Lugnuts Player Spotlight: Josh Hiatt

LANSING, Mich. via TORONTO, Ont. -Josh Hiatt first pitched in a baseball game when he was 10 years old. By most standards, that's pretty late to be beginning one's journey to becoming a professional pitcher.
At the age of 14, Hiatt, who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, started to realize that college baseball was a possibility for him. In his senior year at Providence High School, his team won the state championship and was ranked nationally.
Hiatt would pitch twice a week and play shortstop when he wasn't pitching. By his own admission, he misses playing the field and stepping up to the plate.
"I do miss hitting," Hiatt laughed. "In some ways, it's a lot more fun than pitching. I was a pretty good fielder at [shortstop] and at third base, too."
Overall, his high school experience, which had him ranked as the state's No. 17 overall player by Perfect Game, was fun for him, and taught him a lot about the game and how to develop as a pitcher and as an athlete.

It was this strong performance in high school that earned him a spot at the University of North Carolina. In fact, he committed to UNC just after the completion of his sophomore year. A Tar Heels fan growing up, UNC was the only place he wanted to be.
"I knew I wanted to go there even before I saw the campus," he recalled. "It was a lot of fun."
Though he didn't play at all during his first year, he was a redshirt freshman who served as the Tar Heels' closer in 2017, pitching to an ERA of 1.90 in 52.0 innings. His 13 saves that season were fifth-most in Tar Heels single-season history.
Unfortunately for him, his third year at UNC was a little bit less fruitful. After serving a suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team" and injuring his shoulder during the course of the season, he didn't have very high expectations entering the draft.
Still, he was selected by the Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2018 draft, something that surprised Hiatt given everything he'd gone through.
Despite being in the organization, he didn't pitch at all in 2018, as he was still recovering from the shoulder injury that marred his redshirt-sophomore year.
"I just tried to stay as positive as I could and try my hardest," he said. "I feel good, and that's all that matters right now. My arm feels good."
Missing a whole year of baseball only made him hungrier. Entering spring training this year, Hiatt's goal was simply to get better and to make the most of every outing. His goals, while not strikeout- or figure-oriented, were still concrete in his mind as he progressed through his throwing program.
In 2019, Hiatt says he hopes to get a better feel for the mound, adding that "pulling off" and "staying through the ball" are key to his success this season and beyond.
As for his role with the Lugnuts, he's alright contributing in any way he can. Over the course of his career, he's started games, and has closed them out. So far this season, he's mostly "piggybacked" on other starters. Though it may be disorienting for some, Hiatt says that he actually likes the piggybacking approach.
"I kinda like the piggyback," he noted. "It gives you the best of both worlds. That way I can come back in and relieve, but I'm still on that five-day schedule."
A fierce competitor with solid pitch movement, Hiatt, now 22, hopes that his circle-change, fastball, and slider mix will be enough to vanquish Midwest League hitters. So far, it's working, as he's pitched to an ERA of 3.24 in 16.2 innings, striking out 12 in four outings.