CEDAR GROVE — For Cedar Grove-Belgium junior baseball player Ira Hilbelink, the path is clear.
Hilbelink committed to the University of Minnesota on April 19, making his decision known on Instagram.
While he’s a talented multi-sport athlete, baseball is Hilbelink’s first love and where he sees his future.
“That’s been my dream since I was little,” Hilbelink said of being drafted by an MLB team. “If I put in the work every single day but right now I’m focused on college.”
It makes sense then with his athletic prowess that Hilbelink wants to be one of those rare players who is a two-way player at the college level.
“I like to be known as a hitter and position player who can pitch,” Hilbelink said. “If I go into college as a hitter and my bat isn’t working I’ll pitch.”
He already does it all for the Rockets as their No. 1 pitcher while spending time mostly at shortstop although he also moonlights in center field and at first base.
Cedar Grove-Belgium coach Tom Race has seen Hilbelink continue to grow as a player, especially in the past year.
“Can definitely drive the ball deeper,” Race said. “There’s the potential that he can hit a home run anytime he comes up to bat. That wasn’t the case his sophomore year.”
He’s also increased both his speed and his knowledge beyond simply hitting a ball as far as possible.
“His baserunning IQ, now if you walk him he’s going to steal,” Race said. “He didn’t have that ability as a sophomore.”
For Hilbelink, he has a desire to compete and help the Rockets get as many Ws as possible so there’s nothing asked of him he’ll say no to.
He’ll take that same approach at Minnesota even if the plan is start out in center field.
“So far, a hitter, but maybe two-way, its a possibility,” Hilbelink said. “I’m a guy who competes so if you need me I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Race admits that some of the expectations on Hilbelink haven’t been fair, especially last season, but lofty expectations haven’t discouraged the junior from trying to live up to them.
“You can just see the steady climb,” Race said. “He’s getting better and better. Just development.”
At the moment his thoughts are merely on college, but he knows being drafted in two years is a possibility. One he’s already thinking about.
“Got to go with the offer and how much they’re giving but I’d say fourth round or above is where I’d consider it,” Hilbelink said.
As for his legacy, Hilbelink merely wants to be the type of person future athletes at his school can look up to.
“Hopefully get to the big leagues and represent Cedar Grove,” Hilbelink said.
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: This Cedar Grove-Belgium baseball player committed to a Big Ten school
Reporting by Tom Dombeck, Sheboygan Press / Sheboygan Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
