Fruitport senior Ryan Bosch is among the top left-handed high school pitchers in the country.
(Photo courtesy of Vaughan Stevens II)
By Scott VanSickle
FRUITPORT - Ryan Bosch has always stood out on the baseball field, both literally and figuratively.
The 6-8 Fruitport senior has always been one of the tallest players on his team no matter his age, and he dominates on the mound and at the plate. And that combination, along with a strong work ethic, puts Bosch among the top left-handed high school pitchers in the country. Bosch, who committed to Wake Forest University in August of 2023, uses a mix of a low 90s fastball, slider and a changeup to rack up a 14-6 record during his 4-year prep career through April 22. Bosch has a 1.91 ERA in 153 2/3 innings with 266 strikeouts, including a 16-strikeout performance en route to a perfect game in the Trojans’ 11-0 win over Wyoming Godwin Heights on April 22.
“He reads batters so well. He’s able to adjust and adapt to what the hitters are doing,” Fruitport coach Nick Reed said of his ace pitcher. “His fastball, he can move it around. It tails 16 inches and his slider
cuts 12 inches.
“He’s driven, he works hard and he’s motivated. This is his passion. He’s a great kid and we are lucky to have him.”
And Bosch takes care of business at the plate as well. He has a .442 career batting average (137-for-313) 10 games into his senior season with an eye-popping 120 RBI.
Bosch stepped right in as a freshman and made an impact for the Trojans. The lefty hit 86 mph on the radar gun and racked up a 5-1 record, along with an All-District selection. But it was a couple of travel ball performances in his 2022 season as a 14-year-old that really gave him a boost of his dreams of playing at the next level.
“I was playing for the (Muskegon Jr.) Clippers at 14u. We had a tournament at the University of Tennessee and I threw a no-hitter and that put me on the radar, and we played at Omaha and we had scouts watching,” said Bosch. “In that 14u season, I made a statement. I realized I could make my dream come true, and I started lifting and really working.”
Those travel ball experiences playing in Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report tournaments, along with his work with the Cage 52 Bananas team out of the Grand Rapids area, gave Bosch national exposure and helped him earn a spot on the San Diego Padres national scout team the following summer. Bosch also gained off-field experiences with the Padres’ team that aided in his development as a player.
“Playing in those tournaments down south helps so much. You’re playing against more talented people, they’re top-tier talented kids, and you have to learn from your mistakes. You’ll have some off days, but I was able to have a lot more on days,” said Bosch. “As a sophomore, I played for the Padres’ scout team and I learned so much about the mental game that summer.”
And it was during his All-State sophomore season that Bosch initially committed to the University of Michigan. But he soon realized that playing in Ann Arbor wouldn’t be the right fit for him and he rescinded his commitment. He was unsure of which direction to go or if he made the right decision to decommit, but Bosch had plenty of support in his corner. His parents, Jeremi and Kali Bosch, along with his Cage 52 coaches Travis Webb and Austin Curtis, helped him through that difficult period.
“My biggest support is my mom and dad. I can talk to them about anything and I’m grateful for the sacrifices my parents made. One summer, they took me to about 15 tournaments. They helped me find the positives from a negative situation,” Bosch said. “Cage 52 is like home to me. Coach Travis and Coach Austin listen and give advice. Around the time I decommitted, Travis told me, ‘You don’t have anything to worry about it.’ “
It wasn’t long before Webb’s words rang true. After decommitting from Michigan, Bosch began to get interest from some high profile baseball schools.
“After I decommitted, we were on vacation and it turned into a business trip. It was quite the adventure,” said Bosch, who had narrowed his choices to Wake Forest, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Clemson.
Once he set foot on the Wake Forest campus in Winston-Salem, NC, he knew that was the place for him.
“Once I got there, I fell in love with the program. The campus is awesome and everything is within walking distance. The facilities are great and their pitching lab is state of the art. They draft 3 or 4 pitchers every year, sometimes 5,” said Bosch.
And Bosch will have a chance to make an impact right away for the Demon Deacons. Coach Tom Walter and his staff most likely will utilize Bosch’s skill set right away.
“They told me they plan for me to have a big role on the team. I see myself as a guy coming out of the bullpen (next year),” Bosch said.
While Bosch has his collegiate plans set, he can focus on finishing his high school career with a bang. The Trojans have started off the season with wins in their first 10 games and have their sights set on winning an OK-Silver title and possibly more. Coach Reed and Fruitport have plenty of talent aside from Bosch, including plenty of arms to choose from.
“We have (Bosch) throw on our first game on Tuesdays. We’re lucky to have a stable of arms. We have 3 or 4 guys that could be the No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher on many other teams,” Reed said. “Our kids are close knit. Ryan is a mentor now to our freshmen and sophomores. He can talk them through their tough times.”
That camaraderie breeds winning and Bosch also notes that the support he, and the team, receive from the Fruitport community make all the difference.
“We have support from the community and it’s great knowing they’re behind you. I’ve had the younger people asking for autographs, for help with their swing or help with their pitching,” said Bosch.
“It’s about leaving an impact on Fruitport, and as a senior, it’s about passing down what I’ve learned to the next generation.”
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