Cincinnati kept close tabs on Moeller infielder Caleb Williams all summer, and on Thursday the Bearcats landed one of the top position players in Ohio for their 2028 recruiting class.
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior, joins C/OF Ander Elorriaga of Florida and RHP Max Covriga of Canada in the class. For Cincinnati, the push started early. The coaching staff watched him at multiple events, including a PBR event at Prasco Park, and reached out as soon as recruits were allowed to be contacted on August 1.
Williams said the timing was a little tricky because he was in California for the Area Code games, but the message still got through.
"I got a text from Cincinnati at the get-go, and I hopped on the phone the next day and called Coach Pettoruto," stated the Moeller junior. "They were always at the top of my list, and then on September 4th I got to get on campus.
That's when Coach Bischel offered me. It was amazing.
I got to go around and talk to some players at the football game on Saturday. After that, I wanted to take a couple more visits to decide where I wanted to be."
Williams did take a trip to Louisville after his Cincinnati visit, but the rest of the process never really moved past the planning stage. A Michigan visit was supposed to happen too, though he ultimately canceled that one and made his decision close to home.
"I told my Mom that I thought Cincinnati was where I belonged," Williams said. "I called Coach Bischel yesterday (Wednesday) and shared the news."
For Williams, the fit went beyond geography. He said the coaching staff made the difference, along with what he’s seen from the program in recent years.
"A really big part of this for me was the coaches," Williams answered. "I wasn't looking for a big name but rather someone I could connect with and believe in.
I wanted coaches that cared about me and wanted to help me get to the next level. I felt a connection to Coach Bischel.
I get along well with Coach Winske with base running and things like that. Plus, seeing the program emerge these last few years has been eye opening."
Williams, who lives with his mother and two older brothers in Lebanon, began at Lebanon High School before transferring to Moeller midway through his freshman season. Winning mattered to him, and he said Moeller matched that mindset. The freshman team backed that up with a perfect 17-0 run.
On the field, Williams handles a lot of spots, though third base is home base for him.
"I play just about anywhere in the infield, but I primarily play third base. I can also play first base, and I can play some shortstop too because I'm pretty quick for a third baseman."
Moeller used him at shortstop on the junior varsity team last spring, and Williams said he believes he hit around .500 while leading the team in slugging, doubles and, he thinks, triples.
Cincinnati sees him as a flexible piece, too, with third base the main target and corner outfield or first base also in play.
Kyle Weldon, Ohio Scouting Director at Prep Baseball Ohio, gave the Bearcats a strong endorsement of their latest commit.
"High caliber in everything he does on and off the field," said Weldon. "Tremendous work ethic. He's been high on our list for a long time, and I think the Bearcats are getting one of the best position players in the state.
Williams’ profile backs up the buzz. His name sits inside the top 25 in Ohio in nearly every Trackman Analytics category, and he ranks No. 1 in multiple metrics tied to "Blast Bat Speed."
He’s also been strong in the classroom, carrying an unweighted 3.8 GPA and a weighted 4.0 GPA.
By the time he made the call to Cincinnati, Williams said the choice felt like a load off.
"Yeah, for sure. It's a weight off my shoulders. I'm very happy and confident with the decision I've made."
He added that Coach Winske and Coach Pettoruto were both heavily involved throughout the process, and the early word around the high school baseball scene is that Williams was a major priority for the Bearcats.
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