Heβs held together by red cotton thread in the form of stitches β 108 of them, to be exact.
Meet Luke Kaiser, a 16-year-old junior in high school. While thereβs nothing uncommon about that, a significant part of Kaiserβs identity is baseball, and his approach to it makes him unique.
Baseball lifers are born. One either has it, or they donβt. In this context, βitβ is the deeply-seated attachment one has to something and its impact on the person in question. In other words, itβs ingrained in oneβs DNA.
Kaiser, originally from San Francisco, is a right-handed pitcher and outfielder at Folsom (Calif.) High School. His abilities on the diamond may be exceeded only by his constant desire to improve.
At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Kaiser offers a mix of athleticism and strength. Heβs up to 90 mph with a four-seam fastball and spins a slider he commands well. It all flies from a low three-quarter arm slot with what Kaiser calls βwhippy action,β creating deception and accentuating horizontal movement.
Always working to get better, Kaiser keeps everything simple, even in words. When asked what heβs focused on improving, he said βcommanding a third pitch,β referring to his changeup. βRight now itβs not polished enough where I know if I need an out I can use it, so I need to really focus on developing that.β
Kaiser, a class of 2025 prospect, verbally committed to nearby Sacramento State in August, but his story began long ago β at birth β and he didnβt arrive at this point alone, a fact he knows as much as anything. His family, including his parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles have been there at every step.
βHaving them support me every single game, every big moment in my baseball career, and always having my back in times of adversity means everything, he said. βI credit them for keeping me focused and grinding because one day I want to give back after everything they did for me.
βHaving my mom there to help me with not only school work when I was a kid, but helping me with nutrition and checking on me every day means a lot. Sheβs always been my biggest supporter since Day 1 and I couldnβt be more grateful.β
His dad, Joe, was his coach until high school, something Kaiser realizes was of great benefit, βhe knew my game best out of anyone, and without his guidance those years I wouldnβt have made it to where I am today.β
Plus, when the going gets tough, the tough get βArizona.β
Luke and Joe occasionally trek down to the desert weather for spring training andβ¦ βevery game where I may be struggling or need something to give me some reassurance my dad will yell βArizona!β which means to blow it by this batter. Because when you think Arizona you think heat.β
The father-son duo have spent hours upon hours working on Lukeβs game and enjoying watching the majors from the stands or the couch in the family home.
βI watch players and sometimes I will see something they do I think might be good for me, but I know I canβt be them, they arenβt me. I have to find what works for me.β
Kaiserβs focus and diligence are particularly impressive. Itβs not rare to find gym-rat types in college and pro baseball, but itβs atypical of teenagers to choose spellbound determination toward one thing, especially when that thing requires not just time, but energyβ¦ and a ton of it.
A dedication to the countless practices, games, cage work, throwing programs, and defensive drills, essentially year-round leaving considerably less time to socialize, and partake in other, more relaxing activities, such as video games, isnβt something found in most 16-year-old kids. This is where the βitβ factor strikes again.
When the spikes are laced and he steps on the mound once a week for his Folsom Bulldogs, Kaiserβs three-pitch mix is standard on paper. But thereβs nothing at all ho-hum about an 87-90 mph four-seamer setting up a slider as filthy as Kaiserβs. Not at this age, and not at this level, suggesting bigger and better are right around the corner.
Not everything is waffles and candied jalapenos on the baseball field, however. Folsomβs season has been a bit of a roller coaster in some ways, as has Kaiserβs to a minor extent. But, in a display of relentless desire and resolve on April 15, for example, the right-hander stepped on the mound facing one the leagueβs best teams, Whitney High School, a roster laced with D1 talents. His counterpart on the mound was Texas Longhorns commit Corden Pettey. Pettey was great that day.
But Kaiser was, too, going six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out five, one each versus the No. 3 and 4 hitters for Whitney, including 2024 Oregon baseball commit Jax Gimenez.
Just another day at the ballpark.
Through the successes and adversity, Kaiserβs efforts to prepare are apparent. βBefore games, I check every hitterβs spray chart to see what they are hitting and where,β he said.
Does Kaiser have down time? Sure, . What does he do to relax? Itβs quite shocking.
βI watch a lot of college baseball and MLB,β he said. βMore the college scene Iβm more intrigued by because thatβs my next step in baseball, and seeing what level these guys play at gives me perspective.β
What shouldnβt surprise anyone who knows Kaiser is his favorite college player is Florida two-way star and top 2024 MLB Draft prospect Jac Caglianone.
βI try to model my game after him.β
While there are never absolutes when it comes to oneβs precise future, thereβs no question Kaiser will carry baseball with him wherever he goes, for however long he chooses.
βBaseball is something I live and breathe every day. I love doing it, and itβs something I want to do as long as I live. No matter what happens I have fun and know the reason why I still love this game.β
Kaiserβs ache for baseball is extraordinary, but not exactly a mystery.
He was born with it.
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