PEORIA — Wearing sports goggles doesn’t bother Jarek Quinn one bit.
Two-time World Series winner and recently retired relief pitcher Joe Kelly made donning the custom glasses popular. So, the prescription eyewear has grown on Quinn.
“A lot of people like them,” the Richwoods senior said. “I love them.”
Soon opposing hitters will be seeing what Quinn can bring as the Knights staff ace. He’ll take the mound Thursday in a nonconference meeting with East Peoria as part of a six-game homestand.
Quinn has already faced Dunlap and will likely throw against Morton on April 2.
“That’ll only help him and his confidence at the end of the year,” Richwoods coach Patrick Hogan said of his 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-hander facing tough teams early in the season. “… He knows that he’s going to have faced the best competition all year long and so that’ll hopefully give him confidence to get those guys out come the end of May.”
The postseason is where Quinn, who plays shortstop when not pitching, is looking to shine. He experienced Richwoods’ run to the Class 3A Sweet Sixteen, cheering the Knights from the bench as a freshman. That 2023 team still resonates with Quinn.
“I got to be around those guys every day,” he said, “and they wanted to win and make something magical happen. … It just motivates me to know that we can do it. Even if we struggle during the regular season … we can do anything in the playoffs.
“… We’ve always hoped to be the best we can be at the end of the season, so we’re just working towards that day after day.”
Quinn’s progress as a pitcher came through years of hard work. He’s used the offseason to stay consistent by playing long toss, strength training and staying healthy.
During his freshman season, Quinn was throwing mid-70s and has increased his velocity to a steady 88 mph.
“I got the opportunity as an underclassman to get some innings,” he said. “…That just gives me confidence going into this year to have a big senior year.”
Richwoods pitching coach Mike Dunne likes what he’s seen out of Quinn.
“He’s a bulldog on the mound,” the former St. Louis Cardinals first-round draft pick said. “He works very quick. He attacks hitters. He’s not intimidated by anybody.
“… He’s got command of pitches. He spins it good. He’s got very, very tight spin on his breaking ball. It makes it very sharp. He’s pretty consistent throwing that for a called strike as long as he stays in his proper arm slot.”
Illinois Central College will be the next stop for Quinn. He says the Cougars heavily recruited him and has developed a good relationship with head coach Brett ‘Bear’ Kelley.
Look for Quinn to be used quite a bit next season.
“I could tell they really wanted me,” he said, “and saw a lot in me, and I could get like a lot of innings.”
Hogan has not only seen a big jump in Quinn’s talent, but also his maturity as he’s stepping up as a leader.
“He knows what it takes to be successful,” Hogan said, “and we’re going to go as far as his arm is willing to take us. We’ve tried to show a lot of confidence in him. … We’re going to trust him and his stuff, and we need him to trust his stuff too, and be as efficient as possible because the more efficient he can be, the more he can throw for us.
“I think that’s what’s really going to determine the kind of year he’s going to have.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Seeing success: Richwoods pitcher embraces goggles, ace role
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
