Athlete Profile – Charlie Roder

Charlie Roder, Rockhurst 2020 graduate, began playing with Inside Edge Baseball Academy when he was 14. Since then, the left-handed pitcher has enjoyed a remarkable career that gave him the opportunity to play at many of the top universities in Kansas and Missouri. His efforts culminated in an offer to play baseball at Drury University. We sat down with him to learn more about his recruiting experience and his plans for the future.

First, congratulation on signing to play baseball at Drury. What can you share about the recruiting process?
Thank you. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play baseball at Drury. Recruiting was a pretty stressful process for me because I didn’t get much attention from coaches until the end of the summer going into my senior year. It was pretty tough emotionally for me because my friends and teammates were receiving offers and committing to colleges. However, I continued the process by working on my game, going to team camps, contacting coaches, and following the guidance of Coach Clausen and Coach Slyvestri. Eventually, everything came together and the perfect opportunity presented itself.

Do you know how Coach Nasby first noticed you?
Coach Nasby and the Drury coaching staff first saw me pitch in a tournament in Wichita. Shortly after the tournament, I got an email inviting me to the Drury team camp in the fall. I was surprised by the email because I had no idea they were at that game until I talked to the coaches after the camp. So, the cliché many coaches preach–play hard and to your best ability every single game because you don’t know who might be watching–is very true.

Were you in conversation with any other schools?
Yes, I was talking with a couple of other schools in the same conference as Drury (GLVC), including Truman State and Maryville. I was also in conversations with coaches at St. Louis University and Benedictine College.

What aspects helped you pick Drury over the other schools?
I really liked the coaches. From the extended conversation we had during my official visit, I could tell they were genuine people who really cared about player development and winning. In particular, the pitching coach seemed to know what he was talking about and put together an in-depth workout/throwing schedule for each individual pitcher. The more I talked with them, the more I realized this was where I needed to be.

Looking into your crystal ball, what do you expect as you start playing baseball in college?
I expect a pretty challenging lifestyle. I know classes will be tough and the extra work for baseball will keep me very busy. My parents and coaches have prepared me better than I could have imagined but I still expect it to be a difficult transition.

My hopes for my freshman year include developing as best I can because I know there are many things I need to continue to work on. I also want to position myself to get some innings once the season starts.

Having been through it, what would you say about the recruiting process in general?
You have to be proactive and you can’t expect coaches to come to you. Also from my experience, sending videos to coaches and going to a specific school’s team camp are the two most worthwhile things you can do. Doing those things, instead of only going to the big showcase events, shows coaches your interest in their school.

What would you say to younger IE players who are just starting the process?
I would tell them to not get too caught up in the process and focus more on developing your game, getting stronger in the weight room, and making sure grades are good. These are three main things coaches look for so when your opportunity comes you can impress coaches.

Can you share what playing at Inside Edge Baseball Academy means to you?
Playing for Inside Edge has been all about the hard-working culture and outstanding coaches. There really is nothing like leaving an Inside Edge practice drenched in sweat. I feel like everyone who has played here has experienced this many times. I thoroughly enjoy playing for Inside Edge coaches who all understand the ups and downs of baseball and are always willing to help their players through it.

In closing, what’s your greatest baseball memory?
It was my first varsity pitching appearance. I was called in during the 4th inning of a close game and I ended up pitching the last four innings. The game went into extra innings, and we ended up winning on a walk-off double. I’ve had fun in a lot of games throughout my career, but there’s something about making a varsity debut like that…I loved the excitement and stress of coming in and going the distance.