For most high school baseball players, a call from a Division I program would be the opportunity of a lifetime. For Key West’s Kade Maltz, 23 such opportunities came knocking on the same day.
On Aug. 1, the first day of his recruiting window, Maltz heard from nearly two dozen Division I baseball programs across the country. Four extended offers, leaving the talented Conch with plenty of options for his future. Ultimately, the junior center fielder and right-handed pitcher decided to join the Wolfpack at North Carolina State University.
Despite the attention, Maltz said his decision came down to more than the prestige of a program or the number of offers he received.
“The recruiting process is really about getting to know each other and making sure the player is a good fit for the program and the program is a good fit for the player,” Maltz said.
And Maltz certainly gave college recruiters plenty to consider.
Following a breakout freshman campaign that earned him All-Keys honors, Maltz continued to make his mark on one of the state’s most competitive high school baseball programs. As a sophomore last spring, he was a fixture near the top of the Conchs’ statistical leaderboards, making his presence known at the plate, in the field and on the mound.
In 12 pitching appearances, including 10 starts, Maltz posted a 1.47 ERA and an .875 winning percentage. He was also credited with a no-hitter and a perfect game, adding to an impressive pitching résumé.
Defensively, Maltz recorded a .977 fielding percentage, but his contributions hardly stopped there. At the plate, he batted .323 with a .441 on-base percentage, collecting 31 hits, including 10 doubles, four triples and a home run. He scored 30 runs, drove in 22 more and led the Conchs in stolen bases.
For Maltz, the realization that he could compete at the collegiate level came during that sophomore season.
“I was competing against guys who were going on to play college baseball the following year, and I was having some success against them,” he said. “That gave me confidence that I could compete at that level, too.”
While his success in a Conchs uniform helped establish his reputation locally, much of Maltz’s national recruiting attention came through travel baseball. Rather than relying heavily on individual camps and showcases, he made his mark competing against elite players – and drawing the attention of college coaches – on the tournament circuit.
His performances also earned him a selection to the Futures Games, a major summer recruiting event that Maltz said drew more than 400 college scouts.
With four offers on the table, Maltz had a decision to make. What ultimately separated N.C. State from the other programs wasn’t just the opportunity to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but the people who would be guiding his development.
“I think the biggest deciding factor was the coaching staff,” he said. “It was really important to me to be around coaches who believed in me and who I felt comfortable with.”
Assistant coach J.T. Jarrett played a significant role in Maltz’s recruitment, following the young prospect throughout the summer and maintaining regular contact after Aug. 1. Those conversations weren’t always about baseball.
“Sometimes to talk about recruiting, and other times just to check in and see how I was doing,” Maltz said of Jarrett’s communication.
Head coach Chris Hart also made a lasting impression. Hart, who took over the Wolfpack program in 2026 after more than two decades on its coaching staff, brought an approach to hitting and player development that resonated with Maltz.
“It was important to me to go somewhere I could continue to grow as a hitter and position player,” Maltz said. “I really connected with coach Hart’s approach to hitting and the game in general.”
The two also shared a connection beyond baseball. Hart played at Florida State, giving the Florida Keys standout another reason to feel at home.
“He’s from Florida, and us Florida boys have to stick together!” Maltz joked.
A visit to Raleigh, where Maltz toured the campus and facilities and met with the coaching staff, sealed the deal.
“The entire coaching staff at NC State was awesome, and I really couldn’t see myself anywhere else,” he said.
With his college destination decided, Maltz still has two seasons remaining in a Conchs uniform, including his upcoming junior campaign. For a player who has already established himself among the area’s top talents, the opportunity to continue developing before heading to Raleigh is considerable.
And though 23 programs came calling, only one will ultimately get to call Maltz one of its own.
“Go Pack!” he said.
