Toronto, ON – Part four of the Toronto Mets Alumni series will feature Matt Hilderbrandt. A Bowmanville ON native, Hilderbrandt may have been considered a long shot to make it to the next level when he first came to the Toronto Mets in May of 2014. A strong work ethic enabled the 6’4 260-pound grade 10 to completely transform his body over the next 3 years as a Toronto Met to a very lean 225 pounds. “Our entire coaching staff saw Matt's potential immediately”, says his 16u coach Bob Roberts. “Matt had a power swing from the left side and was very smooth defensively at first base. This was Matt's first experience at elite baseball. I found Matt to be very dedicated and put in extra work to improve his skills. Matt was a very good teammate, eventually became our starting first baseman and became very comfortable and competitive at the Elite level.”Hilderbrandt would go on to commit to Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio a small town 20 minutes outside of Cleveland.  As a Freshman, Hilderbrandt would hit .281 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI’s adding 35 runs in 52 games. As a Sophomore he would continue to have success batting .315 with 7 home runs and 43 RBI’s. He would leave Cuyahoga as the all-time leader in home runs (20) and RBI’s (99) setting himself up for a scholarship at Limestone College, a NCAA DII in Gaffney, South Carolina. 

As a Senior in high school, Hilderbrandt struggled with the idea of leaving his family and set parameters of only being 5 or 6 hours away from home. “I’d say I did it to get a taste of what it’s like. To experience the going away and living on your own but also having family close enough to come and see for a quick visit and be at some games. It’s a good way to ease yourself into it I believe. And for some people it’s a good way to see if it’s really something you want to do,” shares Hilderbrandt. 

Family is very important to Hilderbrandt. “Whether that be my mom, dad, uncle and grandparents’ or cousins, family is what got me to where I am today, and I am forever thankful for them. It’s hard to be away from them but constantly reminding myself you’ve only got one ticket so why not make the best of it. Sometimes it seems harder as you can’t walk up to them and be like I got a problem I need to talk to you about it, but they are all just one phone call away.  Sure it might be hard not seeing them all the time, but they are still there to support me and help me no matter what.Family is family and they won’t go anywhere. So, go and live your dream as long as you can.”

It is clear that Hilderbrandt’s family is very proud of him. “As his father I'm so proud of him,” says Dwayne Hilderbrandt. “Matt in my eyes, is a perfect example of how hard work pays off. He has put in so much extra work over these last 5 years; not only in baseball but school work as well, and it has been amazing to see. It has been hard not having him at home the last 2 and half years but seeing him follow his dream and getting his schooling at the same time is that much better and so worth it. Mandy Hilderbrandt is also very proud of her son. “Right from a little boy Matt was always running around with a bat in his hand. He has so much passion for the game. He has pushed himself and worked so hard throughout the years to become a successful baseball player. He has grown into such an amazing respectable young man. He didn’t let anything get in his way and he overcame many challenges.  Matt is an inspiration. Everyday working hard at his college courses, while putting in many hours at the gym and giving his all on the baseball field. He has shown that with continued hard work and determination you can accomplish your goals. Words can’t express enough how very proud I am of Matt.

The recruiting process can be both exciting and stressful, athletes need to have an open mind when deciding what school to commit to, sometimes you have to make compromises.  For Hilderbrandt it was no different. “Yes, I had to make compromises. Not every school will check off your boxes whether it be not enough money offered or facilities or roster. I compromised roster wise as I had to work for a spot instead of being guaranteed one.”

Like so many other athletes before him, Hilderbrandt struggled with the mental part of the game. “Mentally you have to be a lot stronger than you originally anticipate. It’s a mental grind every day trying to balance all of your stuff and keep a positive mindset throughout.” 

It wasn’t just on the field that an adjustment needed to be made. He is now living on his own and had the additional responsibility of cooking and cleaning for himself while also keeping up with his classroom responsibilities. “I made a lot of lists, always write down assignment due dates, keep a calendar with all of your assignments, lifts, practices and games.”

Now that Hilderbrandt has been through 2 years of Junior College and is six games into his Junior year at Limestone, he has a good understanding of how they both work. “I like Junior College.  I believe they have more to offer from a baseball perspective, such as potential playing time in your freshman year, a lot of practice/extra work available. There are no regulations on the number of hours you can practice as a team, draft opportunities are there for all four years. JUCO grind is one of my favorite experiences I’ve had throughout school. It’s something you can’t really put a finger on, but to me it’s been the best part as well as the JUCO brotherhood. Having the opportunity to play right away as a Freshman allowed me the chance to receive multiple offers to four-year schools. Cuyahoga Head Coach Evan Agona got a front row seat to see Hilderbrandt play. “We really enjoyed having Matt in our program. Quality kid, and outstanding talent. He will really be missed. Just hoping he can find that little extra gear at Limestone and take full advantage of his potential.” Hilderbrandt says, “I am very thankful for the opportunity I received from Cuyahoga and excited to see where my future goes with the Limestone Saints.”

We asked Hilderbrandt what advice he would give to the Toronto Mets high school seniors. “Mental toughness. This to me is the most important part of going away to play college baseball. It helps you get through everything. Whether that being not wanting to lift or having a sore body or not feeling like you’ve got the best swing that day. It’s all mental and you have to keep positive throughout the whole season and off-season, as tough as it is, it’s key.” For those seniors still looking for schools, “Look everywhere and send out emails. The worst thing the coach can say is no, so why not take a shot. Obviously, you have to be realistic but if something peaks your interest send out an email out and see what happens.” Finally, he feels like he was better prepared in the weight room than the other freshman. “I spent a lot of time in the weight room. I worked out with my Toronto Mets teammates and also on my own. If you can go into your freshman year as strong as possible, you will give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.”

The Toronto Mets are very proud of you Matt. You are living proof that hard work can overcome any challenge put in your way.

- PreGame Athletics