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?

Auden: My recruitment process started pretty early so I thought that I was going to be an early commit. The main things I was looking for in a program was making a good relationship with the coaches, their pitcher development track record, and their facilities.  

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

A: Yes, location did play a factor at first I thought that I wanted to go somewhere down south but then realized that I wanted to be able to drive home within a day. 

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

A: My recruitment process started pretty early when I got my first offer my sophomore year but that all stopped with an injury later in my sophomore spring and then things started to slow down. This past summer the recruitment process really stepped up again after coaches saw me play in game. Nebraska first saw me play at the Senior Future Games which helped tremendously.  

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

A: I really like that at Nebraska you can tell that the players want to be there and they enjoy showing up. This is a combination of the coaching staff and having the tools to advance players in every way possible making the grind addicting. 

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

A: I was talking to TCU, Arizona State, Arizona, and Minnesota a bit and obviously Nebraska.

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

A: Sam Abrahamson, I think that every player has the ability but what makes someone tough to face is seeing their confidence in the box and being very patient and disciplined.  

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?

A: My freshman summer playing club when I realized my love for the game. I still didn’t have a complete idea of if I was capable of playing college baseball but I knew that I wanted to work as hard as I can to make that happen. 

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

A: Just put your head down and work.

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

A: Senior Future Games.

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

A: We lost 7 starting seniors from last year but I am still very confident in our abilities. Every kid on our team has potential in the sport if they put in the time and dedication. 

P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?

A: I really have the Senior Future Games to thank for my commitment. Before the games Nebraska didn’t even know who I was and after the future games they invited me on a visit where I fell in love with the school.

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

A: I would definitely have to say Peter Kussow's off speed. 

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

A: There is a sophomore at River Falls, Michael Everson who is very projectable. He is athletic and confident on the mound and has a bright future ahead of him.

P: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

A: Prep Baseball helped a lot whether it was covering my stats after an event on twitter or their website, just overall getting the word out on all of their players. 

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