Q&A with Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit Camden Kuhnke
November 21, 2022
As a sophomore, RHP/SS Camden Kuhnke (Hortonville, 2023) first burst onto the scene during the Fox Cities Preseason ID after stringing together one of the day's better ‘pens which earned him a top-30 spot inside our ‘23 rankings. Since then, Kuhnke seemed to have improved with each look we got at him, starting in the winter at the Milwaukee Preseason ID. There, the righty put together another memorable ‘pen in front of our staff, as he topped at 90 mph on his hardest bullet and was also able to spin in a short wrinkle curveball that we have seen miss barrels in the past. Not only did he impress on the mound during this event, he also showed some two-way potential as he registered a 94.4 mph max EV and a 6.93 60-yard dash time. After this performance in the winter, Kuhnke continued to produce in front of our staff in multiple looks in the spring and into the summer during the Badger State Games.
Towards the end of the summer, Kuhnke announced his commitment to the state's only D1 baseball team, Wisconsin - Milwaukee. We had the opportunity to speak with the future Panther about his recruiting process along with a handful of other baseball related topics.
LATEST SCOUTING REPORT
OUR Q&A
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at? What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Kuhnke: I didn’t really know what to expect for the recruiting process. When I was looking for colleges, I was looking for a team that had great energy and had a family like culture.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
K: Yes. My parents are my biggest supporters and I knew they really wanted to watch me play wherever I went. I wanted to stay close to home to save my parents from having to travel a lot.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
K: My recruiting process started after I went to the Hitters showcase the summer going into my junior year. That is where Milwaukee first saw me and reached out to me.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
K: I like how it is a family at Milwaukee. When I went on my tour there, I got a chance to talk to present and former players. The way they loved the program and how close they were to the coaches really helped me make my decision to commit there.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
K: Baseball is the hardest sport and that can cause a lot of kids to lose interest in the game. If you truly love it and work hard you will be better than most kids.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
K: My most memorable moment was my junior year in the Regional Final game against Kaukauna. We were down 0-7 and everybody started to leave. We ended up coming back and tying the game at 7-7. I got up with runners on first and third, two outs in the sixth and I hit a go-ahead home run to put us up 10-7 and we ended up winning 10-9.
P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?
K: I feel Hortonville is a state contender. We have six seniors so far going to play baseball in college and we might possibly have more. I have very high hopes for this team and I look forward to a great season!
P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?
K: I may be bias but I believe the best young player on our highschool team is my brother C/1B Turner Kuhnke (Hortonville, 2025). He started on our highschool team as a freshman and was even voted our best defensive player. He made a big impact already on the team and I’m excited to see what his future holds.
Scouting Report
After clocking a 6.93 60 yard dash, Kuhnke showed well in the box. He averaged near 88mph exits as he drilled balls around the field as far as 350ft. Then moved to his infield session and showed off a strong arm (90mph) across the diamond. From the mound, Kuhnke posted one of the day's best fastballs (90), a short wrinkle curveball, and a low spin changeup to round out the mix.