BRIGHTON - With a first name of Easton, it is only fitting that baseball is in his future. Where Easton Storey ends up, however, is far from determined, especially after undergoing Tommy John Surgery back on July  29.

“It’s going along pretty good, just a little stressful since the surgery,” Storey said. “I just started playing catch at the beginning of December and slowly amping it up to 60 feet.”

The third-rated 2023 left-handed pitcher in Michigan has a positive attitude when it comes to the surgery.

“I’m approaching it as a one-step back, two-step forward thing,” the Brighton High School junior explained. “It’s a setback, but it’s not going to set me back. I feel I’m at my strongest point ever physically and mentally. I’m as good as ever.”

Still, the idea of not being on the field is admittedly burdensome.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Storey related. “It’s just a grind to have to do PT every day and constantly taking care of it.”

The recruiting process has changed since Storey’s velo hit 91 at the end of high school season.

“Before Tommy John I was talking to a couple schools, but afterward there was nobody for a couple of months,” Storey reflected. “A month ago I had 10 schools that reached out. Prior to that I posted on Twitter a video I had of me throwing.

“The big question they ask is ‘are you looking to make a decision now or when you’re ready to throw again.’ Most want me to wait and I think I want to wait, but if the right offer was made now I’d take it.”

The list of schools the number one uncommitted junior southpaw in the state has been in contact with, either before the surgery or after, is enormous.

Miami, Wake Forest, Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee, USC, Central Michigan, South Florida, Duke, Toledo, North Alabama, Clemson, Louisville, Indiana State, Pepperdine, Wabash, Ohio State, Butler, Michigan, Hawaii and East Mississippi Community College are schools that Storey mentioned.

“I have good grades, my parents are educators and I’m a hard-throwing lefty with a lot of deception in my delivery,” Storey explained about what the buzz is about in his recruiting talks with colleges.

There is more that Storey feels he can bring to a program.

“I feel I’m a good teammate,” pointed out Storey, whose father played baseball at Mott Community College, hence his desire to name his son Easton. “I always try to push myself and others to get better, that’s what helps the team win. I always try to be respectful and to be the best I can be. And I always want the ball in any situation.”

Aaron Wilson, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting, believes Storey has a lot of promise in his baseball future.

“Easton fits what you are looking for in a left-handed pitcher,” Wilson explained. “He attacks the zone well with a heavy fastball that he pairs with a hard-breaking curveball that is a definite out pitch at the high-school level and a pitch he can develop into one at higher levels. He has determination and it’s displayed in his ability to progress on the diamond.”

The thought of playing at the next level started for the 24th-rated junior in Michigan during the fall of 2019.

“I always played with my community team but I switched to the Michigan Blue Jays,” Storey noted. “Coach (Tom) Dishman helped me realize the possibilities of playing in college and ever since then I’ve worked toward it.

“In the summer of 2020 I went to my first PBR event and that’s when Eastern Michigan reached out. That was the first one ever that reached out to me.”

Although surgery soon followed, Storey has learned a lot since that point in time.

“Before surgery I’d throw, throw, throw,” Storey said. “I’ve learned to take a step back and do what’s best for my body and my arm. I’m thankful for everything I have. Some don’t get to throw again.”

The 16-year-old looks forward to getting back to full go some time in the future.

“Right now I’m doing PT and getting stronger for when I come back to pitch,” Storey said. “In an ideal situation, I’ll be back pitching in July or August. If I’m still uncommitted at that point, I’ll be fine with it, as long as I pitch well in the fall and show everybody how good I am.”

The aspirations are high for Storey, who carries a 3.53 GPA in high school.

“A big goal I have is to be at 95,” concluded Storey, referring to his targeted velocity. “That’s the plan. I want to be there by August and then make a decision by next fall.”