WARWICK, R.I. - Colby Barker has no doubt what helped him become a Division I college commit.

“It’s all come from hard work,” the Pilgrim High School senior said about finding a future home with Merrimack. “I couldn’t have done it without working out.”

Two years ago, Barker was throwing 76-78. Now the 6-4 195-pounder is touching 87, which attracted the coaches at the American East Conference university.

“They first saw me at a tournament at Northboro,” the 79th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in New England reflected. “I talked to them for a month and went on a visit. They watched me a month later and a few days after I got my offer. A week after that I accepted. I decided it was the best fit for me.”

Siena, Holy Cross and Rhode Island also had an interest in Barker, who has not given up the idea of being a two-way as a third baseman.

“I still want to try both,” Barker noted.

For now, plans are to pitch at Merrimack, a university located 90 minutes from his home in Rhode Island.

“They like how I’m full of confidence,” Barker explained. “They like my body type and my size.”

The 244th-ranked senior in New England found what he was looking for at Merrimack.

“I like the coaching staff,” Barker related. “It’s easy to communicate with them. I liked the way they described the culture and I also liked the campus.”

A commitment completes a goal set a number of years back.

“Ever since Little League it’s been my dream,” Barker said. “Last summer is when it became realistic when I went to the Future Games. That’s where it all started. It’s something I wanted to accomplish. It was one of the best baseball experiences I’ve ever had playing against the best baseball players I’ve ever faced. It was an experience that was great to have.”

Being a member of Team Connecticut at the 2021 PBR event in Georgia was just part of an enjoyable recruiting process for the fifth-rated senior pitcher in Rhode Island.

“It was definitely stressful but fun to go through, learning what it was all like,” Barker explained. “PBR helped a lot getting my numbers out there at all the events. People saw me through them.”

In the end, Barker pointed to one key factor.

“In talking to friends that had gone through it, it wasn’t everything that they said it would be,” Barker said. “You’ve just got to play well the day they see you.”

A catcher in his earlier days playing the game, Barker began pitching at the age of 10.

“Working out was a big thing for me,” Barker said of making improvements on the mound. “Working on mechanics and getting my legs in it have been big for me.”

Barker pointed to help along the way with playing a major role in becoming a college commit.

“It would not have been possible without coach E,” Barker said in reference to Idris Liasu. “All the other coaches I’ve had have also helped me out, and my parents helped me with figuring a lot of things out.”

Barker admits to being relieved since making a commitment.

“It was a really good feeling,” Barker said. “It took a lot of stress off. I could go out and play now and not worry about who’s going to come watch.”

With one objective achieved, Barker now looks ahead to the next.

“My main goal with college baseball is to win,” the 12th-ranked 2023 in Rhode Island exclaimed. “I hope to bring some sort of impact to the program to help us win.”

A 4.4 student on a weighted scale, Barker is thinking about business as a potential major at Merrimack.

“I’m excited for the college experience,” Barker said in looking ahead. “I’m mostly excited about playing the game and working with teammates.”