Commitment To Toledo Has Gravelle Anxious For What Lies Ahead

Cam Gravelle SS / RHP / Grimsby, ON / 2024

SMITHVILLE, Ontario - It isn’t often the case that a coach has an interest in a player that is “annoying” but that was the case with Cam Gravelle.

“I was with the Ontario Royals and we played against Toledo in a fall trip last year,” the Grimsby High School senior reflected. “We played two seven-inning games and I ended up 5-for-7 with a couple stolen bases. That’s when interest initially started.”

While an offer and commitment eventually came, the UT coach admitted to Gravelle his immediate thoughts about that performance.

“The coach said he was annoyed with me the day we played a doubleheader,” Gravelle related. “I was 5-6, 5-7 140 pounds when we played against them and he said to his team ‘the kid looks 12 and he’s running all over you.’ He told me that. He said they want me to get bigger and stronger, but they like how I’m an aggressive baserunner. They like my IQ on the field as far as getting the job done and playing the game simple.”

A 4.0 GPA is another plus Toledo liked about the third-rated 2024 shortstop in Ontario, who played two more times against them before getting serious about the recruit from Canada.

“We played Toledo in the summer and I hit a leadoff home run, and then again at UT and I went 3-for-3 with two doubles,” Gravelle remembered. “The recruiting coordinator (Nick McIntyre) texted me after that and said he wanted me to join the squad.

“I had a call a week later with the head coach and he offered. He said they had one open spot for a middle infielder. I waited two weeks and then went all in on it.”

There were offers from other Mid-American Conference schools as well as Canisius, while Gravelle was also talking with Dayton and Maine, in addition to Michigan showing some interest.

“Toledo had the most intriguing offer,” Gravelle reasoned as to his college choice. “Their field is cool and the campus is pretty nice. I know a couple that went there and they said they treat athletes great. They have a hitting program and it’s close to home, six hours away. My parents want to stay in touch and be able to come and watch.

“They also have new turf on the field,” the 15th-ranked 2024 in Ontario continued. “Basically, it’s what I wanted. The MAC is a good conference, they finished third last year and almost made it to regionals. I want to make it to regionals, that would be cool, and they have a great chance.”

It was a couple years back when Gravelle, who turned 18 on Sept. 26, decided college baseball was something he wanted in his future.

“I was playing 14U and 15U and was asked to play on a team that toured against big universities,” Gravelle noted. “When you get into that atmosphere it made me want to play at one of those schools with the crazy facilities. Once I played in a showcase as a 15-year-old against 18-year-olds and saw I could compete with the older guys I knew I had a chance to play.

“When I moved to the Royals in the CBL and hit .450 my first year I didn’t get recognition, but the next year I put up the same numbers and it all started to come together, getting recognized and invited to things. I knew then it was 100 percent what I wanted to do, with a chance to play pro one day.” 

Now 5-8 and 170 pounds, size has never been a concern.

“It doesn’t faze me,” Gravelle said. “I still had 100 velo at the Canadian Showcase. I want to be faster than all of them and hit it farther than all of them. I don’t play like I’m 5-8, but I train like I’m 5-8.”

The first college look came at age 13 with a camp invite and two years later Gravelle was talking with D-II and D-III schools.

“I went on a fall trip and almost every school we played reached out to me,” Gravelle reflected. “I ended up talking to schools in the south. After that I was invited to the PBR Procase and they took a lot of video and sent it to coaches.

“The biggest thing for me was budget, making it affordable,” Gravelle added. “That drove me to be better in school and train harder. I wanted a chance to play D-I. Then I went to the Canadian Showcase and had a rough time, but I had one good day and that’s when it exploded.”

Improvement has been vital according to the left-handed hitter.

“The main thing I’ve worked on is getting stronger and faster,” related Gravelle, who credited hitting coach Brett Graham, pitching coach Jonathan Kovack and infield coach Tyler O’Brien with helping his game. “I was 7.4-7.5 last year and as a shortstop you’re not going to play D-I doing that. I was 140-150, couldn’t hit a home run and my exit was in the low-80s. I wanted to hit triple digits. So I trained a ton working on hitting and arm strength. Now I’m pulling down 95.”

Gravelle is also now a D-I college commit.

“I was at a girlfriend’s the night I committed talking to a Michigan coach on the phone,” Gravelle explained. “When I got the call from Toledo I did a three-way call with my mom/dad, me and (head) coach (Rob) Reinstetle. It was a stress-relieving day. You feel really good once it all falls into place.”

Exercise science will be the college major for Gravelle, who is ready for the next level of baseball.

“Guys hitting 400 foot-plus home runs, guys throwing in the mid-90s … that drives me, being on the field with guys better than me,” Gravelle concluded. “I want to be the best player on the field.

“Being on the field every day is going to be fun. I want to play baseball as much as possible.”