Brancel Confident College Interest Will Pick Up Soon

Patrick Brancel C / RHP / Berkshire High School, OH / 2026

HUNTSBURG - Patrick Brancel believes he is a bit underlooked when it comes to his recruitment.

“I’m totally lost with it,” the Berkshire High School junior said. “I talked to coach Brandon Szink, my head coach (with Bo Jackson Elite 16U Black), and he said they’re holding back with all the roster changes.”

Until this point, only Purdue has reached out to the third-ranked junior catcher in Ohio.

“Purdue called me and we talked for a week,” Brancel related about his Aug. 1 day when college coaches were permitted to talk with players in the 2026 class for the initial time. “That’s as far as I’ve gotten with any college after that.”

The 5-9 175-pounder admits to being a bit surprised with it all.

“I went to the Top Prospect Games with a goal to ball out,” Brancel reflected. “I thought I did well enough to get some attention. I played confident over the summer and thought I had a really good summer. I was hoping to hear from a few schools and get some texts.”

The 51st-rated junior in the state is of the belief a mistake is being made not taking an interest in a player of his abilities.

“They’re missing a dog behind the plate,” Brancel explained. “I can swing it and I can go on the mound, too. I’m just an all-around player.”

There is also a matter of good bloodlines, with a brother who hit .400 in his first year as a catcher at Harvard.

“I’ve learned so much from him,” Brancel said of his older sibling, Dominic. “Everyday I send him video that he critiques piece by piece. He helps me with everything about catching and he’s also talked to some schools for me. I give him a lot of credit.”

So how do the two compare as players?

“I’m better than he was at the age I am now,” the second-rank uncommitted 2026 catcher in Ohio related. “Most of my attributes are better besides the speed.”

There is also a matter of having the potential to be a two-way player at the next level with recent improvement on the mound.

“At 15U I was throwing 80 miles an hour, but last winter I went to Mike Grady’s Pitching School and gained seven miles an hour,” Brancel pointed out. “I learned an amazing amount.”

The 17-year-old was hoping it would be enough to draw interest in his abilities as a player.

“Receiving is one of the best parts of my game,” Brancel explained. “I can block and recover and my catch and throw is up there with the top of my class. I also control the game really well.”

Kyle Weldon, Prep Baseball Ohio Director of Scouting, has high praise for the passionate Brancel.

“He’s compact with a strong build and has a presence on the field,” Weldon said. “Behind the plate the actions are high level with quick transfers and a fast release. Offensively, he’ll work at-bats and provide some thump at times. He can also hop on the mound and give you a mid-to-upper 80s heater and compete with the secondary.”

Brancel, who is rehabbing an injury at the present, is hoping his recruitment soon takes off.

“I’ve emailed around 15 schools and got a lot of invites to camps, but I wasn’t able to go because I strained my UCL in mid-summer,” Brancel related. “I kept throwing but it got to the point I couldn’t stand the pain.”

Expectations are to be at full strength in a month.

“I’m hoping to have a great spring and carry that through in the summer,” Brancel said. “I’m hoping to talk to a few schools and maybe commit by the middle of summer.

“I’m looking to start working more on my pitching,” Brancel added. “I feel that can be a big part of my game at the next level. I started throwing more at 15U and last summer made a big jump. I was 80 at 15U and now I’m at 87-88.”

Where that takes him is yet to be determined.

“I’m just not sure,” Brancel concluded. “I’m hoping to find a great coaching staff. Just a good connection is what I’m looking to find.”