culture they’ve shown the past 25 years,” the 12th-rated junior in Ohio said about Kent State. “They’ve won the MAC 17 of the past 22 years. I love winning and everything they have to offer. That winning culture was hard to pass up.”

Still, making a college decision is rarely easy.

“All of the colleges I talked to helped in their own way and made it a hard decision for me,” Rabatin admitted. “They all had great things to offer.”

In the end, Kent State won out.

“It’s all super exciting,” Rabatin noted. “Both of my parents had time at Kent State and knew that it would be a good spot for me. We’re all happy and excited to get to this point.”

Rabatin also had advice for anyone taking part in the recruiting process.

“Take your time with it,” Rabatin suggested. “There’s no need to rush. As long as you're happy with your decision and that it can get you where you want to be, that’s what matters. It’s what you’re comfortable with and who wants you more.”

Rabatin found that in Kent State.