OF Kaiden Romens (Hartford Union, 2026) is an athletic left-handed hitting outfielder that has shown well infront of our staff throughout 2025. Compact frame with strength and twitch with noticable bat speed at the plate. Has all of the tools to perfrom at a high level at the top of the order while providing quality defense in all three outfield spots with a chance to play a high-end centerfield if the range ticks up.

We recently had the chance to talk to Kaiden about his recruitment process, along with some other fun topics, below. 

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?

Kaiden: I was looking for a program that would develop me to become a better player and improve on the little things. I was looking for a team that will take a chance on me and most importantly wanted me. In the later stages of the recruitment process I began to realize that there was only just a handful of colleges that have a good history of sending guys to the next level, which was one of the most important things to me. I wanted to land myself at a place where I can leave a big step at, while gaining a big step to my overall goal. 

PB: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

K: Heartland had everything to offer and they met all my standards of a college I wanted to go to. Heartland also reached out to me early in my recruiting process one of the first schools to really take a chance on me and wanted me. That was very important to me. They met my big 3, which is, a school that will develop me to become the best, a school that will send me to the next level, and most importantly, a school that wins day in and day out. Walking into Heartland I didn’t know what to expect, safe to say they wowed me with what they had to offer and everything they offer to make me become the best. The people as well, the coaching staff was beyond nice and I could tell they enjoyed having me there. I could tell they have been watching over me since that first text I got from them. They wanted me and they showed that in many different ways which is a big reason I committed, I knew it is going to be somewhere I can leave my step. 

PB: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

K: Man just keep on working, you got to love the game. If you love the game and you dedicate yourself to being the best at this game day in and day out, you will find a home somewhere. Hard work beats talent 100% of the time so don’t ever stop, there’s always someone coming for your spot so never get complacent. Finally take care of yourself, your body is the most important factor to being the greatest. If you take care of your body and dedicate yourself to getting bigger, stronger, faster everyday, you got a chance kid.  

PB: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

K: Location did not play a location in where I played, it was about going to a school that met my big 3. 

PB: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

K: It started heating up right after high school ball back in the spring. Going into summer a lot of schools started reaching out then right after state games even more started flowing in. Heartland first contacted me after the Prep Baseball showcase at Hitters in March. Then head coach Razo saw me play at Indiana sometime in June. To be honest, that was my worst tournament of the summer, didn’t hit how I wanted but Coach Razo said he saw my drive and my love for the game, another big piece to why I chose Heartland.   

PB: Was there a particular Prep Baseball tournament or showcase that helped accelerate your recruiting process? If yes, how so?

K: State Games definitely got my name even more out there and put me on the map for any schools that attended, plus being posted on the socials from the games helped back up my case.      

PB: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

K: I wouldn’t say I had much of a list lined up honestly, my plan was to pursue JUCO with how the baseball world is now, so the top 2 Jucos were Southeastern Iowa and Hearltand. I didn’t have to much interest in all of the other D1, D2, and D3 schools that reached out but I still liked the connections I built through the process with those schools and all coaches I had talked to were great people and have built great programs.   

PB: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

K: That’s a tough question, I can tell you that the state of Wisconsin is loaded with great talent and I don’t think I can place my finger on one specific player that I’ve played against. I can tell you the best player I have played beside and technically against is Dominic Santarelli. Guy is a freak of nature and works real damn hard. Playing beside him the last 5 years of my life he has definitely taught me some things along the road and we’ve worked together a lot and both love the grind. He’s a tuff opponent because you don’t even want to throw to the guy, he’s always a home-run threat at the plate. Will never forget during high school ball my sophomore year we played them and our pitcher hung a curveball over the middle of the plate at the Dock-hounds stadium and that ball would have went in the highway if it wasn’t for the net they have in right field. But ya kids a baller.  

PB: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

K: Tough question, Colton Semmelmann has a good moving arm so if I could have his arm movement and rotation that would be nice.  

PB: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

K: Brady Helms is definitely one of the better younger talents in the state of Wisconsin, this kid is very overlooked and is due for another breakout season.    

PB: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

K: I honestly feel like i’ve always been built for the next level but it was definitely when I started getting reached out by the division 1 level at the start and being told by many coaches that I was built for this game and continued to perform at the highest level and just getting on myself.    

PB: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

K: Definitely going to state last year for baseball, was a great experience for me and the boys and it was some of the most fun i’d ever have playing this game.  

PB: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

K: I think we are definitely going to have to prove ourselves this year. It won’t be an easy road but honestly that’s how I like it. Who doesn’t love an underdog story. We are going to have to fight every single pitch and every single out of every single game. Need guys to step up this year and take on a bigger role than they’re maybe used to. It all starts right now in the offseason, getting these younger guys bigger, faster and stronger can be the secret to our success this year because nothing will be given, only earned.  

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