DANVERS– A year ago, Lynn native Max Gieg was set to form a 1-2 punch with Nick Sanderson at the top of the St. John’s Prep baseball team’s starting rotation. It didn’t work out that way.
Gieg felt pain in building his arm up for the 2018 season and pitched just one inning all year.
Fast forward to 2019 and Gieg’s flourishing with under a new role as the Eagles’ closer.
“I think a lot had to do with arm care,” Eagles coach Dan Letarte said. “We didn’t want him throwing 100 pitches a game. He has a big upside. He has a 6-foot-5 frame. We thought about him and his future. We didn’t want to burn him out and it has gone well. He’s fresh and looking good.”
While some might struggle in adjusting from starting to closing, Gieg has been a true natural fit.
“One of the things I attribute my characteristics to is I like pitching under pressure,” Gieg, a right-hander, said. “I like that kind of nag on the back of my neck. I think it helps me perform better. Our pitching staff has been pretty good this year. We have a lot of mental things we prepare for with drills and things like that. I think having that competitive drive is great.
“I enjoy being in tight positions and working out of them,” Gieg said. “It really shows someone’s true ability in my eyes. While you can have great physical abilities and be very gifted, I feel baseball is a sport that’s at least 50 percent mental. That attributes to that.”
In eight appearances, Gieg has logged 11 innings and 19 strikeouts. He carries a 0.64 ERA, .061 batting average against and has three saves. Gieg tossed two shutout innings in last Friday’s 6-5 win over Walpole. He escaped a bases-loaded jam and struck out the final five batters of the game.
“I never hesitate giving him the ball,” Letarte said. “I have no hesitations putting him in the game a little earlier, depending on how we’re hitting. It’s been a pleasure coaching him for three years. He’s a complete student-athlete.”
A Boston College commit with a 4.0 GPA, Gieg’s four-pitch collection includes a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, slider-curve and 12-6 curve. He also throws an occasional knuckleball and is working on developing a change-up. His fastball topped out at 94 MPH earlier this season.
“I’d love to say my curveball’s my go-to pitch but it’s my fastball,” Gieg said. “Especially in high school, kids aren’t used to seeing such high speeds. My four-seam fastball to the outside corner is definitely my favorite pitch.”
Gieg admits sitting out his junior campaign was far from easy.
“It was tough because I didn’t know what was going on with my arm,” Gieg said. “I probably could’ve pitched but we didn’t know if that would’ve done further damage to my arm. We had a great team last year. It’s unfortunate but it’s in the past. We have a great group of kids this season.
“This year, I’m still dealing with it,” Gieg, a three-year varsity player, said. “I’m having a minor surgical procedure (ulnar transposition) June 27. If I can go out there and help my team, help put us in a good position and go through the ‘Super 8’ like that, I’m happy. It’s been such a relief that I can go out there and pitch again this year. It’s been great.”
With the Eagles primed for another “Super 8” run, Gieg’s focused on the present. St. John’s wrapped its regular season with a 14-0 win over Peabody last Saturday and earned the No. 2 seed in the “Super 8” bracket. St. John’s has yet to bring a “Super 8” championship home to Spring Street.
“I was there sophomore year when we lost to St. John’s Shrewsbury in the final,” Gieg said. “Then last year we lost to Franklin. We have bad memories at (Campanelli Stadium) but every year we come back. We talk about it. The past seasons we’ve had one or two kids that weren’t contributing and showing they were part of this team. This year there’s absolutely none of that. It’s a whole family mentality.
“I love the environment of the ‘Super 8,'” Gieg said. “It mimics college championships and MLB games. As Coach Letarte says, ‘everyone has an 0-0 record going into the postseason.’ Just coming out and competing with everybody you love is something special.”
