Forget Home Runs: Jonathan Spiess is After No-Hitters
Jonathan was only four years old when he started playing baseball for the Columbus Sharks under the encouragement of his uncle Jeff Smith, currently the head coach of the High-A Tampa Bay Rays.
Jonathan is now a Bexley High School senior and pitches for both the HS team and the Ohio Independence club team. Last year, he pulled off something that has never been done in Bexley before and doesn't happen very often in general: pitching three no-hitters in the same season. He did this against Chillicothe, Worthington Christian, and Grandview Heights. "It feels amazing to accomplish this," he said. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates and everyone who supported me throughout the season."
This MSL Player of the Year and 1st Team MSL athlete has one goal for this upcoming season: to win a state championship.
After that, it's off to Marshall University in Huntington, WV, where he signed to continue playing baseball. "I'm very grateful for the opportunity and I can't wait to get on campus and prove myself," he said. Only two percent of high school athletes continue on to play NCAA D1 sports like Jonathan will do at Marshall.
Jonathan says what he loves most about baseball is "the aspect of playing as one, and knowing that your brother next to you has your back no matter what."
Looking back, Jonathan's all-time favorite moment was "playing in Jupiter, Florida, with the Boston Red Sox Scout Team in the Perfect Game WWBA."
Steve Lomasney, a former professional player who coached the Red Sox Scout Team, is one of many coaches Jonathan thanked for helping him along the journey, along with Ron Golden, his trainer, and Russ White and Mick Shapiro, his Ohio Independence coaches who have "allowed me to get where I am today."
Jonathan also said, "I would like to thank my parents for guiding me throughout this process."
We'll be rooting for you, Jonathan. We are excited to follow your journey at Marshall and beyond!
