Before his sophomore year of high school, Nolan Schubart knew nothing about OSU.

Neither did the rest of his hometown of Durand, Michigan. To the town — about 80 miles northwest of Detroit — OSU was just a stop for the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Lions’ Barry Sanders.

The summer before his sophomore year, Schubart played USA Baseball with Jackson Holliday, from Stillwater and the son of former MLB player Matt Holliday, and they kept in touch through text. That’s when OSU got on Schubart’s radar.

Matt was serving as a volunteer assistant coach under his brother, coach Josh Holliday, at OSU, so Jackson was always around the program. Through their interactions, Schubart said he couldn’t pass on OSU.

“(Jackson) was sending pictures and videos of the facilities,” Schubart said. “I wouldn’t believe that it’s real because there’s nothing like this up in Michigan.”

Folks in Durand are surely more aware of OSU now, and Cowboy fans have quickly gotten acquainted with Schubart. The freshman outfielder is 13 games into his career and has earned a reputation as a heavy hitter, blasting a team-high five home runs.

But it started like it sometimes does for freshmen. Schubart went 1-for-5 with no extra-base hits during the three-game opening weekend in Arlington, Texas. He admitted nerves in his first college games played a factor.

Those nerves didn’t last long.

Schubart batted .385 during four games the next week, including two home runs.

“I got settled in and then I started attacking the ball where I wanted to and seeing it up instead of chasing pitches like I was at Arlington,” Schubart said.

Schubart was an All-American in high school, known for his slugging. Once he settled in, it came as no surprise when he hit a team-best 467foot homer against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 26.

“He’s got out-of-this-world power, obviously,” outfielder and pitcher Carson Benge said. “Like, you don’t see very many people hitting balls that far the other way.”

Schubart said he adjusted to college when he took the mental side seriously. He keeps the same routine, getting ready four batters out and studying the pitcher. Then, he keeps his cool with breathing techniques.

After a game, he pours over reports and quizzes the coaches about his at-bats.

“He always learns something new every time he goes in the box,” closer Nolan McLean said. “His pitch-topitch adjustments are really special and hard to find in guys that young. I mean, he’s the age of most seniors in high school.”

Schubart’s quick adjustments have paid off. He’s second on the team in batting average (.372) and leads the team with 18 RBIs.

“He’s a very steady, consistent thinker, which translates into very consistent, physical movements,” Josh Holliday said. “Those things, when combined with some gifts physically, there’s some pretty exciting things happening when he swings. It’s one thing to have talent, it’s another thing to be able to apply that talent in a skillful fashion that translates in a game.”

Josh Holliday said much of that ability comes from Schubart’s maturity and professional approach, which is evident to his teammates and responsible for his early progression at the plate.

“There’s a lot about him that says, ‘I’m good, but I’m striving to be great,’” Josh Holliday said. “And I like that about him.”