Campus Newcomer: St Thomas More RHP/UTL Kyle Alivo

We continue on with the Iowa Baseball campus newcomer series, with an incoming freshman two-way player from the Badger State. Out of Milwaukee, WI, right-handed pitcher/utility player Kyle Alivo is rated as the #3 shortstop in Wisconsin and the #109 shortstop in the country by Perfect Game.

As a junior, Alivo was a team captain and a Second Team All-State pitcher for his St Thomas More team that finished as State runner-up. Kyle posted a 1.29 ERA over 49.0 innings, totaling 84 strikeouts to 25 walks. Opponents mustered just 0.39 hits per inning against him. As a senior, Alivo suffered a torn UCL and appeared in just six games. At the plate Kyle totaled eight hits, including a home run and six RBI’s in 17 at-bats, while he struck out two and earned a save over 2.0 innings on the mound.

We caught up with the 6-foot-1, 170 pound freshman to discuss his UCL rehab and preview his upcoming first year at Iowa.

Q: When do you move to Iowa City and what is your excitement level like for that move in day?

ALIVO: I am moving in on August 16th and I am excited because it is a day that I have been looking forward to ever since I committed back in September of 2022.

Q: What number do you plan to wear and why?

ALIVO: I do not have a plan for a specific number that I am going to wear, but if I were to choose, I would like to wear number 1 because I have worn that number all throughout high school and why not wear it at the next level.

Q: You got the invite to go down to Georgia for the Prep Baseball Futures Game, how exciting was that to learn that you were selected to compete in that event?

ALIVO: It was an awesome experience to one, get the honor to be invited down there to represent Wisconsin, but also to get to compete against the best uncommitted talent in the country in front of every D1 college.

Q: Not only are you a pitcher, but you can also hit as well. Does the coaching staff see you as someone that can do both?

ALIVO: Yes, the coaching staff has told me that being a two-way player is something that I should pursue, but ultimately, I want to be able to do whatever is possible to help the team win.

Q: What pitches do you have in your arsenal (speeds)? What would you say is your best pitch?

ALIVO: As of right now, I am sitting with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 4-seam fastball, which sits 91-92, top 93, a circle changeup that is usually 81-83, a slurve that is 78-80, and a sinker/2-seam that is 87-89. I would say that my best pitch is probably my fastball or my slurve because they are usually very effective.

Q: I saw that you had UCL surgery back in April, first off, how were you able to still pitch with that injury and what is your timeline for recovery?

ALIVO: I got hybrid Tommy John surgery back on April 16th of 2024. I was still able to fully play up until that point because the pain level just wasn’t there for me, but obviously it didn’t feel great. It didn’t hurt enough to make me not want to be on the field. As of right now, I am looking at early September to be back throwing again and around late August to be swinging a bat.

Q: Looking back at your recruitment, what stood about the Iowa Baseball program that made them an easy choice over other schools?

ALIVO: A few things stood out to me about the Iowa Baseball program. First was the support from the coaching staff. They always made Iowa seem like a home from the first time I had ever been to campus. They spent hours on the phone and on zoom calls with me explaining everything that there was to know about baseball at Iowa. Secondly, the culture. It was very evident that there was a very positive team first mentality every time that I was around and it felt like something that I would want to be a part of.

Q: Were there any other teams that you heavily considered during your recruitment?

ALIVO: Yes, there were a few other schools that I was getting recruited by, but after visiting and talking to the coaches, I knew choosing Iowa was the right choice.

Q: What is your relationship like with the coaching staff? Who do you talk with the most?

ALIVO: I would say I have a pretty good relationship with the coaching staff. They are all great guys and they all have been very friendly on all of my visits and have brought me in with open arms.

Q: What have you been doing since the end of the high school season to prepare for when you join the team this fall?

ALIVO: I have been working hard on getting my body right and strong this offseason, making sure I am doing everything possible from the rehab side of things, so that I can have my body in the best shape to hope for no setbacks in the recovery process.

Q: If someone asked you “what do you bring to the Iowa Baseball team?” How would you describe your game?

ALIVO: I would say that I am a hardworking kid who is going to work hard on and off the field and do whatever I can to help the team and win baseball games.

Q: I saw that you were a team captain at St Thomas More as a junior and a senior. Why do you feel like you are a good leader? Where or who did you learn those leadership qualities from?

ALIVO: I was taught from a young age that leadership quality from my dad and my coaches at PTA. They helped shape me into the player and person that I am today.

Q: What are your goals for your freshman season at Iowa? What areas of your game do you want to improve?

ALIVO: My goal for my freshman season is to recover back to 100% again and help contribute in any way possible to help the team this spring. I also would like to take advantage of the high-level coaching and improve my game in every area.

The post Campus Newcomer: St Thomas More RHP/UTL Kyle Alivo appeared first on On3 .