What is Matthew Gorman’s favorite part of baseball?
“The failure part of it,” he said, “I feel like it just kinda teaches me what it’s like to fail in life, and how to be a better human being with everything you do.”
In a sport where it is considered successful to prevail only 30% of the time, failure is to be expected. While setback is not something many would say they look forward to, Gorman believes failing is what motivates the best of the best.
The junior baseball player at Papio South announced his verbal commitment to the Division 1 baseball program at University of Miami in Florida on Jan. 24. He plans to sign his official Letter of Intent in November.
Gorman’s talent stood out to the U-Miami coaches when he attended the program’s baseball camp on Jan. 18. Gorman was invited to go to the camp in Florida after reaching out to Head Coach J.D. Arteaga and recruitment coordinator/assistant Coach Jonathan Anderson.
Gorman’s so-called “upside” is what set him apart in the recruitment process. Development, constant improvement, and potential – also known as upside – is what DI coaches search for. Gorman, as a highly valued left-handed pitcher, arrived at the camp pitching at speeds reaching 88 mph.
Gorman trains with a pitching coach remotely from his house through video. In February he made a trip to North Carolina to work with his pitching coach in person. While there, he broke 90 mph.
Gorman said, “It was way different. I’ve never really trained like that before; just with everything they have down there, it’s much easier to focus on you.”
Gorman said his pitching speed grew along with his muscle weight. “I think I was like 160 pounds last spring, or something close to that, and now I’m closer to 190,” he said.
While his improvement was recognized by the Miami coaches, his mentality has been praised by Papio South Coach Ben Bails.
“I would call Matthew elite: his mindset… his ability to relate to anybody, to be a friend to anybody,” Bails said. “I’m proud to say that he’s a Papio Titan.”
Bails and Gorman have a close relationship that started about five years ago.
“I’ve known Matthew since he was 13,” Bails said. “… I think the one thing that him and I have agreed upon is that he gets coached really hard.”
Bails described Gorman being a D1 commit and a left-handed pitcher as, “A giant target on his back.”
Gorman is in his second season on varsity at Papio South, and Bails said he had seen a lot of growth: “on the mound, at the plate, but more importantly, in the dugout helping other guys reach their own potential.”
Gorman was recruited for his pitching, but he also plays first base and outfield (mainly in right field). Although he has been playing baseball since he was 4 years old, there was a time he imagined himself going down a different path.
When playing 10U baseball for Storm Chasers Papillion Select, Gorman was contemplating quitting the sport. Being among the taller athletes his age, he saw basketball in his future. However, Gorman’s teammates and his 10U coach convinced him to give baseball one last chance and play another year.
“I’m glad I didn’t quit,” he said.
Since then Gorman has also played on the Nebraska Prospects, a club baseball team that provides exposure to college recruitment, compiling players from 45 different high schools.
Gorman received an offer from the U.S. Naval Academy, but he was more than thrilled to call himself a future Hurricane, saying, “I don’t think I’d want to change to anywhere else.”
