DUBLIN - Brayden Krenzel understands the challenges ahead when it comes to being a collegiate athlete. 

“It’s exciting but at the same time the work is just getting started at this point,” noted the Dublin Jerome incoming junior, who has committed to be a member of the baseball program at Tennessee. “To play at the next level I have to get a lot stronger and play a lot better.”

That is something learned from his father, Craig, a former quarterback at Ohio State.

“He doesn’t talk about it that much, he just says whatever you want to do, give 110 percent and you will accomplish big things,” Krenzel explained.

The 47th-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in the nation is excited to have the opportunity to pursue that in the Southeast Conference.

“It all started at the Future Games when they saw me there,” Krenzel said of Tennessee. “A couple of weeks later they invited me to a Prospect Camp and I performed well. They like that I have an easy fluid motion, repeatable mechanics and that I fill up the zone with multiple pitches.”

Interest increased after the camp.

“We talked once a week and I went to a football game there in the fall,” reflected Krenzel, who was given an offer “one or two months” after the camp. “I went to a spring baseball game and got a feel for the surrounding area and the school itself. One thing that stands out is the fan base is strong there. The area is nice and it’s not a huge city. It’s a big campus, but kind of all in one area.”

Ohio State and Kentucky were at the top of other schools the third-ranked incoming junior RHP in Ohio was considering.

“I was wondering when the right time was going to be to commit,” the 16-year-old explained. “I was leaning on my parents and my coaches making sure this was the right decision to make.”

After mulling all the options over, the decision to commit to Tennessee proved to be in the best interest of Krenzel.

“I like the competitive environment there,” the 167th-rated 2024 in the country related. “Competition brings the best out of everybody and that was a big driving factor in my decision.”

Work in the weight room during the fall and basketball in the winter helped Krenzel improve both strength-wise and athletically as the recruiting process heated up.

“There were no bad parts about it,” Krenzel said of his recruitment. “It was a fun process. It was a pretty cool thing to be involved in at my age and I’m blessed to enjoy every moment about the process.”

Help came in a number of ways.

“My parents have always pushed me to give my all-out effort in everything I do,” Krenzel said. “My coaches when I was younger taught me how to play and I’m thankful for them. My recent coaches have helped me fine-tune the little things you have to do with baseball.”

There was more.

“PBR helped give me a good platform,” Krenzel added. “I’m thankful for all the events, especially the Future Games which helped put my name out there and started the whole recruiting process for me.”

Business is the planned major for the sixth-ranked 2024 in Ohio, who carries a 4.0 GPA in high school at Dublin Jerome.

“You always hear about guys you meet and experiences that are worth a lifetime, especially with college athletics and I’m really looking forward to all of that,” Krenzel concluded. “I’m excited about that and just the opportunity to continue to compete.”