Matthew Eppers is a projectable 6-foot-2 inch, 170 pound outfielder from Elkhart Central HS.  Eppers was a member of Team Indiana at the inaugural Under Armour Prep Baseball Report Midwest Futures Games, which featured the top talent in the class of 2013 from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri.  From the outfield Eppers displays a strong accurate arm at 86 mph, along with good athleticism and the ability to cover a lot of ground.  At last year’s Under Armour Midwest Futures Games he showed good speed running a 6.8 sixty.  At the plate he shows a balanced approach with good bat speed.  Eppers’ swing plane is slightly uphill and long, but shows good pop to the left side.  He has the ability to hit to all fields, but his strength is up the middle and to the left side.

Prep Baseball Report Indiana had the opportunity to sit down with Eppers and ask him some questions on his current recruiting situation, the upcoming season, and where he’s currently at as a baseball player:

PBR:  What is your biggest strength as a player?

Eppers:  I think my biggest strength is my defensive ability.

PBR:  Where do you see yourself playing in college?  What position will you play and what’s your ultimate goal for college baseball?

Eppers:  My ultimate goal is to play at a big D-1 school and to be the starting center fielder.

PBR: What schools are on your top 5 list?

Eppers:  Indiana University, Michigan State, Stanford, Louisville, and South Carolina.

PBR: What is your current GPA?

Eppers:  4.4

PBR:  Have you had the opportunity to take the SAT?

Eppers:  Yes, I got a 1680 altogether.

PBR:  Talk a little about Elkhart Central and the expectations for the 2013 season.

Eppers:  We’re all excited.  We lost two seniors last year, but have most of the guys returning.  Our expectation is to win a state championship, that’s the ultimate goal. 

PBR:  Who are some of stronger teams in your area that you’re going to have to compete with?

Eppers:  Marian will be strong.  Penn always puts together a good team.  Concord has Seth Huxford and Crown Point should be good again as well.

PBR:  Talk about the Under Armour PBR Midwest Futures Games.  Did it help you at all and what was your overall experience at that event?

Eppers:  That was one of the best baseball experiences I’ve ever had in my life.  Playing in front of tons of college coaches and playing with some really talented guys was awesome.  It was a high class event, and one of the best experiences of my life.  It makes me want to keep getting better as a player.

PBR:  Did a lot of the interest in you from college coaches come from that event?

Eppers:  I think a lot of the interest did come from the Futures Games.  A lot of the schools I’m talking to now saw me at the Futures Games.

PBR:  You currently play for the Indiana Chargers organization in the summer, what has that experience been like?

Eppers:  The Chargers have done a lot.  They’ve helped put me on a lot of college coach’s radars.  They have a good reputation and play with some very talented players.  Ben Bailey and Joel Mitchell are great guys that will do anything to help us get to the next level.