From High School to College Ball: St. Joseph-Ogden’s Caleb Ochs Takes Charge of His Baseball Future
BY FRED KRONER
There is a select group of “can’t-miss” prospects scattered from coast to coast. They are the best in their sport and are on the radar of major college coaches everywhere.
Then, there’s everyone else.
St. Joseph-Ogden senior Caleb Ochs discovered that it’s important to have an agent in your corner when looking to continue playing beyond high school.
Yourself.
“The recruiting process was a little different than I expected,” the right-handed pitcher said. “There’s a lot more self-promotion that you have to do.
“Coaches will reach out, but sometimes it’s up to you to put yourself out there first, so it gives coaches an opportunity to see you.”
Before settling on Monmouth College as his collegiate home, Ochs had other options to consider.
He had offers from Parkland College and Iowa Lakes Community College and visited the St. Louis School of Medicine numerous times.
“What made Monmouth stand out from the rest was that they were a very small campus and coming from a small town, it just felt like home,” Ochs said. “In addition to that, after meeting all of the coaches and professors, it really felt like everyone wanted you to succeed.
“I felt that the players were a very tight-knit group of people and it really felt like a family. I also formed a great relationship with the coaches and felt at home there.”
A three-year varsity pitcher for SJ-O, Ochs might have had additional opportunities except his playing time was limited this spring as he recovers from a football injury sustained in a Week 7 game against Pontiac.
He suffered a torn labrum and underwent surgery in November, which sidelined him throughout the basketball season and limited his innings in baseball.
“I was still part of the basketball team, just not on the court, and have had to sit out a good portion of the baseball season,” Ochs said. “It has been very frustrating at times with this being my senior year.
“However, I have focused on what I can do for my team off the court and field and it has made me appreciate playing so much more. I’m so excited to finally be back in uniform and that my baseball career will continue at Monmouth.”
SJ-O coach Josh Haley recognized the potential in Ochs years ago.
“Caleb has been a staple in our pitching rotation for the past three seasons,” Haley said. “Unfortunately this season he had a delayed start from his injury from football, but he worked hard to rehab to put himself in position to help the team the last few weeks of the regular season and going into the postseason.
“Caleb has a great work ethic, competes and is a high character individual that will fit in perfectly with the Monmouth baseball program. Caleb is going to continue to work hard to put himself in position to succeed at the next level.”
As a sophomore on a 35-3 Spartan team, Ochs compiled a 6-0 record and a team-best 1.41 earned run average. He struck out 40 hitters in a team-leading 39 2/3 innings.
As a junior on a 28-8 squad, Ochs tied for first in pitching appearances (12) and fashioned a 4-2 record with a 3.58 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.
As a senior, he was 0-0 in four appearances and struck out four batters in six innings for the 32-5 Spartans.
Ochs has enjoyed an up-close look at baseball from the time he was a toddler.
“I’ve played baseball since I was a little kid, 3 or 4 years old,” he said. “What prompted me to play the sport was that my dad (Jim Ochs) was a high school and junior high baseball coach at Armstrong-Potomac.
“I grew up going to all the games and sitting in the dugout with the players. That’s what initially started my love for the game.”
Pitching has always been his position of choice.
“I really enjoy being able to set up pitches and set the batter up with a plan,” Ochs said. “It feels like you’re in the driver’s seat of the game.
“As a pitcher, I feel like I’m very good at keeping my composure on the mound.”
He has had a plethora of tutors throughout his career.
“There have been many people that have been key in my development,” Ochs said. “I’ve played summer travel baseball for the Decatur Commodores the last two summers and all of the coaches from that organization have helped me tremendously.
“My high school coaches have also helped out immensely in my development. I also go to Coach Ks Academy, in Bloomington, throughout the year and work with instructors on throwing mechanics and pitch design.
“In addition to that, my dad has been a huge part of me developing as a baseball player. He’s always been there for me and will help me work on things, or play catch, whenever I need him.”
The feedback Ochs has received from the Monmouth coaches centers on being prepared.
“Coming into it, the coaches have just said be ready to work hard,” Ochs said. “Most likely I will be looked at as pitching out of the bullpen next year.
“I just really want to join the team, have a lot of fun, and help out whenever and wherever I can.
“The goal would be to contribute next year, of course. As a freshman, contributing to the team would be awesome. I’m ready to work hard.
“With areas of development, I just want to focus on my mechanics. I want to make sure my upper half and lower half is rotating effectively and want to work on increasing velocity.”
Ochs plans on majoring in Exercise Science and Health Movement.
“With that degree, I want to further my education after Monmouth and study in a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at another university,” Ochs added. “Ideally, in 10 years, I would be a physical therapist, whether that’s in a clinical setting or private practice.”
The distance from St. Joseph to Monmouth (northwest of Peoria) is approximately 170 miles. Ochs is comfortable with that.
“I’m extremely close with my family,” Ochs said. “They’ve helped support me in any activity or avenue I’ve wanted to be involved in.
“I know they will support me in this next chapter of my career and schooling. In addition to that, Monmouth isn’t too far away, so I can always make it back home if I would need something.”
In addition to playing baseball four years at SJ-O, Ochs was involved with basketball four years and football for one.
Baseball was his go-to sport.
“It was always a goal for me to play college baseball,” he said. “I always wanted to play when I was younger, but the dream became more of a reality when I was getting older in travel baseball with more exposure to college coaches.”
Monmouth scouted him at a travel-ball tournament.
“The (pitching) coach (Ryan Jemar) had watched me at one of my tournaments and had reached out and texted me during the summer asking to see if I wanted to go to campus,” Ochs said. “We first initially started texting the summer after my junior year.”
Until then, though he was firm in his goal, Ochs was uncertain if it was realistic.
“As a little kid, everyone wanted to be a professional athlete, but when I was around 11 or 12 years old I really wanted to play college baseball,” Ochs said. “I worked hard but I didn’t really know if that was a possibility in my teen-age years.
“However, two summers ago after performing well at a few tournaments and showcases, I started talking to a few schools and that’s when the dream of college baseball turned from just a dream to reality.”
