Campus Newcomer: Mt Vernon (IN) RHP Nick Heitman
Continuing on with our Iowa Baseball campus newcomers series, we go to the Hoosier State, where the Hawkeyes bring in right-handed pitcher Nick Heitman (McCordsville, IN) over Indiana, Illinois and Cincinnati. Heitman is rated as the #6 right-handed pitcher in the state of Indiana and a top 500 player in the country by Perfect Game.
As a junior at Mount Vernon High School, Heitman earned All-Hoosier Heritage Conference honors. He posted a 3.53 ERA over 35.2 innings, including 62 strikeouts. Opponents batted just .223 against him. Unfortunately, Nick was unable to play his senior season for the Marauders, as he suffered a torn UCL just prior to the season getting underway.
We caught up with the 6-foot-3, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from the Hoosier State to preview his upcoming freshman season with the Hawkeyes.
Q: When do you move to Iowa City and what is your excitement level like for that move in day?
HEITMAN: I am absolutely thrilled to get on campus and finally start my college career. It has been my dream to play college ball since I was a kid.
Q: What number do you plan to wear and why?
HEITMAN: I want to wear number 8 even though it might be hard to get. The reason I want the number is because of Cal Ripken jr. He was my dads favorite player and he was the reason I wore 8. I just stuck with it and now its a part of me.
Q: How did your senior season at Mt Vernon go? What have you learned about yourself as a pitcher over the last couple of years of high school?
HEITMAN: Senior year is somewhat of a rough topic. I tore my ucl a couple weeks before season. It was pretty rough. I spent all of my senior year wishing I would be able to throw and having to watch all my friends get to pitch. It hurt, but it is motivating me to work super hard. However, my junior year was a big year for me fully realizing myself as a pitcher. It all came down to confidence, I believe. Once I started to believe I was part of the best. It really helped me.
Q: What pitches do you have in your arsenal (speeds)? What would you say is your best pitch?
HEITMAN: I have a couple pitches. 4 seam fastball, 90-92. Sinker 90-92 T93. Spike curve, 82-84 T 86. Circle Change, 80-82. My best pitch is definitely my curveball, as it’s my put away pitch, however my sinker is a close 2nd.
Q: Looking back at your recruitment, what stood about the Iowa Baseball program that made them an easy choice over other schools?
HEITMAN: Iowa was a really easy choice for me. I loved how well known Iowa was for transforming pitchers into something great. All my coaches thought I was a great fit for Iowa and so did I. What made the decision the easiest was how nice the coaching staff was and how interested they seamed in me. I felt like going there was just meant for me.
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Q: Were there any other teams that you heavily considered during your recruitment?
HEITMAN: I considered a couple, at the time I was talking to Indiana, Illinois, and Cincinnati. I was talking to some other schools but those were the bigger ones. I knew I was gonna go to Iowa the whole time.
Q: What is your relationship like with the coaching staff? Who do you talk with the most?
HEITMAN: My relationship with the staff felt pretty close, at the time I talked to Sean McGrath a lot and Marty Sutherland. I am now reaching into contact with Sean Kenny the new pitching coach. I’ve done my research on him and he seams like he is going to be a great fit with Iowa.
Q: Have you gotten to talk much with new pitching coach Sean Kenny? How have those early talks with him gone?
HEITMAN: I’ve talked with him a little bit. He seems like a good coach and I know he understands the game on a new level. I hope he can teach me more on the game of baseball.
Q: If someone asked you “what do you bring to the Iowa Baseball team?” How would you describe your game?
HEITMAN: I hope I can come in and prove myself. I feel like that’s a big part what I want to do. If I want to bring an impact to the team, I need to be the best I can. I would describe my game as calm and collected. I also have a competive attidude. There are times when I’m up there and just thinking to myself, I’m going to absolutely crush this kid with this pitch, and I want to beat who I’m facing.
Q: What is your relationship like with the other incoming freshman? Current players?
HEITMAN: I dont know many of the current players. The kids in my class all seem like great kids and I’m excited to play with them all and progress with all of them.
Q: What are your goals for your freshman season at Iowa? What areas of your game do you want to improve?
HEITMAN: As of now im hoping I can just recover from this injury. It would be a blessing if I am able to play my first year. I hope I can improve on my arm while I’m working on recovering.
