By STEVE KRAH
With three collegiate seasons in the books and in his third summer wood bat slate in-progress, Enas (N-us — say it fast) Hayden is finding his stride as a pitcher.
In his debut campaign with the Purdue University Boilermakers in 2024, right-hander Hayden came out of the bullpen five times for head coach Greg Goff and pitching coach Josh Newman and went 1-0 with a 2.25 earned run average, six strikeouts and four walks in four innings.
He was coming off a summer stint with the Danville (Ind.) Dans where he went 3-1 with one save, a 3.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) struck out 45 in 29 2/3 innings over 14 games and was named a 2023 Prospect League All-Star.
Hayden whiffed nine over five innings in a July start and also fanned eight over three innings in a June relief appearance.
The hurler has no preference of role — starting, long relief or short relief.
“I’m the type of guy that you give the ball and I go get outs until I can’t get more,” says Hayden, 21.
Throwing from a mid-three-quarter arm slot, 6-foot-3, 215-pound Hayden uses a four-seam fastball, slider, change-up and — occasionally — a cutter.
The four-seamer traveled at 96 mph in the summer of 2023 and usually lives at 89 to 93.
The speed of slider depends on his hard the ball is coming out of Hayden’s hand that day, ranging from 81 to 87 mph.
“If it’s not as hard and 80 to 82, it’s more like a true slider with more depth,” says Hayden. “On days when it’s firmer, there’s still some depth to it but it runs more.”
He uses a “box” change.
“I rest all four fingers on the bottom horseshoe and let the grip do the work,” says Hayden.
As for the cutter — when it’s right — moves a little to the left.
The Indianapolis native began his college career at Purdue Fort Wayne.
In two seasons with the Mastodons (2022 and 2023), he made 24 mound appearances (20 in relief) with 21 strikeouts and 18 walks in 26 2/3 innings.
He was with the Local Legends of the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2022.
This summer, Hayden is pitching for the Northwoods League’s Bismarck (N.D.) Larks. In his first eight contests, he is 0-0 with one save, a 2.51 ERA, 11 strikeouts and five walks in 14 1/3 innings.
Hayden is a 2021 graduate of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. The Wildcats’ head coach was former college and professional pitcher Richard Winzenread.
“He’s a tough guy but he taught the game right,” says Hayden of Winzenread. “He really pushed us to be better ballplayers.
“He helped me to really succeed in this game. You’ve got to work to get where you want to get.”
Hayden was all-Marion County first team as a Lawrence North outfielder in 2021. His first fall at PFW he was a two-way player then concentrated on the mound.
Growing up, he played baseball and basketball and ran cross country and track. In high school, he was also on the wrestling team.
“I like winning, that’s what it boils down to,” says Hayden of his affinity for the mat sport. “It’s mano a mano — you and the other guy.”
The only child of Purdue alums Daryl and Nirupama Hayden, Enas started his baseball at Oaklandon Youth Organization. In high school, he traveled with the Indiana Nitro through 17U (2020) and competed his 18U summer with the PRP Mambas (2021).
Since middle school, he has been going to PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind., for instruction.
“That was the spot that made me into a pitcher,” says Hayden. “I’ve worked with (PRP founder) Greg Vogt and cleaned some things up.
“I’ve been doing their stuff for awhile.”
His favorite MLB team is the Miami Marlins. The pro athlete he admires most is basketball’s Steph Curry. In baseball, it’s Juan Soto.
The Selling & Sales Management major and Business Management minor is taking online summer classes with the aim of graduating in May 2025.
His goal is to play baseball beyond college.
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