Baseball Prospect Journal Podcast · Dan Zielinski

Conversation with Nebraska commit Cater Kutz of Hartford Union (Wis.) High School

·31 min·2 clips

Carter Kutz aims his spike curveball at the batter's neck to generate swing-and-miss strikes.

Dan Zielinski interviews Carter Kutz, the top-ranked high school baseball prospect in Wisconsin's 2025 class and a recent University of Nebraska commit. Kutz is a versatile two-way player who excels as a right-handed pitcher, catcher, and corner infielder. The conversation explores his development, his recent college commitment, and his experiences playing alongside his brother. Kutz details his multi-positional skill set, explaining that catching has been his primary role since childhood, though he also plays third base and has recently practiced in the outfield. He discusses his pitching arsenal, which includes a four-seam fastball that reached 88-89 mph last fall, a spike curveball, a developing slider, and a circle changeup. His recruiting process intensified after August 1st, when new NCAA rules allowed direct contact from coaches. He narrowed his final choices down to Nebraska, the University of Illinois, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) after taking official visits to all three schools. A major factor in his commitment was the overwhelming atmosphere and community pride he witnessed during a visit to Lincoln, coinciding with a Nebraska volleyball match against Wisconsin. Kutz was particularly impressed by a conversation with Nebraska's newly hired pitching coach, Rob Childress, whose extensive experience and detailed knowledge stood out. He also communicated with former Nebraska players like Joe Acker and Alex Henwood, who strongly endorsed the program's resources and culture. Kutz trains at GRB, a premier facility in Wisconsin, and credits coaches like Greg and Max Cordio for his development. The most surprising insight is Kutz's admission that he was potty-trained using a baseball bat, highlighting a lifelong connection to the sport. He emphasizes viewing hitting as a "game inside of a game" and values the camaraderie and life lessons baseball provides. His experience catching for his older brother, Austin, during high school was a uniquely special chapter in his career. For his upcoming junior season, his personal goals include earning all-state honors and increasing his speed and base-stealing ability. The tone is relaxed and conversational, with Zielinski guiding the discussion as an informed interviewer familiar with the prospect landscape. Kutz speaks with a mature, team-first attitude, focusing on development and gratitude for his support system. This episode is ideal for fans of high school baseball recruiting, Nebraska Cornhuskers athletics, or listeners interested in the journey of a highly-touted multi-sport athlete. Those seeking game analysis or professional draft speculation might find it less relevant.

As heard by us

A Nebraska commit interview that keeps the focus on fit, recruiting context, and a two-way profile.

Carter Kutz comes across as a steady two-way prospect with a clear sense of why Nebraska fit him. The piece keeps its focus where it matters: the recruiting path, the visit to Lincoln, the coaching staff, and the way the program's feel shaped the decision.

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Why you'd press play

Hear why Wisconsin's top 2025 prospect picked Nebraska over Illinois and UCF.

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