2013 RHP Dean Pelman has committed to the University of Florida. Pelman, is a perfect example of how players develop at different times.
Firstly, we usually don’t go into such detail and write so much about each commitment but Dean’s story is very unique so we’d thought we should share and educate:
For a school like UF, most of their recruiting is done by now. For Dean, although he had some offers over the summer, he didn’t see himself at those schools for the next 4 years, so instead of panicing or settling, which would be a common thing to do these days since you are heading into your senior year without having a college commitment. Dean took some time off from what was a busy summer with Elite, rested his arm, and then got back to work. After his brief few weeks off from game action, Dean got back to work and played with the Uncommitted Squad this fall. It didn’t take long before he started making some noise. Dean pitched well in his first performance back at the Juco Showcase Weekend in Lakeland (September 28th). Since it was his first start since July, where he pitched a 1 hitter in the PG World Series and clinched his Elite Squad’s Pool advancing them to the final four. He was just ok, shaking off some rust as to be expected. 2 weeks later he traveld to Fort Myers to participate in the Prospect Select Showcase. That’s when Dean really started to make some noise, Dean pitched a perfect inning and topped out at 92mph! It didn’t go unnoticed and all of a sudden his Coach Richie Palmer’s phone didn’t stop ringing asking why he was not committed to a school, not knowing that Dean was waiting for the right fit both academically and athletically (4.4 GPA)
It wasn’t long that pro-scouts would have their attention grabbed by Pelman. Dean was invited to the White Sox all star game put on by the White Sox area scout a few weeks ago where he once again had a stellar performance, and this time topped out at 93mph! Making more noise and chatter Dean was invited to the Florida Diamond Club. The Florida Diamond Club is an invite only showcase hosted by MLB Scouts. Each player invited to the Diamond Club has drawn strong interest in the possibility of getting drafted. Needless to say, Pelman had another impressive performance. Shortly after on Sunday afternoon Pelman made his choice of committing to the Gators.
Throughout what has been really a whirl wind of a month for both Dean, his parents, and his coach. His coach Richie Palmer, was on the phone with Miami, Florida, LSU amongst several others to come watch his guy pitch. “What has happened to Dean is a mix of both him maturing as a person and as an athlete. We really saw him starting to take the next step in Arizona at the PG World Series where he threw a 1 hitter in what was a big time game for us. Dean always had a great arm and we knew it was in him to do something like that. It was only just a matter of time. I kept getting asked the question by college coaches ….”if he’s really this good, and throwing that hard. Why isn’t he committed?” my response to them was that:
1. He’s looking for an opportunity at a school that he is both academically and athletically best suited for, he’s had other offers and to be quite honest with you coach, its clicked for him he’s really starting to figure it out from a pitching perspective… How to work hard, how to repeat his mechanics when he has success, but most importantly he’s matured as a pitcher from being in tough situations and in big games.”
Pelman has been in big situations with the Elite Squad Program since he was a freshman playing on the 15u Team and none bigger than his performance this year in Az and last year where he threw 4 innings of 1 hit ball in relief vs the EC Astros during the sweet 16 of the WWBA National Championship Run for his Elite Squad Team.
In today’s recruiting circuit so many parents and even players freak out if there son/they are not committed by a certain time because of how the landscape has changed over the recent years and teammates of their’s committing to certain schools. If you ask Dean we are pretty sure there were some stressful times too during this process but his coach would constantly tell him, its going to happen you just need to take the right steps and do the right things. There is a place for everyone to play, it just has to be the right fit for you. Just keep working hard and we will figure it out.
Well, they certainly figured it out and Dean Pelman is the newest Gator commit! He will join his Elite Squad Teammate and fellow pitcher Shaun Anderson at UF…….at the rate these two players are going, there’s a good chance these two players will have a decision to make in June after the MLB Draft, either stay as Elite Squad Teammates in Gainesville, or go play professional baseball. Either way, their Elite Squad family couldn’t be any more proud of them.
Congratulations to Dean Pelman and the Pelman Family on this special and deserving accomplishment!
