Garrett Dehlinger '22 Recruiting Profile

Now that I have grown older and look back at my baseball career to this point, I am as proud of how I fought through adversity and the success I experienced. One of the best baseball memories I had was when my team won the Little League Southeast Tournament of State Champions when I was 10.  That tournament and my whole time in little league helped me grow as a person and a baseball player. Working hard and listening to recommendations my coaches have made helped me become a better player and pitcher on the mound and lead me to pitch one of the best games of my life against Alabama.

My 12-year old little league year I was left off the all-star team after being a significant part of that team for the previous 4 years.  I was devastated, but in the league championship game a couple weeks later I hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the title. Then later that summer my travel team faced the all-star team in a tournament. I pitched 3 shutout innings with 4 K’s and went 2 for 3 with two doubles against them. The all-star coach, who I really liked, came up to me after the game and said great job Garrett you proved you should be on this team. Playing little league helped me understand the values of dedication and teamwork and how both of those contribute to success. 

A couple of seasons later I had an injury. It was again tough for me to sit on the sidelines and watch my teammates play. I committed myself to the rehab I came back stronger than I was before. I batted near .400 and had a game where I struck out 10 in 4.2 innings including 8 K’s in a row later in the summer. I learned that you cannot feel sorry for yourself and you have to fight for the things you want.

Baseball means a lot to me because it helps me push myself and allows me to set and meet goals I want to achieve now and in the future.  My freshman and sophomore years I have worked hard with weight training and baseball specific workouts to gain more velocity, and become a better hitter.  I have also learned new study techniques to improve my grades.

My college goal is to attend a school that meets my baseball and academic desires.  I want to attend a school that challenges me academically but also cares about their student athletes and their success on and off the field. I am very excited to enter this stage of my life, and I am ready to see what the future has in store for me.  I look forward to seeing how I can grow to become a better baseball player and person throughout my high school and collegiate career.