Nick English wins PBR Kansas Player of the Year

To what comes as a surprise to no one, Olathe South catcher Nick English has brung home honors as the PBR Kansas Player of the Year. English put together a complete season for the Falcons, garnering a unanimous selection.

English’s prominent attribute comes behind the plate, throwing out six of 10 potential base stealers this season along with seven pickoffs. Another part of what makes English so impressive at catcher is that he calls his own pitches.

“I like it (calling pitches) because I'm able to read swings and know what my pitchers want to throw,” English said. 

Olathe South head coach Josh Perkins had high praise for what English can do as a catcher.

“Defensively he changes the game more than any player I have ever coached,” Perkins said. “His ability to control the running game changes the way high school teams want to play. Over the past three years he has called every pitch. His receiving and blocking skills are phenomenal. When teams are not trying to steal he is looking to pick them off.”

English has seen great success controlling the running game, which he attributes to quickness.

“I try to be quick because I don’t have a super great arm,” English said. “(I try to) be super quick with my feet, and a big part of it is the pitchers being quick to the plate too.”

However, English is not just a defensive catcher. He saw a lot of success at the plate this season, slashing .418/.523/.746. English tallied seven doubles and five home runs and drove in 20.

“Offensively he has become one of the most feared hitters in the area,” Perkins said. “He has tremendous hands and body control and consistently finds the barrel. His work ethic in the weight room has helped him develop the strength to drive the baseball.”

English utilized a stress-free approach which translated into his best offensive season.

“(I was) a lot looser this year than I was last year,” English said of his approach at the plate. “(I) really just wanted to have fun for my last high school season and that translated into playing better.”

As English closes the book on high school and heads to college, he will follow in the footsteps of his brother and father, who both played baseball at Kansas. His brother Jake is a junior at Kansas, also a catcher, and hit 10 home runs last season while throwing out 16/31 base stealers. However, English will head across the state to play for Kansas State.

“They called me the same night I decommitted from Texas A&M,” English said on his decision to choose Kansas State. “It was a big thing because it showed me they were interested right off the bat.”

Another reason English settled on Kansas State is the relationship he built with head coach Pete Hughes and his son PJ.

“Another big thing was the coaching staff and the school itself,” English said. “They made it feel very easy and welcoming. I played with Coach Hughes’ son PJ, and me and my parents got to know him through that.”

English has all the tools and work ethic to find success in the near future for the Wildcats.

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