Prep Baseball Report

Q&A with Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit Marcus Cline


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

One of Wisconsin’s most versatile prospects, INF/OF Marcus Cline (Fall Creek, 2019), has been on the rise all summer long and it has finally resulted in a commitment to play ball at the next level: the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Cline’s athleticism plays in both the infield and the outfield and it gives him a unique skillset that attracted several programs his way. Ultimately, at the start of August, Cline decided to commit to UWM, where he’ll be heading next fall.

We recently had the opportunity to discuss the recruiting process with Cline, what he was looking for out of his college experience, and his favorite memories in baseball to this point.

LATEST SCOUTING REPORT

Marcus Cline 2B / OF / Fall Creek, WI / 2019

Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit. 5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting, lanky two-way prospect. Defensively, arm works loosely on both the infield and from the outfield. Utilizes a short arm action with quick arm speed on the infield, able to use multiple slots, 84 mph, longer arm action from the outfield, high ¾ slot, 86 mph. Plays through the ball athletically with easy effort, hands play softly, clean on exchanges. Ran a 6.97 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains good balance. Line drive approach, flashed gap-to-gap, uphill barrel path, 83 mph exit velocity.

OUR Q&A

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Cline: At first, I thought the recruiting process would be easy, but as I received more interest from schools it became more difficult than I anticipated. I wanted to go to a program that had a good coaching staff that would help me develop my skills as a baseball player and a program where I felt I could fit in right away.

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

C: Somewhat. I wanted to go to a school that was far enough away from home but not too far to where traveling to and from would be an issue.

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did UW-Milwaukee first see you?

C: It started to really heat up for me after I went to last falls GRB Top Prospect camp and then more schools became interested as I progressed through my spring and summer. UWM first saw me at the GRB Top Prospect camp during the fall. From then I had went on a visit in February, played my spring and summer season before taking another visit just before I committed.

P: What do you like most about UWM and what were the key factors in making your decision?

C: I really liked the coaching staff. I enjoyed talking with Coach [Scott] Doffek and Coach [Shaun] Wegner and I felt that they could help me develop the most and I could see myself playing for them. I also liked the campus, it is very close to Lake Michigan and has a small-school feel but in a big city.

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

C: I was talking to Minnesota, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Gonzaga during the time after the GRB camp. Then during the summer I started to talk to North Dakota State, Minnesota State, and MATC but I felt the best place for me would be at Milwaukee.

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

C: Connor Prielipp (Tomah, 2019; Alabama commit). I faced him in Mauston this summer and I didn’t know much about him until I came up to the plate against his team. I know his fastball touched low 90s that night but I was more impressed by his slider’s movement and how he could control his pitches.

P: 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?

C: When I took my first college visit and was invited to a camp at the University of Ohio when I was a sophomore. From then on, I just worked even harder toward my dream of playing college baseball.

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

C: Just keep working hard, never settle, and be patient with the recruiting process. I wasn’t the biggest kid of all my teammates but over time I grew and surrounded myself with great friends and teammates that helped me out a lot.

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

C: Either going to Las Vegas last winter with the Minnesota Blizzard 2018 team and playing with players like Nick Juaire (Lakeville North, MN, 2018; Texas Christian), Seth Halvorson (Heritage Christian Academy, MN, 2018; Missouri), Tommy Springer (Eastview, MN, 2018; Missouri), and many more great teammates, or playing in the WWBA tournament in Fort Myers, Fla., last fall and making a game-changing diving catch to give us a chance to win in extras.

P: Preview Fall Creek’s season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

C: This year we should be very good. The last couple years we have been fairly young but still did very good in our conference. Last year, we had four all-conference players and finished with a record just above .500 in a very talented Western Cloverbelt Conference. RHP Isaiah Katz (2020; uncommitted) will be a junior and has some electric stuff, that will definitely win us some big games this spring. We will be a senior-heavy team which will help us out with experience and we also have a few juniors that will make big impacts this season. Were a very high-energy team and we look to improve our record from last year and hopefully win the conference and make our way deep into the playoffs.

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