McAninch: Marshall Opportunity 'Every Kid's Dream'

AJ McAninch RHP / SS / Bishop Watterson, OH / 2024

COLUMBUS - There is nothing like making that college commitment as AJ McAninch has found out.

“What a great relief,” related the Bishop Watterson senior after deciding on Marshall as his future home. “It was so stressful going into football and having to make that decision. I’m just very thankful, what a great opportunity. This is every kid’s dream.”

The 34th-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in Ohio drew interest from Marshall throughout the summer.

“The first time they saw me pitch was late June, early July and they followed me on twitter,” McAninch reflected. “I had another offer with a tight decision and I had to get to Marshall. I knew about (head) coach (Greg) Beals from Ohio State and I always heard about Marshall from the movie.”

It proved to be a memorable visit for the 6-2 200-pounder, a quarterback on the Watterson football team.

“I love what they’re doing there, with the brand new field and all,” explained McAninch, who was offered while on the trip to the Sun Belt Conference university. “It looks like a good spot for me. In driving with my dad home, I said I’m pretty sure this is for me. It’s the best fit for me and my skills. On the car ride home I called coach Beals and told him I’m all in.”

There was other interest, including from a “couple MAC schools,” but the 17-year-old believes Marshall is the right choice to make.

“I love the place so much,” McAninch said. “They give so much care to athletes. It’s not the biggest school, 11,000 students, but they get their name out there. I think it’s a really good opportunity to put my name out there.

“College is a step, but everyone wants to be in the Bigs,” McAninch added. “This is a great way of increasing my talent to get to the next level after that.”

Marshall saw McAninch three times at Grand Park and twice at Lake Point and came away impressed.

“He’s a big fan of the breaker, that caught his eye,” McAninch said of the Marshall coach. “He likes the way I mixed my pitches.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process had some difficulties.

“I threw really hard when I was younger,” McAninch related. “In eighth grade going into freshman year I was 85 and talking to big schools, SEC schools, but then it kind of mellowed out.

“I thought weighted balls would be the thing for me and I did that the whole offseason but I didn’t see an increase in velocity. Then I did just long toss and that helped me get where I am now. Long toss and loosening my arm, pulldowns, that’s what makes you throw harder.”

McAninch also pointed to being a two-sport athlete as helping in his improvement.

“The weight room was big, but I also give credit to playing football,” the 75th-ranked senior in the state explained. “You need a mental break from baseball. I think it made me better at baseball to get away from it. When I come back doing bullpens and long toss I’m locked into making myself better.”

There was plenty of help in the journey to finding a college home.

“PBR was a great help, I went to the Prospect Games twice,” McAninch noted. “Seeing all those coaches there, what a great outlet.”

His family also played a major role in his quest to play at the next level.

“I give a lot of exposure to my dad,” McAninch said. “He’s been the dude who’s driven me to Georgia for three years, put me on flights to Fort Myers, and allowed me to show my talents to the fullest. My mom was also big, taking me to games when I was younger, and my brothers (one seven years older and the other five years older) guided me and showed me the basics of baseball to set me up for success.”

McAninch is excited about what he can provide the baseball program at Marshall.

“I’ll be a great teammate,” McAninch said. “We’ve already had a group chat with the 2024 class at Marshall so we’re already bonding. I think I can bring talent to make them better and win a championship.”

That is just part of what McAninch is looking forward to at the university in Huntington, W.Va., less than 21/2 hours from home.

“We’ll be going to places like Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern,” McAninch concluded. “I’m excited to go down south and play some competitive baseball.”