Prep Baseball Report

Inside the Recruitment: '15 C Lukas Veinbergs commits to Indiana





Lukas Veinbergs, C, Pinckney HS, Class of 2015

PBR: Why did you choose Indiana?

Veinbergs: I really like the coaches and it feels like IU is a good fit. Bloomington is an awesome college town and campus. The athletic facilities and ballpark are incredible.  I wanted to be part of a quality baseball program and the team's success over the past few years speaks for itself.  I also wanted an opportunity to keep developing both my catching and pitching and the coaches were on the same page.  

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Veinbergs: Xavier, UMBC, UNC Asheville, Bucknell, Lafayette

PBR:  Coach Lemonis was a big part of the success at why Louisville went to the College World Series.  How exciting is it to be a part of his era as the head coach?

Veinbergs: Very exciting.  Being part of his first IU recruiting class feels special. 

PBR:  Where did the Coach Lemonis first see you compete and how did your relationship develop with the rest of the coaching staff?

Veinbergs: You never really know who's watching, so I'm not sure where he saw me first.  It may have been at the Hoosier prospect camp back in July.  I saw him at a tournament at Wright St.in the fall where I played. Coach Cheesebrough and Bunn saw me at some other events. Most recently coach Bunn watched me pitch in Jupiter. Coach Cheesebrough and I have had a handful of phone calls over the past few months and he made me feel like I would be a really good fit on this team. Everything came together after Jupiter.

PBR: Was the recruiting process what you expected?

Veinbergs: No. It's tough to get seen, so a guy really needs to get out there and hope to get noticed.  Unless you play in the best and most scouted tournaments, you need to attend showcases, camps and tryouts.  Our high school games are not scouted at all.

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most exciting experience playing summer ball?

Veinbergs:  I play for the Huntington Hounds (WV).  Catching Dazon Cole throwing 96 mph was pretty cool. 

PBR: What were your stats last season?

Veinbergs:  AVG .376,  OBP .480,  SLG 0.576,  OPS 1.057,  2 HR, 11 2B,  19 1B, 15 BB, 12 SB

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher you have faced?

Veinbergs:  Probably Jake Lowery