MICHAEL MADERE '26 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I have been told by many coaches that baseball is a hard game to play and impossible to master. For me, not playing baseball this spring of my freshman year due to injury has been so much harder.

Baseball has been one of the central pillars of my life as far back as I can remember.  I started playing baseball as soon as I was able to walk, hitting and throwing plastic balls in my backyard.   Then, at 3 years old, I began recreational ball at our local playground.  I joined a travel team when I was 7 years old and played travel for about 6 years.   Our travel team was a little unique in that 9 of our players stayed together from 8U through 13U.  We culminated our journey together by claiming the 13U Open championship at the Perfect Game Orange Beach World Series in 2021.  

Then I started my highschool career. After starting over 40 games as an 8th grader during my prep season and then summer and fall league, I couldn’t wait for my freshman year to begin.  But I learned that sometimes God has other plans.  During my first practice in January 2023, I broke my leg while participating in a baserunning drill.  A couple days in the hospital and one surgery later, I was on the road to a complete recovery.  But I have had to sit out my whole freshman prep season while going to physical therapy and rehabbing. 

During this period of recuperation, I have attended every game and practice I could.  As much as being confined to the dugout has made me feel desperate to get back on the field, it has also given me some perspective.   I have grown as a team player, focusing on what I could do for my teammates to help push us to victory. That might be helping to warm up pitchers, cleaning up the dugout, grabbing items for coaches, or simply  cheering on my teammates during their at bats.   The time off has also taught me more about the game of baseball and what it takes to be successful.   Strategy, situational hitting, defensive adjustments: I’ve had time to process all of these and observe what worked and what did not (and why).  

That all said, nothing compares to playing the game.  Missing the whole season has really driven me crazy to get me back on the field with my teammates. I am excited to start back up in the summer to try and help my team in any aspect they need.

Aside from baseball, I am a well rounded  student athlete.  I generally make As and Bs, and I try to be active in various after school activities.  I have appreciated my other interests and commitments while being off the baseball diamond.  But baseball is still what I am thinking about when I get up in the morning.  Not being able to play has really motivated me to try as hard as I can to get healthy and to get back on the field.  I’m ready to raise my game to the next level and help my high school team compete for a championship.   And I cannot wait to find the perfect fit for my collegiate career.