By MIKE MARSEE

marsee@amnews.com

Micah Miniard has seen both his body and his baseball options grow tremendously over the past year, but one thing never changed.

Miniard committed to play baseball for Western Kentucky University just over a year ago, and the Boyle County senior stood by that commitment right up to the point at which he signed a letter-of-intent Friday.

The right-hander has participated in all-star games and showcases from coast to coast since he announced his intent to play for WKU just over a year ago, and some of the many eyes on him belonged to other college coaches who would love to have him at their schools. But Miniard wouldn’t listen to them.

“Before I committed I got offers, but I never even let teams make me an offer after that,” Miniard said. “I just didn’t want to go back on my word. I liked them, and I wanted to stick with them.”

Miniard, who signed before an audience of family and friends at Boyle, said he’s happy the signing is behind him and eager to get to Bowling Green next summer.

“It feels awesome. I’m ready to get down there and help our team. I’m ready to be a Hilltopper,” he said.

Boyle coach Kyle Wynn said he advised Miniard last year to be sure about his commitment before he made it public, and he said Miniard told him then that he was certain and has never wavered.

“That says a lot about your character in life, and I’ve told Micah that,” Wynn said. “There were definitely schools that were interested in Micah after his commitment. He’s had a great summer and fall here. He knew from the first visit that Western was where he wanted to go. The thing I like is when guys feel comfortable with their decision, and from day one he felt comfortable at Western. That says a lot about your character in life, and I’ve told Micah that.”

Miniard has come a long way in a short time, and he may still go much farther. His improvement in arm strength and body strength and his exposure at national events raises the possibility that he might be drafted, but he said he hasn’t given much thought to how high he would have to be picked to go pro.

“I have no clue right now. As it gets closer, I’ll probably have an idea,” he said.

Wynn said he thinks “there’s a strong chance” that Miniard will be drafted, though it’s too early to tell how high.

“I think our key is controlling what he can control. How high will he get drafted? Nobody knows that. He’s taken such huge strides in the last 18 months ... and by June who knows how much bigger he’s going to be or what kind of strides he’s going to make?” Wynn said.

The 6-foot-7 Miniard has put on about 60 pounds since he transferred to Boyle from Garrard County during his sophomore year. He now weighs about 225, more than at any time in his life, and he said he thinks he has greater arm strength as well.

“I think so, but I won’t really know until this spring when I get the radar gun on me,” he said.

Miniard had five wins, including a no-hitter, one save and a 2.49 earned-run average last season for Boyle, with 76 strikeouts in 56 innings, and he was a third-team all-state selection by the state coaches association. He played in a handful of major events this summer, including an all-star game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and he rose to become the No. 1-ranked player in Kentucky in the class of 2014 by both Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game USA.

He decided not to play basketball this season, choosing instead to devote himself fully to offseason workouts.

“I think basketball was keeping a lot of weight off me. I’ll be able to maintain that weight, and weight equals speed from what I’ve heard,” he said.

Miniard said he has stopped throwing and focused on weightlifting and exercise recently, but he will resume throwing within a couple of weeks. The weightlifting will continue as well, and Wynn said Miniard hopes to put on another 10 pounds or so before the season.

Miniard said he’s looking forward to his senior season at Boyle, but he also looks forward to pitching for WKU.

“I think it’ll challenge me. I’ll gain as a baseball player, I’ll get a lot better, a lot faster,” he said. “I think I’ll just like it.”