Q&A with Illinois-Chicago Commit Jordan Krueger

September 22, 2015

By Matt Huck
Area Scout

2016 LHP Jordan Krueger of Mukwonago High School recently committed to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Krueger is currently ranked No. 24 in the Wisconsin Class of 2016. He recently took part in our PBR Labor Day Challenge as a member of the GRB Rays, here is a report on his performance.

Jordan Krueger 9.5.15 - 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed pitcher. Currently uncommitted. Works from a low ¾ arm slot with a long quick arm action. Groundball pitcher, of the 12 batters he faced nine balls stayed on the ground. Fastball sat 80-82 mph topping out at 84 mph. Slider with tight rotation at 75 mph.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Krueger: I expected it to be easier. For me I had to wait a bit, while a lot of my teammates were committing before me, it took me longer to find the right fit in a school. Which I am very glad that i did wait. It took some time but it was all about waiting to find the right fit for me.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Krueger: A program that has had a winning tradition, and will keep making me a better player to help me reach the goals i have had my whole life. Also the beautiful facilities and the beautiful city helped.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Krueger: The location in Chicago drew me there, but distance from home was not much of a factor. I am close enough to go home if I need to go home for any reason but it was not a factor on my decision.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Krueger: It heated up at the beginning of fall after the summer I had. There was not an event that I think I turned a corner or anything but I put up some good numbers this summer including I finished out the year up to 87 I think that helped.

PBR: Where did the college you chose first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Krueger: They have been watching me since my sophomore year when I went to the GRB top prospect camp in that winter. They watched me a lot and reached out to me this summer and we developed that relationship. They had seen me a lot before they reached out to me.

PBR: What do you like most about the college you committed to and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Krueger: The success that they have had over the years with not only winning ball games and winning conference, but the success they have had developing good baseball players. Also they needed another lefty and had a lot of their pitching staff graduate so i will be able to go in and get some innings as a freshman. The campus felt very comfortable to me and being so close to downtown Chicago is very nice. Overall being proud to say I will play baseball there was huge.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Krueger: Milwaukee, Quincy, North Dakota St were all on my list.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Krueger: Gavin Lux. He sees the ball very well and even with the movement I have on my fastball running in on him he is still able to hit the ball hard. Also watching him play shortstop is just fun to watch.

PBR: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

Krueger: My whole life it has been realistic for me to play college baseball at some point but going into my sophomore year it was realistic for me to play at the D1 level and when I went to GRB i knew that would be something they could help me accomplish as long as I was willing to work for it.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Krueger: The thing that I would say I wish I would have been able to do better that would have helped my performance on the field is just knowing you can't go back and change an error or if someone makes a bad play behind you, you have to put everything behind you and play pitch by pitch because if you let past plays effect you and make you mad, you will struggle on the mound or at the plate. do not let things you cant change effect you.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Krueger: Honestly going down to Georgia and me and my teammates playing against one of the best teams in the country. I particularly didn’t pitch well but it helped me realize that there are better players out the and how much better I need to get to reach my goals.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?

Krueger: Playing at Mukwonago with summer ball we will have a solid rotation with myself, Jake Lange, and some juniors. Also if Austin Emanuel plays with us we will have a legit shot at making a state run in summer ball.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Krueger: I play with the GRB Rays and my most memorable experiences have been at the hotels or during the van rides with my teammates and coaches. Could not have asked for a better group of guys to be around for an entire summer.

Q&A with Illinois-Chicago Commit Jordan Krueger

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