Slaby Continuing To Make Jumps In His Game

Henry Slaby RHP / St. Edward, OH / 2024

AVON LAKE - Big improvements on the mound have interest in Henry Slaby on the rise.

“He is one of the top power arms left on the board,” noted PBR Ohio Director of Scouting Jordan Chiero about the 15th-rated uncommitted 2024 right-handed pitcher in the state. “He turned heads this winter by showing a velo jump, but more impressively he improved secondary. We’ve seen him several times this spring and he was a top performer amongst the state’s best at this year’s Top Prospect Games. In my opinion, he’s a D-I arm.”

There is more than velo that has got the attention of colleges when it comes to the incoming senior at Lakewood St. Edward.

 “I’m at a place where making the biggest jump is with consistency in throwing strikes,” Slaby related. “I see a lot of guys making velo jumps and that’s a great thing to market, but I realize if you keep working velo will jump. But command and being a consistent strike thrower is what I’ve been working at, realizing the velocity will come.”

Planned visits with Toledo and East Tennessee State are ahead for the 32nd-ranked 2024 RHP in Ohio, who recently was offered from Seton Hill, a university Slaby visited in March.

“I’m sending out emails and videos and talking to coaches, trying to figure out visits,” Slaby said. “The Top Prospect Games really helped me in getting my name out to a lot of coaches. I know it’s hard to see all that I’m interested in, so going to the Top Prospect Games after showing them interest and then them being able to see me really helps.”

The 6-2 205-pounder points to his competitiveness as a selling point when it comes to pitching at the next level.

“I’m the most competitive person I know,” Slaby explained. “I treat a lot of stuff as a competition. In a team setting I want to help the team the best I can, but no matter the situation I’m going to compete immediately and not quit until it’s over.”

The idea of playing baseball in college is a more recent development for the 17-year-old.

“At the very end of grade school going into high school I realized I was passionate about baseball and that I wanted to keep playing after high school,” Slaby noted. “It was at that time I realized it was a goal I could reach and I started working toward it.

“I was on the freshman team for St Ed’s and in the summer began throwing harder than other guys I was competing against,” Slaby continued. “Once sophomore year started I began connecting with my high school coach and realized as long as I keep working this is something I can reach.”

The work is far from done according to the 26th-rated uncommitted senior in the state.

“I need to continue improving my offspeed pitches,” Slaby explained. “ I’m able to use them effectively now, but if I get more comfortable with them or use a different grip maybe I can do a lot more. Also the mental part is something to get better at, being able to outthink the hitter and pitch tunneling. Using all those things will help me continue to grow.”

The 66th-ranked 2024 in Ohio has an idea of what he is looking for in a college.

“My main checklist is I want a midsize school, nothing so big where I’m in a big lecture hall but not so small that I know everyone on campus,” Slaby said. “I’m looking for a big happy medium. Location is not a big deal to me, in state or out of state doesn’t matter, but wherever I go I want to make sure it has my major.”

Sport Administration is the subject preferred by Slaby, a 4.42 student at St. Ed’s hoping to make a college decision in the near future.

“Hopefully in the next three or four months I’ve narrowed my decision down to one or two schools,” Slaby concluded. “I’ll likely make a decision in the fall. It’s probably going to get stressful the next few months moving forward. I know colleges are looking at the portal but once it gets closer I’m hoping to get more interest and find what I’m looking for in a school.”