By STEVE KRAH
Graham Kollen went from high school to college as a two-way player.
A 2021 graduate of Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., Kollen entered Huntington (Ind.) University as both a right-handed pitcher and righty-swinging outfielder.
In his first two seasons with the Foresters, it’s been on the mound that Kollen has had the most impact.
In 2023, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder pitched in 15 games (12 starts) and was 8-1 for a team that went 38-16 and played in the NAIA Crossroads League tournament championship game.
Kollen, who turns 21 in September, posted six complete games, a 2.84 earned run average, 94 strikeouts and 26 walks in 82 1/3 innings. He whiffed a season-high 10 batters March 16 against Mount Vernon Nazarene and punched out nine against both March 11 against Saint Francis and March 31 vs. Taylor. He was the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.
In two seasons (2022 and 2023), the righty has 119 strikeouts and 57 walks in 108 1/3 innings.
He is hitless in 10 collegiate at-bats.
Those numbers have Kollen, who has two seasons of remaining eligibility, leaning toward being a pitcher-only the remainder of his college career.
“At the end of the day it’s my call,” says Kollen.
Thad Frame just finished his first season as Huntington head coach after 13 years as an HU assistant. Brian Abbott wrapped his 18th campaign as pitching coach.
“Thad is a go-getter,” says Kollen. “He’s the type of guy you want to lead your team.”
As a pitcher, Kollen has spent much time with Abbott.
“He’s a great guy,” says Kollen. “He’s very wise in the game of baseball.
“He’s taught me a lot about the discipline and mental side of the game.”
Kollen competed for the Bomb Squad in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2021. Last summer, he trained at PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind., working a lot with Anthony Gomez and Luke Jaksich.
This summer, Kollen is part of a seven-man starting rotation for the Prospect League’s Lafayette (Ind.) Aviators. Due to pitch again June 26 at Illinois Valley, he has made three appearances and is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts and five walks in 16 1/3 innings.
Kollen, the Prospect League Pitcher of the Week for games played June 14-20, prefers the starting role.
“I know when I’m going to throw,” says Kollen. “It gives me time to prepare and take care of my body.”
Launching from a low three-quarter overhand arm slot, Kollen uses a four-seam fastball, change-up, curveball and slider.
The four-seam sat at 90-91 mph and reach 94 during the Huntington season.
Kollen has studied the Vulcan change grip of former big league closer Eric Gagne and uses his version to set sink, run and horizontal movement.
“(Gagne) had one of the best change-ups that ever was,” says Kollen, whose curve is of the 12-to-6 variety.
“I try to throw my slider with bullet spin,” says Kollen. “It has depth and is sharper than a traditional sweeping slider.”
There is another major league pitcher he admires.
“I really like Max Scherzer,” says Kollen. “He has really good mechanics.
“I tried to mimic what he would do in my garage.”
Born in Indianapolis, Kollen moved to Fort Wayne at 5 or 6 and grew up near Homestead.
He played in the Don Ayres Little League then played for the traveling River City Thunder followed by the Summit City Sluggers (coached by Todd Armstrong and Mark DeLaGarza) at 15U to 17U.
Kollen was on varsity throughout his prep days, losing the 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nick Byall is Spartans head coach.
“He was really fun,” says Kollen of Byall. “I had the best time.
“We jelled together well as a team.”
Homestead won 26 games and won the IHSAA Class 4A Huntington North Sectional in 2021. Two of Kollen’s classmates were ’21 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year Carter Mathison (now at Indiana University) and ’23 CL first-teamer Kaleb Kolpien (now at Taylor).
A double major at Huntington in Business Management and Marketing, Kollen says its likely that he will add an Agricultural Business minor.
Craig Kollen, a nursing home/assisted living executive, and Renae Kollen, a realtor, have three children. Graham is the oldest, followed by Jake and Corinne.
Jake Kollen (Homestead Class of 2023) played high school football and basketball and is heading to Indiana University as a student.
Corinne Kollen (Homestead Class of 2026) plays volleyball for the Spartans.
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