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Showcase  | Story  | 8/15/2023

Drew Rerick: The Fargo Flamethrower

Riley Sheppard     
Photo: Drew Rerick (Perfect Game)
Growing up in Fargo, North Dakota, Drew Rerick doesn’t remember a time he wasn’t surrounded by sports. 

“My family is well connected in the game of baseball,” Rerick said. “Growing up, I was always around the game, I was playing the game and I felt like I loved the game, so it was something that I always wanted to get better at.”



Michael Rerick, Drew’s father, played collegiately at North Dakota State before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998 while  his older brother Easton is entering his sophomore campaign at Northern State University after making 11 starts last season as a true freshman. 

And with only two years separating the pair, Drew was able to play alongside him and learn what it takes to reach the next level from the Wolves infielder. 

“It was pretty cool because when I was growing up I'd be able to hang around [Easton’s] teams,” Rerick said. “I look up to those guys because at the time they were on the All Star teams and those are the dudes in Fargo so that's obviously where I wanted to be. He’s pushed me to work hard, got me into lifting, going to hit and throw. His passion for the game rubbed off on me as well.”

However, it wasn’t America's Pastime that began Rerick’s athletic journey, starting out on the ice where he played up until his sophomore year of high school before making the decision to focus solely on baseball. 

“I had to make a decision to guide me to the best for baseball because it is my passion,” Rerick said. “They started us off with hockey, that's kind of the first thing you can get involved in with Fargo and I think it was just wanting to get us involved with other people, create friendships, just get into athletics and have fun. But all three kids in the family love playing sports and meeting new friends and creating relationships.

And with his younger sister Sophie continuing to play, the right-handed pitcher still goes down to ice rinks with friends in the winter to prove he can still dominate in both sports. 

“The footwork has helped me pitching-wise - I kinda got a dirty pick-off move because of the hockey feet,” Rerick said. “And just being ultra-competitive as well. In hockey, you’re going toe-to-toe with a guy in the corner and gotta come away with the puck, I think that toughness translates to baseball.”

But up until this past year playing for Northstar Baseball, it wasn’t always easy for Rerick to receive exposure from college coaches. And as his 6-5 stature dominated on the mound, as did more opportunities to impress - including an invitation to the PG National showcase this past July as well as the Area Code Games. 

“It was kind of my first time being able to be around all these guys who are the same caliber as me,” Rerick said. “It’s just fun to be around people who are passionate about the game, they all have the same goal, being able to be in the dugout with them and the competition that you get playing them. It was just amazing because I had never obviously been out here or really played Perfect Game baseball until last year, I started to venture out a little bit. But this year I went full club ball, being able to be around these guys who all have dreams of playing for their lifetime. It was just special meeting all these people playing against them and playing with them.”

Currently ranked as a top-50 player in the nation, Rerick has witnessed more players from his home state develop the same love for the game as he does. Now with more resources and teams, the potential for North Dakota natives following in his footsteps is stronger than ever. 

“Over the years it’s grown a lot,” Rerick said. “When I started playing, there was Fargo Little League and Fargo Babe Ruth - those were the two organizations. So I've always played Fargo Little League when I grew up, but today, they've merged and now it's just for Fargo Youth Baseball. They also built a nice indoor facility which I think has helped a ton, it’s always booked with people in the winter that are wanting to get better.

“We also have a new fall team, Dakota Selects, and that's helped a lot of people who are passionate about baseball trying to get recruited more and go to other tournaments, so I think that’s I've helped a ton. You can see it growing more and more, because people are starting to venture out and go to these other Perfect Game tournaments and play with club teams. I think for the next five years it's gonna grow even more, so we’re gonna see more people and club teams move into North Dakota.”

Recently committing to play baseball for Texas A&M University, Rerick credits the legacy he could create on and off the field with the help of new Aggies assistant coach Max Weiner. 

“I had a tough decision to make,” Rerick said. “But I finally narrowed it down. The top thing for me was pitching development, but when I got in contact with A&M and [Weiner] we clicked right away. I could feel something in our partnership and really help me out in the long run as far as my pitching.

“When I went on my visit, just seeing the stadium, walking around town, other facilities, the people and learning how connected everybody is there - I thought that was pretty special. How much the fans care about Texas A&M baseball and other sports - just how connected - and once you’re an Aggie, you’re one for life and people respect that.”

Now with the opportunity to pitch at the Perfect Game All American Classic, Rerick has come a long way from his hometown of Fargo. 

And while Rerick's coordinates will alter throughout the journey, his passion and mindset on the mound won't.  

“Whether it’s the Perfect Game All American Classic or Fargo, North Dakota,” Rerick said. “Wherever you are, the crowd will change, the people you play with will change, the game may get a little faster, but as a pitcher I’m still throwing the ball to the catcher and it just comes down to simplifying the game.”
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