Prep Baseball Report

Q&A With East Carolina University Commit Zach Wielgus



By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Zach WielgusThe Midwest Future Games was an excellent venue for Zach Wielgus to showcase his abilities on a big stage. The No. 11 ranked prospect in Pennsylvania, Wielgus sat 83-86, while touching 87 from a high three-quarter arm slot with a high leg kick at the event in August. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefty has a heavy fastball that he mixed with a 71 mph curveball. Wielgus commanded the zone with his fastball that showed good, late life. He hides the baseball well with his delivery making it difficult for hitters to pick it up out of his hand.

Wielgus heard from schools in nearly every major Division I conference in the country, but ultimately chose East Carolina University. The junior talked with Prep Baseball Report about his decision to attend ECU and the process that led him to his verbal announcement.

PBR: Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?

Wielgus: I chose East Carolina University because they offer exactly what I was looking for from an academic and baseball standpoint.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Wielgus: I was also considering St. John's, Penn State, West Virginia, Old Dominion and a few others.

PBR: Was distance from home a factor in your decision?

Wielgus: Not really, my parents and I did not care about how far it was just as long as I felt comfortable being there.

PBR: Where did the coaches first see you? How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?

Wielgus: The coaches first saw me at USA Baseball's NTIS event in Cary, NC. Then after that we had conversations on the phone and it continued from there.

PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?

Wielgus: The coaches expect me to be a starter and if that doesn't work then they expect me to get innings out of the pen.

PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?

Wielgus: I am very competitive which helps me a lot in my pitching approach.

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?

Wielgus: This past summer I played for Baseball U. The whole experience of playing down south most of the summer is something that I will always remember.

PBR: Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your junior season?

Wielgus: I want to continue to develop as a ball player.  Our goal as a team is to win both the league championship and the independent schools state tournament.

PBR: How did Prep Baseball Report aid you in gaining exposure as a potential college baseball recruit?

Wielgus: The Midwest Future Games provided me a great deal of exposure because it was loaded with scouts from all over the country.


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