Last month, at Senior Games, RHP Coby Moe (Grayslake Central, 2019) attended the event as one of the top prospects in the state without a commitment. It was obvious that the uncertainty that surrounded his next stop in the fall of 2019 wouldn’t last long – Moe was just too talented to remain on the market through entering his senior year. Shortly after that event at Triton College, Moe revealed he had verbally committed to Northwestern University.

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

LATEST SCOUTING REPORT

Coby Moe RHP / Grayslake Central, IL / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 61 / POS: 22 Recent Northwestern commit. 6-foot-4, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher, thick build with athleticism in actions. Mound presence, tall, sturdy balance point, works in-line, some cross body to home, toe lands closed, easy, athletic finish. Arm is short and loose, quick arm speed, over the top slot, ball comes out easy and firm. Fastball worked straight with cut to gloveside, pounded the strike zone, 85-87 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape with depth, maintains arm speed, 73 mph. Slider, 10/4 sharp sweeper, aggressive in the zone, best secondary offering, manipulates it induced a swinging strikeout in gameplay, 78 mph.

OUR Q&A

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

Moe: I don’t think I really had a lot of expectations for the recruiting process. For me it started early, my pitching coach, who also coached Blue Jays starter Ryan Borucki, had a lot of college contacts and got me started. Since a lot of my coaches and my parents told me it would ultimately be my decision to make in the end, I took a lot of pride in having good conversations with coaches. It was important to me for us to get to know each other on a personal level and not just as a potential player. In that respect, I think that ultimately made the process easier for me.

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

M: I really wanted a school that could challenge me academically and athletically. Beyond that I wanted to be somewhere that would create a family atmosphere between players and coaches with a coaching staff that loves what they do.

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

M: Yes, location played a big part in my decision. I wanted to make sure my family would be able to see me play on a regular basis as well as former coaches and friends.

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel accelerated the buzz around you?

M: The recruiting process really started to take off for me during the beginning of my junior spring season. I started the year with back-to-back one-hitters with the second coming against our crosstown school. Those two games really sparked interest in me, combined with Grayslake Central vs. Antioch being a PBR spotlight game the next week. Throwing well in those three games played a huge part in creating buzz around me.

P: Where did Northwestern first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

M: Northwestern first saw me in early spring of my junior year. From there we really focused on creating a personal relationship with each other.

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

M: The thing I liked most about NU was that the coaches really worked to create a great environment. Other factors that drew me to NU was the competition in the Big 10 and the opportunity to have an impact early on in my career there.

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

M: I previously had talks with Illinois State, Western Michigan, and Western Illinois towards the later part of the process. I ultimately decided between two offers, one from Northwestern and the other from Eastern Illinois.

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

M: I think the best player I’ve faced in the state would probably Alex Powers of Prairie Ridge. He neutralized our running game this spring which not a lot of people did and his patience at the plate made him a real tough out to get.

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?

M: I realized that I had the ability to play in college when I was 12 playing in Cooperstown. It was my first national tournament and I saw that I was just as good as the best players from all around the country.

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

M: I would tell young players who want to play in college to work hard and become a student of the game. You can always learn something from someone else if you’re watching. The last thing that I would tell them is remember that baseball is a game of failure, learn how to handle tough times and grow from them.

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

M: My most memorable moment in my career to this point is winning the Regional in my sophomore year against Antioch, who swept us during the regular season. They were the higher seed in our field. I drove in the go-ahead RBI in the top of the 8th and finished out the game on the mound earning my second win that postseason.

P: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?

M: I think that our team will be highly competitive this season. We’ll most likely be a senior dominant team this year with a ton of varsity experience. I expect us to compete every game day in and day out. Our goal every season is to make a playoff run and I think we have the pieces to do it this year we just have to keep putting in the work to get there.

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