In a seismic shift for college baseball recruiting, Michigan State has landed the nation’s No. 1-ranked high school pitcher, CJ Deckinga, in a move that stuns the baseball world and signals a new era of Spartans dominance on the diamond.
Deckinga, a 6-foot-5 flamethrower out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, announced his commitment to Michigan State via a live social media broadcast Sunday morning. With a fastball clocked at 98 mph, a devastating slider, and the poise of a seasoned professional, the five-star phenom had been heavily pursued by perennial powerhouses including LSU, Vanderbilt, and Florida.
“This is home,” Deckinga said during his announcement. “I’ve dreamed of putting on the green and white since I was a kid. I believe in what Coach [Jake] Boss is building here. I don’t want to just be part of something special — I want to start something special.”
The commitment is being heralded as the biggest recruiting win in Michigan State baseball history. Deckinga, who went 10–0 with a 0.62 ERA and 145 strikeouts in just 70 innings during his senior season, has drawn comparisons to MLB stars like Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom for his elite velocity and command.
Head Coach Jake Boss Jr., entering his 17th season at the helm, called the commitment “a game-changer” for the Spartans.
“CJ is the real deal — not just an elite pitcher, but an elite young man,” Boss said. “He’s the type of player who changes the culture of a program overnight. Our fans should be excited. The future is now.”
Recruiting insiders suggest that Deckinga’s commitment could open the floodgates for other top-tier talent to consider Michigan State, a program historically seen as a mid-tier Big Ten contender. With a brand-new indoor training facility and a strong incoming class, MSU is clearly signaling it intends to compete on a national level.
“This isn’t just a big win — it’s a message,” said ESPN college baseball analyst Peter Gammons Jr. “Michigan State is no longer playing catch-up. They’re here, and they just landed the crown jewel.”
With Deckinga on board, the Spartans are expected to enter the 2026 season with top-25 preseason buzz — a sentence rarely uttered in East Lansing.
For Michigan State baseball, the Deckinga era has officially begun.
