RHP Liam Hagland (Germantown) physical 6-foot-1 frame with feel to fill the zone with an advanced two-pitch mix featuring a lively fastball that flashes carry/run traits to pair with a firm pair of secondaries that both look to play at the next level. Also a notable right-handed bat with some big impact at the plate, capable of driving the ball with authority to all parts of the field.

We recently had the chance to talk to Liam's 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?

Liam: If I’m being honest I was both incredibly excited and nervous about the process because I really didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to establish a connection with strong coaches that saw my talent and areas of opportunity for me to continue to improve. I wanted to find the perfect fit for me as a baseball player and at the same time a strong school to fit my academic expectations and with a strong Finance/Accounting program. I was fortunate enough to make a lot of really great connections with coaches and programs across the country and to take a couple of visits to some amazing college programs. As I went through those visits I started to get a better understanding of what I wanted for the next couple of years. Overall, I just wanted to find a program that made me feel like home and one that I knew would continue to develop me to be my very best. That is what I found at South Dakota State.   

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

L: Ultimately what helped me make my decision came down to coaching. Over the course of the summer the coaches from SDSU came to watch me at three different tournaments. Every time I connected with them they were amazing, super engaged and positive and they always gave me great feedback on what they were seeing and what they were liking about my pitching. They had a clear point of view of where I would best fit within their program and how I could best contribute when I got there. When I took my first visit, I was comforted by everyone. Players and coaches treated me like I was part of their family. I wanted to go to SDSU because I could imagine myself there and it felt like home. I also felt like I could make an immediate impact and continue to develop myself as a player. 

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

L: Some advice that I would give to younger baseball players is to never give up on your goals and your dreams and to push yourself to get 1% better everyday. I constantly pushed myself to put in the work, and on the days where I felt lazy or didn’t want to do anything, I was reminded that other players were working just as hard, and I always wanted to be the best in everything I did. I also want younger players to know that your hard work will eventually work out in the end. Stay patient and all of the long hours and effort will pay off. You have to want your dream more than anyone else and do what it takes to make sure that dream becomes a reality.    

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

L: Location wasn’t really a big factor in my decision because I had interest in many places that were really far from home. I loved the campus at SDSU and the great part is, it is still driving distance for much of my family.

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

L: The recruiting process started off really slow at first. I would get emails about camps and some coaches would call or text me to come to those camps. My process really started to heat up my junior summer. I was fortunate enough to be able to get a lot of calls and coaches coming to see me pitch at tournaments. Things really started to progress after my outings at the Senior Future Games and Wisconsin State Games. These two showcases really helped me get the interest and make the connections I wanted. SDSU saw me play at numerous tournaments, and really saw something in me from the beginning. They pressed harder on their interest after my outing at the Wisconsin State Games.      

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

L: Yes, both the Senior Future Games and the Wisconsin State Games really accelerated my recruiting process. These two showcases really helped me get the visibility I needed and the opportunity to make really great connections with coaches from incredible programs. Both of these showcases gave me the platform I needed to show college coaches my abilities and to compete against the best players in the country.     

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

L: I was fortunate to have a lot of interest from many colleges across all divisions, but my top schools that I was actively engaged in conversations and taking visits with were Oregon, Holy Cross, and SDSU.  

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

L: One of the best players that I have faced in the state is Cail Geiger. For high school we face them every year, and he always gives us a hard time. He has some great pitches with a lot of movement, and also throws really hard.

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?

L: I would steal Tyson Grulkowski’s build as a pitcher.

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

L: There are many young players that are making huge jumps coming out of Germantown. Our Sophomore class is especially strong. I would definitely keep an eye out for Landon Hagland, Brady Lauer, Brady Keller, Nolan Vogt, and Connor Meyers. They will have significant roles in the program over the next couple years and will make great contributions to the team.     

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?

L: I realized I was a college caliber player when I started my high school career. Baseball is my favorite sport and I have loved it ever since I was young. I have always had dreams and goals of going Division 1 and I wanted to make that dream come true. I have always been serious about my game ever since I was young, but I really started to accelerate my training in high school by adjusting my diet, being consistent with a strength and conditioning program, and taking pitching lessons to get my game to the next level. 

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

L: The most memorable moment of my baseball career without a doubt is committing to play the sport I have always dreamed of playing at a Division 1 college, at SDSU.  

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

L: I am really excited and confident about our team’s opportunity this season. Though we lost some of our strong arms, we also have a lot of new talent. We are going to have a lot of younger guys playing huge roles on our team this season. We still have some key contributors in our upper class, and I feel with this caliber of talent we will be able to make a good run. We are especially hungry for a redemption run at state. 

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