Q&A With Manhattan Commit Matthew Steinberg
January 2, 2025
RHP Matthew Steinberg (St. Charles East, 2025) has been on the rise the past couple of years, initially popping in front of our staff at the Northwest Suburban Open in July of 2023, while most recently showing well at both the Illinois State Games and Grand Park Fall Championships this past year.
The 6-foot-3, 188-pound right-hander has plenty of life on his fastball, routinely registering in the upper-80s. He complements his fastball with a slider that will show depth and a heavy-fading changeup, and his curveball looks like a potential quality fourth offering with slurve action. Look for Steinberg to be a big piece of St. Charles East’s pitching staff this coming year as they plan on making a strong run in the spring.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Steinberg about his recruitment process and some other fun topics, found below.
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?
Matthew: I had the hope that my recruiting process would be D1 teams blowing up my phone but that certainly wasn’t my case. Well, the big reason I chose Manhattan University was because of the uprise in winning culture. The new head coach (Steve Rosen) is building something special and I wanted to not only be a part of it, but be a leader of it.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
M: Absolutely not. I think for most kids they want to stay by home and It took a lot of thought but I realized that for my situation, there was no reason to close doors without seeing what was on the other side.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
M: Starting in July was when I really started to feel my phone buzzing more. I was in a unusual situation where one of my travel coaches (Derek Shomon) got me in contact with Steve Rosen (Head Coach) and Will Hesslink (Pitching Coach). Derek sent some video over to them and they blessed me with the opportunity to play for them.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
M: Winning culture was the biggest factor I was looking for when choosing a school. When it came to Manhattan, it was clear as day they were on the rise and it was an easy decision from there.
P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
M: I was blessed to have a multitude of opportunities to play at the next level but my final list consisted of North Central College, Illinois Wesleyan University and Lake Land CC - but Manhattan was the best fit for me.
P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?
M: Without a doubt in my mind Joey Arend is the best player I’ve faced. Going to high school together I get the opportunity to play with and against him all the time. Every day, I believe he’s himself to be not only one of the best players in the state, but the country. Him being a pitcher and position player, his speed, power, and baseball IQ are all at an elite level which is why he is the best I’ve ever faced.
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’ve always been a guy who throws hard, so going into my freshman year I was lower-80’s. I was always told I could be a very good player as long as I continue to work hard and stay focused. I can say with certainty that I have continued to work hard and plan on having a big senior year going into college.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
M: The best advice I could give is to stay patient, be humble, and work as hard as you possibly can. If you’re not getting the attention you want, stay patient and realize your time will come. If you are getting attention, stay humble and realize there’s always someone better than you. Finally, no matter who you are or even what you do, work as hard as you possibly can to be the best.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
M: Last season against Lake Park, who at the time was the No. 8 team in state, we beat them in a 3 game series (2-1) and it was just a surreal feeling to be able to show the state who we were as a program.
P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?
M: I see no reason why we can’t go down to state and make a run. I want to end my high school career with a ring and we have the team to do it. We showed the state a preview of who we were over the summer by winning the Summer State Title, but we have so much more in store.
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)?
M: Specifically for me, Illinois State Games helped me get in contact with a few coaches and I believe got my name out there just a little bit more.
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?
M: I would steal Joey Arend’s power. For his frame and size, the way he’s able to generate elite level power is something I’ve never seen before.
P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?
M: Dylan McCabe is 100% the guy. Not only is he a crazy baseball player, he’s a crazy athlete. A former three sport athlete, now two sports, focusing on basketball and baseball, he can do everything you want out of a five tool guy.