Photo Credits: Photo courtesy of USA Baseball
Xavier Neyens has devoted his entire childhood to the game of baseball. The 15-year-old freshman in high school has reaped the benefits of his hard work earlier than your average player.
The Mount Vernon, Washington prospect has experienced and accomplished what most can only dream of doing.
At 14 years-old, before even beginning his high school career, Neyens elected to commit to Oregon State University to pursue his collegiate career. Oregon State, a highly regarded baseball program most recently won the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2018.
Being a big Oregon State baseball fan himself, Neyens had no second thoughts about committing there. His parents played a big role in helping him at a young age ensure the right decision.
“My parents were a huge factor in everything that went into that process and helping me make that decision”, Neyens said. “Oregon state has been my dream school since probably fifth grade. when they won the National Championship in 2018 that kind of set the tone for what I wanted.”
Neyens also credits one of his previous hitting coaches Trevor Podratz for connecting him with the University.
“Trevor Podratz was my biggest connection to Oregon State with Mitch [Canham] and all those guys there.”
In his high school career, Neyens has already impacted the Mount Vernon high school baseball program in his first season. Neyens has already hit two home runs early into the spring season and has dominated on the mound.
Pitching against a rival school, Burlington-Edison, Neyens threw for six shutout innings, striking out 13 batters on the night.
“Playing with guys I’ve grown up with is probably the thing I’ve enjoyed most,” Neyens said. “Winning a State Title is one of my goals, obviously that’s the biggest goal. Overall, our goal is to take home a Northwest Conference title and win a State Championship”.
Neyens ranks as the No.1 prospect in the state of Washington for the class of 2025 by PBR Baseball.
Over the past year, Neyens has seen his career take off at full speed. He was invited to various prestigious events that recognize the top players in the nation.
After standing out at various tournaments through Perfect Game and USA Baseball, Neyens was selected to the 15u USA Baseball National Trials.
“I took away the greatest experience of baseball in my entire life,” Neyens said. That week of baseball was probably the most fun baseball I’ve had with a group of guys.”
Neyens noted the USA trials were the most remarkable experience he’s had in his baseball career up to this point.
Through all the accolades throughout his young career, Neyens acknowledged his family and trainers are the biggest factors in his success.
“My dad has been my biggest supporter since day one, he’s helped me the most with hitting or even just getting me to places,” Neyens said. “All those late nights in the cages, getting in little fights in the cages, at the end of the day he’s my biggest supporter.”
Training at Inside Pitch, a baseball facility in Bellingham Washington, Neyens has developed connections that have elevated his game.
“Austin Shenton, who’s in the Rays organization has helped me, he’s like one of my best friends, and Brandon Hunt at Inside Pitch has been my guy since I was 11. He’s helped me with pitching and hitting, those are my guys.”
Neyens baseball career has provided him to have high expectations for himself that to most, would be unrealistic.
“My short-term goal, play professional baseball; long-term, play in the Major leagues’, be a Hall of Famer. That would be the coolest thing in the world.”
Xavier Neyens is a name for baseball consumers to keep an eye out for years to come. He has established a name for himself while also bringing attention to high school baseball in the pacific northwest.
Although he is just beginning his high school career, he has made an instant splash and his ambitions of playing professional baseball appear not far away.
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