Buckeye Bound: 2026 baseball commit Nathan Bryant discusses path to Ohio State

HARTVILLE, OHIO – Almost every Ohio State athletic program utilize prospect camps as an opportunity to evaluate high school prospects, including baseball.

2026 right-handed pitcher commit Nathan Bryant is one prospect that earned his opportunity to be a Buckeye through a camp. The Hartville (Ohio) Lake Center Christian standout only threw at one camp but he made the most of it.

Lettermen Row recently caught up with Bryant about his path to Ohio State for this edition of ‘Buckeye Bound’, a weekly conversation with prospects committed to the Scarlet & Gray to play sports other than football.

“So I had the option to go to Ohio State’s camp or Kentucky’s camp,” Bryant told Lettermen Row. “And for some reason I just felt like I wanted to go to the Ohio State one way more than the Kentucky one. So we went down, I didn’t know what to expect. 

“Got there with my two friends and felt great the entire time. Went through my warm-ups, got on the mound, and I knew as soon as I took the mound that my stuff was going to be there. And it was going to be impressive, and I knew it would impress them as well.”

Bryant camped at Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 2. He announced his commitment to the Buckeyes just three days later on Wednesday, April 5.

As soon as he left campus, Bryant knew he wanted to play for head coach Justin Haire and the entire Ohio State coaching staff.

“I liked the coaching staff,” Bryant said. “I knew as soon as I talked to them, they were the right fit. They’re just the best coaching staff I’ve probably seen at a college and they’re just really nice. They have the same faith as me, and I really appreciate that. I just felt like it was the right place.”

Bryant is one of five commitments for Ohio State in the 2026 class and one of four pitchers. Additionally, all four pitcher are from the state of Ohio. The group includes Massillon (Ohio) Jackson left-handed pitcher Landon Thiel, who is Bryant’s travel ball teammate. 2026 Rowlett (Texas) catcher Jeffrey Claycomb is the only position player in the class.