Blazing a new trail: Former East standout named NJCAA Pitcher of the Week

Former Belleville East standout Brady Schanuel hoped to be pitching for a Division I baseball program by now, but the talented freshman right-hander may not be waiting too much longer.

Schanuel, a freshman at Parkland Community College in Champaign, was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Pitcher of the Week after striking out 16 in a six-inning one-hitter March 26 against Spoon River.

Using an explosive fastball that registered as high as 93 mph on the radar gun, Schanuel allowed one hit in a 10-0 win and did not walk a batter in his fifth start this season.

Schanuel is 4-1 at Parkland and is ranked second in the nation in strikeout average with 44 in just 26 2/3 innings (14.85 per game). He also ranks fifth nationally with a 1.01 ERA and has allowed only eight walks, 13 hits and three earned runs.

That’s lights-out pitching.

“Pretty much for Division I wasn’t getting the looks and the money I was looking for,” said Schanuel, 5-3 last spring at Belleville East with 91 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings and a 1.37 ERA. “When I took my visit here everything felt right. I really liked the coaches and I love my pitching coach, everything felt right.”

Everything felt right when Schanuel carved up Spoon River like an Easter ham, too. Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are among the Southeastern Conference schools showing early recruiting interest and several professional scouts have taken notice as well, according to Parkland coaches.

“My arm felt just amazing and my fastball was working for me really well,” Schanuel said of his 16-strikeout performance. “My slider was really tight and I could located it really well.”

He will make his next start at home in a 1 p.m. game Sunday in Champaign.

Adding velocity and strength

Schanuel (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) was throwing around 86-87 mph last spring at Belleville East, but also was playing third base when not pitching. He began focusing on pitching only at Parkland during the short fall season, then spent the winter on a strength and conditioning program that included pitching-specific exercises compiled by Parkland pitching coach and former Edwardsville High pitcher Jon Goebel.

“I had a decent fall. I pitched maybe four or five games, but the winter is really where I really made strides,” said Schanuel, who can hit 93 on the gun and sits between 89-91 mph. “My velocity has been up a lot this spring. I’m working at about 90-93 (mph) now. My delivery is more fluid now and the lifting definitely helped add strength. I’ve probably gained about 25 pounds of muscle and that helped a lot.

“As soon as we started throwing bullpens this spring I could tell, the pop sounded a little different. I knew I was getting up there a little bit.”

Schanuel said Parkland has been a good fit on several levels.

“I was really happy picking a juco because I knew I had to develop more and I knew I wasn’t done with my progression,” he said. “This is right for me and if I wanted to go to a bigger place, this was how I was going to have to do it.”

Goebel , now in his third season at Parkland, has been impressed by Schanuel’s progress.

“I think the biggest component was in high school he was a three-sport guy,” Goebel said. “Being baseball specific wasn’t something he could do yet. In terms of his recovery times and his routines, you see that all the time at the high school level, a guy playing a position when he’s not pitching.

“A lot of times when those guys get to college and click in on one sport, you see a jump. He came out of the chute this spring a little different animal.”

Ready to make the jump?

Schanuel’s jump has been a little higher and louder than most. Could he be a one-and-one candidate to leave Parkland after just one season?

“It’s possible,” Goebel said. “We recruit 99 percent of our guys with the expectation that we have then for two years. If he gets a good money offer and a projected weekend rotation spot at one of those (Division I) schools, it’s something hes’ definitely going to consider.

“His ability to execute pitches where he wants them at high velocity ... at our level is rare.”

Goebel said being selected in the Major League Draft is also a possibility, given Schanuekl’s contrl and increased velocity.

“If he maintains the status quo the rest of the way, he’s probably going to be a draft pick this year - and that’s another potential option for him, too,” Goebel said. “Right now it’s too early to know wht his best route is, but it’s possible his best route could be a one and done.”

Goebel said Schanuel’s build and potential to add even more velocity make him attractive to both college and pro teams.

“In baseball there’s two things general managers pay for and it’s home runs and strikeouts,” Goebel said. “With Brady it’s the command of the fastball and command of his slider that have come along with his velocity. Brady’s in the zone a lot, he does not walk a lot of guys.

“We don’t necessarily try to chase strikeout but if we do our job the right way we’re going to get them.”

Schanuel credited former Belleville East pitching coach Brian Geluck for helping develop his slider, a devastating pitch that fades away from hitters at the last instant.

“He actually taught me the slider that I use still today,” Schanuel said. “He got me started on the right path as far as pitching. Now I know how to pitch better. Last year I was more of a thrower and this year I can really spot up my pitches.”

Other local products at Parkland

Three former Edwardsville High products are playing for Parkland.

Freshman outfielder Fahd Shakeel is off to a strong start for Parkland, hitting .344 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 14 games. Freshman Matt Zielonko (.310 through five games) is battling a hamstring injury while freshman pitcher Daniel Lloyd is 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Blazing a new trail: Former East standout named NJCAA Pitcher of the Week."