TWINSBURG - Throwing from the left side has its advantages in more ways than one. 

The need to find a southpaw pitcher on the roster helped connect Akron with Kaden Kimmel and the Twinsburg senior is now a commit to the Mid-American Conference school.

“Akron started talking to me two months ago after I reached out to them with video, and they liked what they saw,” Kimmel reflected. “Akron is rebuilding now. They had JUCO players before and now they’re trying to build up their roster with freshmen down the road. They had no left-hand pitchers.”

That is where the 12th-rated 2021 lefty in Ohio comes in.

“They like that I have a tall frame and have a lot of projectability,” the 6-3 197-pounder said. “I have a five-pitch mix with a high strikeout volume. I walk too many, but I can work on that.”

After all, the 17-year-old only began pitching during 15u baseball.

“I didn’t play much baseball competitively but I tried out and made the Ohio Skyhawks team,” Kimmel explained. “It was tough at first, but I started to focus on pitching - I have a lot of raw talent - and now I’ve become competitive.”

College baseball also came into the picture at that juncture.

“It was first mentioned to me by the Ohio Skyhawks,” the 85th-ranked senior in the state said about playing collegiately. “If you want to be on the team, they said you have to want to play at the next level. They familiarized me with how it works and gave me the right tools to prepare myself for the next level.”

Kimmel credited Eric Martin and Mike Grady with playing major roles in his development.

“Eric Martin was a big catalyst in taking me under his wing and refining my pitching,” Kimmel said of the head coach of the Skyhawks. “He recommended me to Mike Grady and I don’t know where I’d be without him. He taught me about velo, control and pitch shape. Those two are the biggest influences when it comes to where I’m at now.”

The second-rated uncommitted left-handed pitcher in the state’s 2021 class prior to his decision to attend Akron has made improvements of late.

“The last year was big for me,” noted Kimmel, who pointed to an improved changeup and slider as being beneficial in becoming a better pitcher. “I only started pitching in 15u and averaged almost a walk per inning back then. The big thing for me was to improve my accuracy.  

“I went to the Mike Grady school for pitching and that was big in helping my movement. Now I’m able to make everything with my pitching precise.”

Charleston, Northern Illinois, Air Force, Millersville and Marshall were colleges under consideration by Kimmel before deciding on Akron as a future home.

“I couldn’t get on campus so we had virtual calls,” explained Kimmel, who a year ago took an academic tour of the university. “We went over the academic side of things as well as what they want the program to look like in a couple of years.

“I live 30 minutes away which is a big part for me,” Kimmel added. “There are a lot of benefits like the staff and the technology they have. All the tools are lined up for me. It’s a great opportunity to play D-I.”

A major in business administration with a focus on real estate is the plan for Kimmel, a 4.1 student who believes he can be a major help to the program.

“I see myself as a guy who can step up and be a leader on the team,” Kimmel said. “I want to win and turn the program around so they can be competitive in the MAC for a long time.”

It was a perfect fit in the eyes of Kimmel.

“I was looking for an opportunity for playing time and Akron said they needed me to make an immediate impact,” Kimmel noted. “They had no left-handed arm. It’s close to home and I’ve gone through all the academics there and it aligns with what I want. There was more uncertainty (with playing time) at the other schools.”

Relief comes with the knowledge of knowing where your future will take place.

“It seemed simple but the recruiting process took longer than expected,” Kimmel admitted. “But it was fun seeing what everyone had to offer and weighing the pros and cons and assess where you’re at.

“I’m very, very happy how it all turned out. Akron is the place I thought I’d go to a couple years ago and to hear they were offering me … the moment was surreal. It will be fun to continue my future there.”