Tarnowski Ready To Make An Impact At Central Michigan

Mitchell Tarnowski LHP / 1B / St. Ignatius , OH / 2024

INDEPENDENCE - The recruiting process was a little different than Mitchell Tarnowski imagined.

“It was a lot tougher than I ever thought,” the Saint Ignatius senior admitted. “I knew I just had to keep working and not give up. I knew something would happen.”

That proved to be the case, though it came a while after expected with Central Michigan.

“They reached out to me late in the process,” the 13th-rated 2024 left-handed pitcher in Ohio reflected. “They first saw me at the Top Prospect Games where I pitched well. I understand it can take a while with a new staff and one or two months went by. I was thinking about another school, but then the coach reached out. I went on a visit in early September and really liked it.

“When I stepped on campus I just had a great feeling,” Tarnowski continued. “The pitching coach has a connection with my family and I really liked all of the coaches. Everything was new. When I stepped on the field, I just knew.”

Eastern Michigan also offered the 17-year-old, who had interest from Richmond, Oakland, George Mason and Yale during a recruitment that began in the spring with his first college call coming from Ohio State.

“That came when we were on a spring trip,” Tarnowski related. “One or two schools watched me in the spring and then I went to the Top Prospect Games which really helped me out a lot. I talked to Eastern and Central from that. At first it was all going good, but then midsummer there was nothing. I was getting nervous, but late summer I got some interest again.”

Central Michigan found the 6-3 200-pound southpaw to their liking.

“Coach (Aaron) Hilt mentioned I was a lefty,” Tarnowski said about what stood out to CMU. “My changeup is probably my best secondary pitch and he said I’d fit in well with the other pitchers he has there.”

The idea of playing college baseball has been ongoing according to Tarnowski.

“From a very young age it’s been my goal to play at the next level,” the 82nd-ranked senior in the state noted. “I just like the game. It’s fun, I see it as an escape sometimes. I enjoy getting better and look forward to bettering my game.”
That is something Tarnowski has been doing all along.

“Getting stronger, getting healthy and staying healthy,” Tarnowski listed off in mentioning ways he has improved of late. “I was 175 to start the spring of my sophomore season and I’m 200 now. I worked at BioSport with lifting. The stronger I get the better I’ll be. The weight room is the biggest thing.”

Tarnowski pointed to pitching coach Brad Stillings and Adam Jeanette with Cleveland BioSport for helping his cause, “reminding me there are a lot of ups and downs and that I had to stay patient.” High school head coach Brad Ganor and Saint Ignatius pitching coach Josh Sorge along with summer coach Pat Geroni, the entire staff at BioSport as well as his parents are others that Tarnowski credited in helping him become a commit to the university in Mount Pleasant.

“That was one of the best feelings of my life,” Tarnowski said of making a commitment. “I knew the next day after I visited. I texted the coaches and let them know that it was where I wanted to be. It was a big weight lifted off my shoulders.”

Tarnowski believes he can be a strong asset to the Mid-American Conference program located a little more than four hours from home.

“I’ll bring high energy,” Tarnowski said. “I’ll compete and get after it. I want to make an impact as a freshman and help the team win.”

A 3.5 student at Saint Ignatius, Tarnowski feels there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to being a student-athlete at Central.

“It’s a very historic program and I’m happy to be part of it,” Tarnowski concluded. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of the guys and get ready to compete and, hopefully, win.”