Brayden Runion '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Brayden Runion, I'm a RHP/OF with a 3.8GPA for the class of 2023, playing for Dixie Heights High School out of Edgewood, KY.  My goal is to compete on the diamond at a high level for as long as I can to reach my fullest potential.  Every year I have continued to keep my head down and grind to outwork everyone around me in the classroom, in the weight room, at the dinner table and on the diamond.  When I was 4 my family moved to Tampa, FL area where I begin playing baseball year round with club teams and in late 2017 my family moved back to the Northern Kentucky area to be closer to my grandparents to help as they grow older.  Unfortunately I didn't get a Freshmen high school season due to Covid, but our travel team did continue to have a season.  As a sophomore I was undersized at 5' 10" 140lbs, but was throwing mid 70's but always had good accuracy for location to make batters miss.  I realized I needed to focus on myself and put on muscle to continue to improve.  I then started a high protein diet consuming 5,000 calories per day and focus my weight training heavy on my legs for power off the mound, I also went through Driveline training to help build endurance with my arm which was effective.  As a Junior I was up to 165lbs and sitting around 80mph topping out at 83/84mph.  Had a good HS season finished 7-1 as a starting pitcher, but didn't understand the recruiting process and didn't think any colleges would look at a 165lbs junior.  I continued my training and diet and entering my 2023 HS season, I have grown to 6' 190lbs, squatting 335lbs, benching 245lbs and deadlifting over 400lbs.  I'm currently sitting at 85mph and topping out at 87mph off the mound with a goal to hit 90mph.  I do not go out and party, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I focus on school and baseball.  I'm not 100% sure what I want to do after college as I plan to focus on a business degree, but I do know that I want to continue to compete on the diamond to see my full potential.  No offense to any of my teammates over the years, but none of them have put in the work and dedication with the discipline that I have.  I fully believe I will make any team better at any level and give our team the opportunity to win once I toe the rubber.  I have a good arsenal of pitches and speeds that always keeps the batters guessing and off balanced, which gets a lot of easy pop ups and ground balls for our teams to make plays.  As an outfielder, I can cover ground with the best of them, willing to lay out with multiple diving catches over the years and always love when someone tries to run on me and I get to throw them out from the outfield.