Prep Baseball Report

Casey Schroeder Reopens Recruiting Process



By Chris Valentine

After last fall, Casey Schroeder thought his college destination was set.

Having camped at the University of Tennessee since he was seven years old, Schroeder received his dream opportunity: a scholarship to play baseball for the Volunteers.

However, Schroeder now finds himself reopening his recruiting process in the wake of the firing of head coach Todd Raleigh and the hiring of Cal-State Fullerton head coach Dave Serrano.

Standing at 6-2, 190 pounds, Schroeder, a switch-hitting catcher, is now one of the most highly sought after recruits in the Midwest.

?I have officially decommitted from the University of Tennessee,? Schroeder said. ?The Volunteers are still on my list of schools, but I am beginning to explore other options and playing it safe.?

In particular, he has been receiving heavy interest from Kentucky, University of North Carolina, Florida, Wake Forest, Virginia, Arkansas, and Cincinnati.

Most schools prefer him as a catcher, but many are also expressing interest in his ability to play third base. Given the choice, Schroeder, who has a 1.8-1.85 poptime, prefers to catch. ?I love throwing out runners,? he said.

As Schroeder reopens his recruiting process and eventually enterains the draft, he will be aided by the advice of his father Brad, who was drafted out of high school by the Atlanta Braves.

For the duration of the summer, he will be playing with Anthony Kidston (2012 Louisville Recruit) on the Napoleon Legion team out of Northwest Ohio.

He participated in the East Coast Pro Showcase, and he will be traveling to Cary, North Carolina for the Tournament of Stars and chance to make Team USA. Later this fall, he will be a member of Midwest Redbirds, a St. Louis Cardinals scout team coached by Brian Hopkins.

Schroeder hit .460 with 4 homeruns (all from the left side) this spring as a junior at Ottawa-Glandorf.