DAVISON - The coronavirus has had a major effect on the numbers game with college programs. Players permitted an additional year means increased rosters at many schools.

For JD Garman, it meant a time to re-evaluate a college commitment.

“They already have 50-some guys in the program with the added players and it will be 64 or 65 when I get there,” Garman said about Marshall, where the Powers Catholic senior had committed in August of 2020. “I want to play as a freshman.”

So in the second week of October of his senior year in high school, the 22nd-rated 2021 in Michigan decided to look elsewhere for a future home.

“It was stressful but I knew I had to decommit,” explained Garman. “It put weight back on my shoulders. I was kind of nervous about what to do. I wanted to play anywhere but not a lot of them knew I was back on the radar.

“I sent out a lot of emails and Rick Sellers, my catching coach, and Ward Elliott, a scout, helped with phones. It was difficult at first, but once I was out there it started to set in. After a week or two, I felt relieved at last to have one more shot to play at the next level.”

Interest in the third-ranked senior catcher in the state began to come in.
“I was talking with Oakland, Eastern Michigan and a few JUCOs, but most wanted to see me play in the spring,” Garman related. “Then Purdue-Fort Wayne reached out right before Christmas. Two weeks later it was 2001. They offered the first week of January.”

The Horizon League school saw more in the 6-2 210-pounder than many colleges.

“A lot of coaches like my offensive side of things, but Purdue-Fort Wayne liked my defense ... my receiving, blocking, throwing,” Garman explained. “When they brought that up, along with my hitting, I was feeling really pumped about that.”

After all, it was only five years ago that Garman had changed positions from an outfielder to catcher.

“I’ve really improved there the past five months,” Garman said about his abilities behind the plate. “On the defensive side I’ve really improved my glove game and my blocking back there.”

But the switch-hitting backstop has not forgotten about the importance of making progress with his bat.

“I’ve been working on the offensive side with Bruce Fields, the Mets Double-A hitting instructor,” Garman noted. “He’s helped me get into the lower half and with hand work staying on the ball longer.”

The improvement was noticed by Purdue-Fort Wayne and, not only did an offer come, but a commitment as well.

“They only have 36 players so I knew I could see time as a freshman,” Garman pointed out about what he liked with Purdue-Fort Wayne. “The campus is fairly new and the trio of coaches - Doug Schreiber the head coach, Ken Jones the catching coach and Brent McNeil the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator - brought that to my attention.

“My family and I went on a visit,” Garman added about a trip to the university in northeast Indiana, 21/2 hours from his Michigan home. “I fell in love with the campus. I knew it was where I wanted to be.”

Once a decision was made, admittedly, there was a lot of elation in the Garman household.

“I was super pumped and excited,” noted Garman, who carries a 3.4 GPA and plans to major in business at Purdue-Fort Wayne. “When I first decided, it was really exciting for me and my family. My grandparents played a major role in my life and I know they’re smiling down from heaven. We had some others come over to celebrate. I was really proud of myself.”

The same could be said of his father, Daniel, a former college player at Michigan State who went on to play in the Orioles’ organization.

“When I first told him he gave me the biggest hug,” Garman reflected. “He knew he could see me play more and knew the amount of work I’d put in. The day I committed was a great day. He was a very proud dad.”