Photo Courtesy/UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO ST. CLAIRSVILLE graduate Michael “Zuke” Jacob works to the plate during a game last season for the University of Toledo. Jacob is set for his senior season in 2019. He’s been named a team captain and is coming off a strong summer in which he played for the Chillicothe Paints of the Prospect League.

TOLEDO — Whether it’s a workout, bullpen session, fall game or just a chance to spend time with his teammates, Michael “Zuke” Jacob is soaking everything in he can as it pertains to the upcoming baseball season.

And who can blame him?

The 2015 St. Clairsville High School graduate has enjoyed an impressive career thus far with the University of Toledo baseball program. Coming off one of the most productive summers he’s had — playing for the Chillicothe Paints in the Prospect League — he has his sights set on his biggest — and best — season to date.

“I’ve pitched in some big roles and done well, but in terms of my career, as a whole, I am not satisfied,” Jacob said. “My performance last season was below what I was capable. I just need to do a better job and that’s what I’ve spent the entire summer and fall working on.”

Jacob — the hard-throwing southpaw — began his career with the Rockets working out of the bullpen. Last season, he served as the ‘Friday starter’ which in college baseball terms basically means ace. He finished with a 2-9 record and an earned run average of 4.75. Those, though, weren’t the numbers that bothered Jacob the most.

“I put way too many people on base,” Jacob said. “I walked 39 batters in 77 innings, so that’s close to half a batter per inning. My command has to be better. I didn’t give up a lot of runs when you consider the walks, but I wasn’t able to work deep in games, which hurt our pen. As the Friday starter, you have to be able to shut teams down and go, seven, eight or even nine innings. But, a lot of times, I had to turn it over to the pen because my pitch count got too high.”

As he’s done his entire baseball career, Jacob didn’t get down on himself. He just went to work on many things.

And he’s noticed the work paying off already. During his summer season, for the Paints, Jacob was originally ticketed to work as a reliever because of his innings count from the collegiate season.

However, the Paints’ skipper came to Jacob to see if he could make a spot start when a player had to leave the team for a weekend due to a wedding.

“The coach asked me and I had no issues with starting, especially since that’s what I had done and was used to it,” Jacob confessed. “I pitched well that game and the coach just decided to keep me (in the rotation) the whole season.”

Jacob didn’t let his skipper down. He finished the summer campaign with a 5-1 record and a 3.05 ERA. Most importantly, he regained the command that had left him during the Toledo season. In 53 innings of work, he walked just 16 and fanned 58.

“I was trying to be too fine with different things (at Toledo),” Jacob admitted. “I was trying to do too much when I should have just thrown the ball over the plate. So, I focused on that this summer and if I did fall behind in a count, I went back to my fastball and if a guy hit it, he hit it.”

On top of the mental approach alteration, Jacob has also added velocity to his slider, which has allowed his ever-growing repertoire that includes a fastball in the low 90s, a changeup and the slider.

“The harder slider has really become an explosive pitch for me,” Jacob said.

During his time in Chillicothe, Jacob was named to the league’s all-start team and was actually received the highest number of votes among starting pitchers in the league. He was joined on the team by three of his Toledo teammates and lived with 88-year old host mother, Nancy Munn.

“She was a sweetheart,” Jacob said. “She took great care of us, checked up on us, made sure we had everything we needed. She was just a sweetheart.”

Now back in Toledo, Jacob and company just wrapped up fall camp this week. They played their intra-squad scrimmages this week. Just a few weeks ago, Jacob was named a team captain, which is an honor he doesn’t take for granted.

“That really means a lot to me,” Jacob said. “To essentially be put in charge and a guy who can go between the coaches and players is a big responsibility.”

Obviously, a left-handed pitcher is a highly sought after commodity as it pertains to high-level baseball. Jacob, though, isn’t sure what his future holds, but he knows he wants to play baseball “as long as possible.”

“I am not a projectable guy,” Jacob said of his measurements. “(Scouts) do not see me on a piece of paper and just circle my name, but if people come and see me pitch and compete, maybe they’d give me a shot. I know some scouts of seen me and I’ve filled out a few questionaires. I just want to pitch well … that’s the biggest things to me. If I play well, after this year, things like (the draft) will come. But, I have to pitch well.”

Even if Jacob doesn’t get the call next June from a MLB club, he has enjoyed experiences that most Ohio Valley kids can only dream of, and he knows that.

“Playing college baseball has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I’ve gotten to do things and go places that I used to see on television and just dreamed of going to,” Jacob said. “I am thankful for the teamtes and coaches I’ve had. This opportunity isn’t one that’s just given to you. This game can humble you quickly and punch you right in the mouth if you become complacent. I only have about 60 games left and three months, so I am just soaking everything in.”