Connor Higgins (’15), a LHP from Parkland High School in Allentown, PA, recently announced that he will be decommitting from Indiana University (Bloomington) and committing to Arizona State University, where former Indiana head coach, Tracy Smith, was hired for the same position this off-season.
Higgins, who is reported at 6’4″, 225 lbs, was named one of seven pitchers to make the First Team All-Pennsylvania roster. According to a scouting report by Justin Roswell of teamonebasell.com, Higgins “[has an] athletic frame, good presence, heavy 85-88 MPH FB, from 3/4 (arm) slot with very good command. Pounds strike zone, keeps hitters off balance with a sharp/tight 11-5 breaking ball, good mix of pitches with repeatable arm action. Completes delivery with good direction.” Higgins’ fastball has been reported to hit 90 MPH and he is working on steadily increasing his velocity.
Higgins’ addition hopes to bolster the Sun Devils’ pitching staff that posted a 3.88 ERA (8th/11 teams in the Pac-12 in 2014), 275 runs allowed (9th/11) and 215 walks allowed (9th/11). Despite these statistics, Arizona State still finished third in the Pac-12 in 2014 with a record of 19-11(34-23) and earned a NCAA tournament berth in the San Luis Obispo regional where the Sun Devils lost to Pepperdine and Sacramento State, each by one run.
