Prep Baseball Report

Q&A with Butler commit Nick Kosmetatos


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

Along this summer’s showcase season, 3B Nick Kosmetatos (St. Francis, 2019) has attended high-profile events like Top Prospect – Chicago, as well as Senior Games, as one of Illinois’ highest-ranked infielders without a commitment. That changed nearly one month ago when Kosmetatos decided to commit his game to Butler University. After a dominant season for his high school this past spring, one where he was named to the first team of PBR All-State, the St. Francis standout will have the opportunity to continue his baseball career in the fall of 2019 within the Big East Conference.

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

LATEST SCOUTING REPORT

Nick Kosmetatos 3B / St. Francis, IL / 2019

Recent Butler commit. 6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-handed hitting infielder; strong, athletic-build, durable lower half. Offensively, quiet, balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap stride and maintains balance through contact. Loose, strong hands, creates easy bat speed, consistent hard contact. Level bat path, extension through contact and gap-to-gap approach; 87 mph exit velocity. Went 2-for-2 with a double to left-center field and scored a run. Defensively, one of the top defensive third baseman's in the class. Easy, athletic actions, ranges well to both sides, maintains body control. Soft, confident hands, clean transfer, loose strong arm action. Accurate arm, throws carry and topped at 88 mph. Ran a 7.25 laser-timed 60. 

OUR Q&A

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easier or more difficult than you anticipated?

Kosmetatos: My expectation about the recruiting process was that it was going to be challenging to be featured as a top recruit. It was definitely more difficult than what I anticipated – I had to work twice as much to get to the point where I am at today.

P: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at? Did location play a role?

K: I was looking for a winning program, and I was looking for a program that had the essentials to making a ballplayer better. Location did factor into my process. I wanted to stay Midwest so that my family and friends could come support me.

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? When did Butler first see you?

K: The recruiting process started for me the summer of my sophomore year. I started attending PBR events and it all went up from there in terms of recruiting. Butler first saw me online, through videos and such. Then, they came out to a game where I had a great day and the rest is history.

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

K: I loved the coaching staff and campus views. I just fell in love with the vibe of wanting to be a Butler Bulldog.

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What made that player so difficult to pitch against?

K: The best player I’ve faced in my state was Alek Thomas (Mount Carmel, 2018; MLB Draft, Arizona Diamondbacks, 2nd Round), no doubt. Playing against him was an honor because whatever he did, I wanted to do better. He made me push myself to prove myself.

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?

K: I’ve been taking this game seriously ever since travel ball at 12U started. All my previous coaches and teammates could sense that I can play at the next level so I wanted to prove it to them.

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

K: Some advice I would give is that you need to live in the weight room, strive to be better than everyone because someone else has the same skills as you do, and never give up on your dream. You have to want to play baseball your whole life.

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

K: My most memorable moment was in my junior year. I hit a game-tying home run against Mount Carmel and we ended up winning on a walk-off, and after the game Alek told me: “Keep working, kid.” I loved getting that advice from someone who I look up to after playing against him for three years.

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