Recent Soquel High graduate Nate Maas didn’t have any offers on the table to continue his baseball career, so he was all set to play for Cabrillo College — until last week.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander was contacted by University of Nevada, Reno, pitching coach Troy Buckley and offered a spot in the program. Two days later, Maas committed to the Wolf Pack — the 2021 Mountain West Conference champions — and signed a National Letter of Intent. He moves into his dorm Saturday.
“Obviously, I’m super excited and ready to see what happens next,” Maas said. “My plan was to go to Cabrillo and play there, but my plans changed quickly. It’s been a pretty eventful week.”
Maas, who previously played Cal Club Baseball (CCB), competed at a camp in Reno in June, after he and Buckley had already began dialogue. Otherwise, he wasn’t sure if or when Buckley had saw him pitch live. Eventually, Maas sent video of himself working on the mound.
Armed with a fastball, curveball and changeup, Maas was a four-year varsity player at Soquel under coach Robert Zuniga. As a senior, Maas made eight regular-season appearances, including five starts. He posted a 4-2 record with a 0.88 ERA. He gave up 23 hits and five earned runs over 39 2/3 innings while walking 11 batters and striking out 55.
He also beaned 11 batters. He noted he likes to use the inside portion of the plate. “I move inside and out,” he said.
Seahawks coach Bob Kittle first heard news of Maas committing to Nevada on Thursday.
“I’m not mad, good for him,” Kittle said of losing a potential recruit. “It’s really great for him to go to a four-year school. That’s the whole idea of this junior college thing. He has a bright future. He’s very talented and athletic.”
Maas also played tight end on the football team under coach Dwight Lowery, a former NFLer.
Nevada went 25-20 last season, 22-9 in the MWC under head coach T.J. Bruce, who enters his seventh season at the helm. The Wolf Pack advanced to regional action.
“I knew he was going to land somewhere,” Zuniga said in a text message. “All the ability tools are there. A good program like Nevada will definitely help him continue to grow.”
Bruce was a longtime assistant at UCLA and Long Beach State, and Buckley, a Los Altos native, was a former head coach at LBSU from 2011-19.
Buckley said Maas, like every athlete in his program, is a project. He said a tweak to Maas’ mechanics will make him more efficient in his delivery.
“There’s room for a lot of growth,” Buckley said. “He has a lot of potential. He has a good size frame, his dad has a baseball background. The kid has performed and proven to be a winner. There’s a lot he can do. He’s got a chance.”
Maas isn’t a high velocity pitcher, yet, and that’s OK, Buckley said. “Velocity is just one measurement, a show of strength,” the coach said. “I’ve always valued ability to pitch.”
Maas is excited about continuing to develop under Buckley’s eye and doesn’t mind that he’ll be pitching in elevation during home games, which tends to have adverse effects on most pitchers’ ERA.
“I’ve heard it’s tough,” Maas said. “I’m up for the challenge. It seems like fun. Both pitchers have to play in it.”
Maas like the fact that Reno isn’t too far from his home. Moreover, the Wolf Pack have conference games in San Jose and Fresno.
Maas, who earned CMT certification earlier this summer, plans to major in forest management and ecology. His ultimate goal, though, is to reach the major leagues.
“I want to play baseball as long as I can,” Maas said.
