By Wayne Witkowski
Tyler Ras made an early decision this summer to continue his baseball career with an athletic financial package at NCAA Division I powerhouse University of Alabama.
It’s an early decision, as the 6-foot-3 right-handed-throwing switch-hitter enters his junior year at Middletown High School North. But it’s a well-informed decision that was deeply examined. Ras said he can add on an academic financial aid package later if he meets certain criteria at Alabama.
Ras said he was assured he can be a two-position player as a pitcher and outfielder at Alabama by new head coach Gregg Goff, who just finished his first season there. He played both positions the past two seasons at Middletown North.
Ras spent the last two summers unofficially visiting six established Division I Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference (including Alabama) powers in the southern states — a rarity for anyone pondering a college career. He took that opportunity while playing in Florida and Georgia over the last three years for the Tri-State Arsenal, a nationally recognized travel team of players 16 and younger out of Mount Holly that competes in premiere tournaments.
Last summer, Ras unofficially visited Duke University, Clemson University and Wake Forest University. This summer, he unofficially visited the University of North Carolina, Alabama and North Carolina State University. He also has considered the University of Notre Dame, Oklahoma State University and Rutgers University.
“I got more understanding. I saw a lot of places, saw the pros and cons and got a sense of what’s going on,” Ras said. “I enjoyed the process that goes into the decision.”
“Usually a kid is interested in one or two colleges but to visit that many is rare,” his dad, Glen, said.
Glen Ras also runs Middletown’s Babe Ruth program and some basketball programs in town.
“There were well over 10 schools [involved], and there was not enough time to visit them all,” he said. “It was difficult, very challenging and became impossible. It’s very unique and pretty impressive when you consider all the kids from the warm weather states to have this for someone from the Northeast and from New Jersey.”
Tyler Ras will play Aug. 14 to 15 in the Perfect Game Underclass All-America Game in San Diego as one of the top 40 rated incoming high school juniors across the country.
Last spring, Ras batted .338 playing in center field when he wasn’t pitching for Middletown North. He had a misleading 4-5 record as a pitcher with a 1.46 ERA. He struck out 35 and walked nine in 48 innings pitched.
Middletown North went from a seven-win season in 2015 to a 16-11 record and a third-place finish in the Shore Conference A North Division, including a 6-2 victory over perennial division and Non-Public A state championship contender Christian Brothers Academy.
“Pitching was the biggest difference, and the big reason is we had a lot more experience with our starters — guys who had solid numbers compared to the previous season,” Middletown North coach Justin Nathanson said.
Ras said his high school teammates were ecstatic when he told them of his decision.
Ras also had a solid summer with Tri-State Arsenal, with which his fastball increased velocity from the high 80s in the spring to 91 miles per hour. He pitched in three games this summer and also batted second in the lineup.
Ras said Alabama’s pitching coach attended most of the Tri-State Arsenal games.
Tri-State Arsenal finished in the top six of a Super 25 Nationals invitational in Fort Myers, Florida, and reached the round of 16 in the Perfect Game World Series in Georgia. The latter showcase had 344 teams competing, and Ras pitched in two games. He also threw a one-hitter in the championship of an elite tournament also held in Fort Myers against the Florida Gators. He was taken out with two out in the last inning after throwing 93 pitches, but the reliever held the lead.
Ras also earned praise from Adam Dunn, a former major leaguer managing Marucci Houston that lost to Tri-State Arsenal with Ras on the mound in Georgia.
“[Dunn] said to me afterward, ‘You did an awesome job. You kept us off balance,’ ” Ras said.
“He was in the zone that game. He throws a hard, heavy ball,” Tri-State Arsenal manager Justyn Carter said, as Ras throws a four-seam and a two-seam fastball, a changeup and a cutter. “He hides the ball well, and his changeup dances around [the plate]. Against Marucci Houston, he was in the zone and they were a little late [swinging at his pitches].
“Defensively, he’s awesome in the field. He’s a special kid who will go big places if he continues to learn.”
Carter said other players on his team are committed to Mississippi State University, Clemson, Duke, University of Virginia, University of Kentucky and University of Connecticut.
Ras attributed his hard work and putting extra time in the batting cages, weight room and running as keys to his success, as well as regularly doing long toss and working with the exercise stretch band for helping his arm strength.
“His success is no surprise, He does a lot of things behind the scenes that nobody sees,” Nathanson said. “He did workouts after school, went to the field on his own, always going the extra mile.”
Nathanson said he may tap into the well-rounded athleticism of Ras to move him into the infield next spring at Middletown North, which has been depleted by graduation.
“He’s a leader. He goes about his business the right way and is determined to go get it,” Carter said.
After the summer, Ras said he will lighten his schedule significantly to rest his arm until gearing up after the holidays for next spring with Middletown North.
Garrett French will return to the Lions’ deep pitching corps for his senior season after he put together fine pitching numbers with a 1.48 ERA in 42.2 innings pitched. Mike Mercier, a three-year starter on the mound, graduated this past spring after tabulating a 1.73 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched. Reliever Hunter Rinn graduates.
Ras will have a lot of new players around him, as first baseman Seth Ziegler, who led the team with 13 RBIs, will continue his baseball career at The College of New Jersey; shortstop Cole Fluta is headed to Brookdale Community College; and catcher Walter Schops is looking to walk on at Coastal Carolina University.
Another graduated player is third baseman Kyle Capo, a third-year starter who led the offense with a .392 batting average, nine doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs in a first team All-Division season. Phil Pecherski, who also graduated, moved from left field to center when Ras pitched. Brendan Doherty also played in left field and batted .367.
