Commitment Q&A with '26 INF Luc Gaca Thiele (Columbia University)
January 20, 2026
2026 INF LUC GACA THIELE (COLUMBIA COMMIT)
 |
Luc Gaca Thiele 3B / RHP / Fossil Ridge, CO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 1
Gaca Thiele is another quality hit tool coming out of the state in 2026 as last spring the lefty really broke out with a .538 average, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and a 1.470 OPS across 108 plate appearances at the 5A level. The Future Games alumni has some dangerous pop to the pull side while he is still able to use his advanced plate coverage to spray the ball all over the field, with a low K rate to boot (10% in spring 2025). Gaca Thiele profiles well in the corner infield and will be taking his swing to Columbia University after next spring.
|
OUR Q&A:
Prep Baseball: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Luc: I always knew that I was going to prioritize a great education in the college I chose. This really helped me determine what schools I wanted to pursue in my recruiting process. I also knew I wanted to play against the best competition and the Ivy League overlapped on both of those areas, so that is where I really concentrated my recruitment on.
Prep Baseball: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
Luc: My favorite part about Columbia’s baseball program is their style of play. It is an offensive powerhouse of a program and it fits my style of play very well.
Prep Baseball: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
Luc: Strength is one of the most important factors in what scouts look for in a player because it helps to determine if they will be able to compete early on in their college careers. My advice would be to get in the weight room and get stronger so that you already have a head start when recruitment begins.
Prep Baseball: Was there a particular Prep Baseball tournament or showcase that helped accelerate your recruiting process? If yes, how so?
Luc: The 2024 Future Games was extremely important for my recruiting process because of how much exposure it gave me to hundreds of college scouts. There were a bunch of schools that contacted me because they saw me at the Future Games.
Prep Baseball: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
Luc: I valued a high education during my recruiting process so my short list consisted of mainly Ivy League schools like UPenn, Yale, and Dartmouth.
Prep Baseball: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?
Luc: Maddox Burnett is the best player I have faced in Colorado. He is a well rounded athletic player that dominates on the mound and at the plate.
Prep Baseball: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?
Luc: The one tool I would steal from another player in the state is Britain Fox’s speed.
Prep Baseball: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?
Luc: Mason Clark is a sophomore this year at Fossil Ridge who will definitely turn heads this upcoming season. He has a well developed toolset paired with wicked athleticism.
Prep Baseball: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
Luc: The most memorable moment in my baseball career is hitting a home run for Team Colorado in the Future Games.
Prep Baseball: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?
Luc: Fossil Ridge is coming off of our first ever state tournament run, and I think we are in a good position to get back there again this year.
Follow Luc on X: @gtreaper44
or Instagram: gtreaper44
RECENT NEWS:
- CO Commitment Q&A with '27 RHP/OF Colten Smith (BYU) 1/20/26
- CO Commitment Q&A with '26 INF Luc Gaca Thiele (Columbia University) 1/20/26
- CO Commitment Q&A with '26 RHP Sam Eldredge (Cal Poly University) 1/15/26
- CO Commitment Q&A with '27 RHP/UTL Cooper Vais (University of Texas) 1/13/26
- CO Commitment Q&A with '26 RHP Alex King (Xavier University) 1/12/26
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/01 | The MAX - McCook, IL |
| Northern Colorado Preseason ID | CO | 02/01 | Lasorda Legacy Academy - Johnstown, CO |
| South Denver Preseason ID | CO | 02/08 | HitStreak - Aurora, CO |
| Denver Preseason ID | CO | 02/15 | Next Era - Englewood, CO |
| Colorado Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) | CO | 02/22 | The Farm Sports - Colorado Springs, CO |