It’s no secret in the Illinois Valley that Brady Grabowski is one hell of an athlete, and more importantly, one hell of a baseball player.
Now the news has come out of the box and taken the three-sport senior from Streator High straight to Division I level.
Grabowski has pledged to continue his business studies at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., and his baseball career for a DI Racers program that grew from 30 to 25 last season and, starting in the spring, will move from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Missouri Valley Conference.
“I was a little speechless,” Grabowski said after receiving the offer via text after a strong performance in front of members of the Murray State coaching staff while playing for his summer team, Longshots Baseball. . “It was really amazing. I’ve been waiting for this all my life, and I lost a lot of pressure off my shoulders.
“I always want to improve myself every day [this coming baseball season at Streator]. I’m still hoping that I can eventually make it to the big stage. This is the first step.”
Players can’t officially sign a national letter of intent until later this school year, with Grabowski most likely at the start of the November signing period.
Grabowski — also notable on the Bulldogs’ men’s soccer and bowling teams — impressed in his baseball career at Streator High last season, earning a Times All-Area first-team berth and All-Area accolades. Illinois Central Eight Conference batting .348 with four home runs and 24 RBIs while patrolling right field.
From there he joined his Longshots teammates for a fourth year. The Downers Grove-based high performance baseball program specializes in showcasing up-and-coming baseball players against stiff competition.
It was during a recent tournament trip to Nashville, Tennessee that Grabowski caught the eye of the Murray State coaching staff, who agreed one by one that the Streator outfielder had what it takes to play at DI level for the Racers.
“When I was talking to [Murray State assistant] coach, I mentioned Brady,” said Longshots Class of 2023 head coach Darin Angus. ” ‘You know, this kid in size – 6-[foot]-2 190 [pounds]runs a 6.5 [60-yard dash] – Keep an eye on this kid. He hits the ball well and gets it in the outfield.
“He played the game well where the assistant was there, and on the second day he had told another coach to go see him, and [Brady] still well played. Then the head coach came out and saw him play at Vanderbilt, and Brady got a phone message right away from him.
“He did well when needed. That says a lot for him. When the eyes are on you, sometimes it’s hard to do that.
Angus said that beyond his physical tools, Grabowski has shown the ability and desire to keep improving his game and taking it to the next level.
“He’s made good progress over the past two years with his body,” Angus said. “He’s definitely gotten stronger, which he needed to, the kid can run like the wind and his swing has gotten better every year. He does a really good job at home plate, and he plays center field for me 90% of the time and can just follow the balls.
“He’s a great kid, works hard, does whatever you ask him to do.”
Beyond baseball, Grabowski said Murray State seemed like a great fit.
“The campus is really nice,” he said. “I really wanted to go somewhere visually appealing, and I really like that. And recruitment too [factored into my decision]. They were kind of all-in on me, really interested.
“What they told me was, ‘You really have to earn your spot,’ but I think they see me as a lead outfielder for them.”
