Korn’s many connections to WVU helped him change into a Mountaineer

[ad_1] New West Virginia pitcher Ian Korn is worked up to be a Mountaineer, bringing a monitor report of success with him to Morgantown.

Ian Korn was named the Division II Nationwide Pitcher of the 12 months this previous season, but it surely did not occur accidentally.

Korn's expectations going into the season weren't excessive to start with, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.

"With the primary full season again from my damage, there weren’t excessive expectations, besides to go on the market and win pitches and win video games. For myself, I’ve at all times needed to compete on the highest stage I might, so I’ve at all times labored as laborious as I might and did what was required to achieve success. Due to this fact, between recovering and creating after surgical procedure, I used to be in a position to excellent my craft as a lot as attainable and compete each weekend with my greatest stuff, be capable to belief my lockdown protection at Seton Hill, and in the end win video games and ship us to a brilliant regional," Korn advised WVSports.Com.

Korn completed the 2025 season with a 1.81 ERA, hanging out 83 batters in 84.1 innings pitched for Seton Hill. Korn gave up greater than two runs in an outing simply twice in 14 appearances this season, whereas he allowed 17 earned runs on the season.

"Even by some tough instances, shedding a sport right here and there, that didn’t change the objectives or imaginative and prescient of the season," Korn mentioned of his season at Seton Hill.

Following Seton Hill's journey to the Tremendous Regionals, Korn talked along with his coaches and determined it was greatest to enter the switch portal.

"My coaches advised me in my exit assembly that they might completely love me again, however for my future and my objectives to be an enormous leaguer, that I want to depart and go do higher issues," Korn mentioned.

That call led him to West Virginia, the place he had a number of connections with the Mountaineer workforce and their teaching employees, serving to them be a prime vacation spot for him when he was within the portal.

"My pitching coach at all times advised me that the pitching growth at WVU is without doubt one of the greatest, if not one of the best, within the nation. My journey ball coach advised me whereas within the portal that [head coach Steve] Sabins and the assistant coaches are wonderful people and can care for me," Korn mentioned.

Korn's pitching coach advisable WVU as a result of their potential to develop pitchers, and Ryan Bergert, a type of pitchers who developed as a Mountaineer, who now performs for the San Diego Padres, had nice issues to say about West Virginia.

"Certainly one of my former teammates is the brother of Ryan Bergert with the San Diego Padres, and he’s at all times mentioned that WVU had helped him extraordinarily in his technique of changing into an enormous leaguer," Korn mentioned.

Korn additionally used to play for a similar journey baseball group as WVU catcher Logan Sauve, who Korn talked with when he was within the portal.

"I've had a couple of conversations with Logan between highschool and now within the portal, attending to know this system and the college, so we’re not solely shut, however now we have been in a position to create a relationship that has helped me come to my resolution to be a Mountaineer," Korn mentioned.

Korn had many different presents whereas he was within the switch portal, however he felt that his greatest probability at successful got here at West Virginia.

"I had many different presents, from some rivals of WVU as properly. I felt as if WVU was in one of the best spot to win a championship, they've completely wonderful amenities and assets to develop and get higher on daily basis, the coaches are completely wonderful guys and nice baseball minds. As quickly as I went on my go to, I bought that feeling that WVU was the spot to be, between the relationships everybody had with one another and listening to what they needed to supply," Korn mentioned.

Now, Korn will likely be bringing his aggressive mindset and successful angle to West Virginia as he hopes to proceed his success there.

"Followers are getting an absolute competitor that can do something for the workforce and college to deliver residence wins and in the end a championship. I satisfaction myself in being a pacesetter on and off the sphere, and an individual that everybody desires to be round. I really like the neighborhood and followers that help the workforce, and I hope I'll proceed the legacy of the fellows which have laid out earlier than me at WVU," Korn mentioned.