the lineup card: Season 2; vol 9
Kale Fountain commands the spotlight on the field, and with good reason. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing 229 pounds, he not only shatters state home run records but also showcases remarkable defensive agility for his size. Yet, what truly distinguishes this 18-year-old baseball prospect from his peers is his demeanor off the field.
In mere minutes of conversing with Fountain, it became evident that this was not his first time being interviewed, nor his second. The nimble, deliberate way he formulated responses revealed a level of media savviness mirrored only by those who already have experience playing in the minor or major leagues. While Fountain is not at that stage of his career just yet, the Division I recruit has prepared himself to handle it since day one.
Growing up on the south side of Lincoln, Nebraska, Fountain has been able to enjoy the perks of both city life and country life. He attends Norris High School, which is surrounded by a cornfield, but only an hour separates him from the epicenter of NCAA glory — Omaha, the home of the College World Series. His father, Mike, who played collegiately for Iowa Western, married another baseball enthusiast named Jane, forming the cornerstone of a family deeply rooted in the sport.
The Fountains played catch together in the yard, traveled all over the country for tournaments, and Atlanta Braves games have always been a constant fixture on their home TV. In 2012, Kale’s parents took him on a trip to the National League Wild Card Playoff game at Turner Field so that he could see his childhood hero, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, play for the first and last time in person. The game, infamously dubbed the “infield fly rule game” following a controversial call by umpire Sam Holbrook, was the final one of Chipper’s Hall of Fame career.
When Andrelton Simmons’ eighth-inning blooper that dropped in shallow left field was ruled an out, fans responded by littering the field with trash, delaying the game for 19 minutes. Amidst this chaotic spectacle, 7-year-old Kale, seated along the first base side, found himself in the unintended crossfire. Cascading drinks from airborne cans left him drenched, etching bitter smells of beer-soaked clothing. While the Braves fell short that day, being immersed in a loud playoff atmosphere and seeing how much fans cared lit a fire under Kale, inspiring him to pursue the game with a newfound intensity. Both of Kale’s younger brothers, Bryce (Class of 2026) and Trace (Class of 2028), followed in his footsteps.
“It’s kind of like our glue; it’s just something that’s kept us together,” the star third baseman said about his family’s love for the game. “Youth baseball to high school baseball, we’re always there. It’s just something that we find easy to go to and have a lot of fun being invested in.”
Growing up too fast
At age 14, the role of baseball as a sanctuary took on a profound significance. In February 2020, Kale faced an indescribable tragedy — the untimely loss of his older brother, Jaren “JJ” Fountain, in a car accident.
JJ was the person Kale looked up to most. If JJ bought a new pair of shoes, Kale wanted to match him. When JJ got the brand new Xbox 360, Kale asked his parents to get him the same thing. He had a “glowing” personality and a smile that lit up every room he walked into, making him very easy for Kale to talk to.
The loss of JJ deeply shook the Fountain family. As Kale tried to process how their lives would forever be changed, he leaned into the glue he knew would keep his family strong and himself focused – baseball. Practices and games became an outlet for him to harness his pain toward the pursuit of his Division I and MLB dreams.
“Part of me wanted to do it for him. Obviously, that’s the thing you hear all the time when someone passes away, but it truly was in my heart to find success for him,” Fountain said over the phone. “Growing up, I remember him being in the dugout all the games he could be at, just bringing unwavering support and unconditional love, which is something that I never wanted to let go of. Trying to honor him in everything I do, and our faith in believing that he’s in a better place, drives me to want to keep playing baseball. He was such a great role model and it’s important to us to spread his name and the good that he’s done through my baseball career.”
Now as the big brother of the house, Kale felt it was up to him to be someone that Bryce and Trace could look up to in the same way he revered JJ. It was a role that Kale did not take lightly.
A little less than three months after losing JJ, the 14-year-old ballplayer made his first big grown-up decision; he committed to Florida State University as a two-way player. At the time, Fountain stood 6-foot-3 and threw a fastball that sat in the low-to-mid 80s. The news of an eighth grader accepting an offer from a Division I program made national headlines, landing him interviews with Sports Illustrated Kids among other major outlets.
“Obviously, being the big brother in the house now and committing to a D1 college brings a little bit different responsibilities. I kind of had to grow up and mature earlier than most, so I knew I was ready for this,” Fountain reflected four years after that decision. “I was paying attention to the details a lot more. I was taking things more seriously. I started to understand the pressure of the game, how to have a routine and how to prepare for things to make the nerves go away.”
When most athletes finally commit to a college, they feel a weight lifted off their shoulders. Earning that offer is a sign that they have repeatedly proven themselves on both the high school and travel ball levels. But when that decision comes earlier than most, like in Fountain’s case, it puts a target on his back for the rest of his competition to see. Those who want to be the best need to beat the best, and to other high schoolers and uncommitted prospects on the summer circuit, Fountain was the guy to go after. With four years of high school and travel games to go, he would have to repeatedly prove to his opponents why he deserved that early offer.
Learning from the best
Before Fountain arrived, the Norris Titans varsity baseball program had already established itself as a Class B powerhouse in Nebraska. It has recently produced multiple future college and professional ballplayers, including 2014 third-round pick Jakson Reetz, who made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2021.
Fountain had a lot to live up to. He made the team and slotted in at the top half of the lineup as a freshman, placing a lot of pressure on him to perform right away. Much like his newfound responsibilities as a big brother, he delivered. Through three seasons, Fountain has broken Nebraska’s state high school records for home runs in a season (11) and career (26), while also helping the Titans reach two state title games. With one more full season left to pad those numbers, Norris head coach Sean Bartholomew is most impressed by the presence Fountain brings to his team.
“The first thing that comes to mind when you see Kale is his size. He’s a grown man as a senior in high school. Then, you watch him swing it and you see how easy it looks for him to consistently hit balls 103+ mph. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a high school kid do that before,” Bartholomew detailed. “Aside from his physical ability, he’s extremely mature for his age. It’s like we have another coach on the field for us. We can trust him to get our guys in the right spots defensively, and he’s awesome at picking his teammates up.”
In addition to his high school success, Fountain has spent time with three different top-tier travel baseball programs – Trosky, Arkansas Sticks, and USA Prime. Engaging in summer ball opened doors for Fountain, offering opportunities to showcase his skills at prestigious events like the WWBA, Area Code, the Perfect Game National Showcase, and the PBR All-American Game. It has also afforded him the opportunity to step in the box at major league ballparks, including Kauffman Stadium, American Family Field, Globe Life Field, and Chase Field.
“Pulling up to the field and even in warmups, you definitely have to take time to realize where you’re at, what baseball can do for you and the places it can take you. It’s quite cool to see and it’s really cool for my family, too, so I make sure to take it in,” Fountain stated, although he tried not to get too lost in the moment. “Once game time comes, you can’t be focused on that. You just kind of lock-in and find that place where you can do damage, so there’s the best of both worlds for sure.”
Being in those heavily scouted invitationals also provided Fountain with another opportunity he could not pass up – the chance to learn from some of the best players and coaches in the country. No matter who he talked to, he would pick their brains and discuss playing catch with intent, utilizing hands and legs when hitting, and learn other unique approaches to the game.
“The biggest thing I learned is to keep an open ear to everything. Baseball is such a changing game. Nobody’s perfect mechanically. Everybody has stuff that works for them,” Fountain explained. “I was around a lot of great baseball minds and was able to pick up some things about the way they go about their business that I can incorporate into my routine. That’s the best thing that could have happened for me in the summer circuit, just being around all these other great baseball players and being able to take things from them and work on it with myself.”
Change of plans
As Fountain continued to live up to lofty expectations on the field, more forces outside of his control were impacting his future. During his sophomore summer, Florida State made a coaching change, replacing Mike Martin Jr. with Link Jarrett. The staff Fountain had spent two years developing close relationships with would no longer have the chance to work with him at Florida State.
Following a family discussion, the Fountains viewed this as an opportunity to take a step back and digest all of the changes that have occurred in college baseball since his commitment. After all, Fountain only got to take a virtual tour the last time since Florida State’s recruitment took place during COVID. The power-hitting third baseman decommitted, allowing him to find out how the process is handled in more normal circumstances.
Fountain narrowed down his list and visited four NCAA heavyweights – LSU, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi State. During that time, he was in communication with LSU pitcher and eventual 2023 first-overall draft pick Paul Skenes, whom he met through a mutual friend from high school who pitched with Skenes at Air Force. Skenes offered to answer any questions Fountain had about LSU throughout the process.
While the coveted corner infielder appreciated each visit, Baton Rouge held a distinct allure from the first step he and his family took onto its grounds.
“The biggest thing that sticks out is the people, especially within the program. Coach Johnson and Coach Jordan, the way they went about recruiting me in the conversations we had, it was just different and easygoing. I could feel that they were the right people for me and my development,” Fountain detailed, adding that they were the type of people that his parents could trust to hand him off to. “Overall, the comfort factor was a big deal, and they were the best at making us feel comfortable with making that decision so ultimately, that’s what we did.”
In October 2022, Fountain announced his commitment to LSU. Since then, he has found joy in his decision, a sentiment echoed by his ongoing interactions with head coach Jay Johnson and assistant coach Josh Jordan. When the Tigers made it to Omaha during last year’s College World Series run, Fountain was able to watch his future team play live in his home state. He attended game one of the championship series against Florida, catching up with Skenes and the coaching staff pregame. The fact that they took the time to speak with him ahead of such a pivotal game only reinforced his belief in their strong culture, but what especially struck him was the fan base.
“It was a crazy experience being around all those LSU fans. All the other teams were completely outnumbered. It felt like a home game and I think the players would even say that it felt like everyone was rooting for them,” Fountain said. The atmosphere mirrored his experience at the NL Wild Card game years ago, but this time, he felt an even deeper connection to those on the field. “Because I had visited there the year before, I knew all those guys. Being able to see them play and win the national championship was really cool.”
2024 and beyond
As winter’s grip loosens and spring unfolds, so does a long list of life milestones for Fountain – one last run with his childhood teammates, the possibility of adding to the record books and ending his high school career with a championship, graduation and beginning the next chapter of his life in a new city. Amidst these moments, the subtle murmurs of an MLB future persistently trail him everywhere he goes.
Fountain was ranked No. 79 by MLB Pipeline and No. 47 by Baseball America in their most recent Top 100 prospect lists for the 2024 Draft. Prep Baseball Report has labeled him as both the No. 1 player in Nebraska and the top third baseman in the nation, mocking him as high as 20th overall to the Blue Jays. Some have compared him to Nationals top infield prospect Brady House due to his size, the way the ball jumps off the barrel following his righty swing, low whiff rate and underrated athleticism. Others believe he would be better suited moving to first base or a corner outfield spot long-term. Everyone has their opinions, but Fountain is taking all of it with a grain of salt.
“The best way I look at it is to not buy into those things too much. There’s so many people with so many lists, who have so many different sources. That’s what kind of makes the scouting game and the draft process kinda cool is seeing everyone’s opinion, but the final draft order is the actual draft order come July,” Fountain shared. He acknowledged that his ability to move well at his size has opened doors for other positions, however, the plan right now is to remain at his natural spot. “I’m just gonna give myself the best chance to stick at third as long as I can. I know I’m athletic enough to do it, but at the end of the day, college or pro, I want to be on the field. Wherever I need to be to help the team win, that’s what’s most important.”
Fountain has filled out questionnaires and had at-home visits with different MLB team representatives, though he was unable to put an exact number on how many teams he has been in contact with. Communication has quieted down as of late, allowing him to fully lock in on the season ahead, but it will surely pick up again as the draft nears.
Right now, Fountain is focused on slowing things down and cherishing every moment he has left of his senior year. On the field, he aims to help lead his team to a state championship, continue controlling the strike zone and be a “reactive” hitter instead of passive. Off the field, he enjoys spending time with his teammates, lifting weights and watching sports on TV together. Just recently, they gathered to watch Norris graduate CJ Hood pitch against Omaha for Long Beach State.
When asked about his teammates, Fountain’s voice lit up. He gave the rundown of everyone on the roster who is currently a college commit, raving about left-hander Beckett Lund and right-hander Colton Homolka, who will both continue to pitch at the JUCO level, and of course his brother Bryce, who is committed to pitch for the hometown Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Soon, other locals will similarly gather to watch them play at the next level, whether that is college, the minor leagues or the majors. All eyes will especially be on Kale, who has drawn as much, if not more hype than any baseball player in the Norris program’s rich history.
No matter what Fountain decides, there is considerably no “bad” path. If he gets drafted in the early rounds, he can sign for a potentially life-changing signing bonus and get a head start on his road to the show. If he opts to go to college first, he will join the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class at a program that just won a national championship and produced the top two picks in the MLB Draft. Of course, there will be pro scouts watching him closely at every game and a passionate fan base counting on him to perform wherever he lands, but pressure is not foreign to him. In fact, it has been a constant companion of his since he was 14.
“There’s a reason why there’s nerves and pressure – because I’ve worked hard enough to get into the position I am in to have some opportunities. It’s really cool to kind of just run with it,” Fountain said. “The biggest thing I want to do is just show people that routine and hard work will get you places. Staying true to yourself, having faith, and relying on those who you love are really important. I think I’ve done a good job of that in high school and in my next steps, I really want to show that.”