Anchorage baseball star player Rilen Niclai will join big bro in the Big 12 after the Service star announced his commitment to Arizona State University.

Niclai made it Instagram official on Saturday, four months before the first pitch in the Cook Inlet Conference. With his college plans decided, the all-league pitcher and middle infielder can focus on developing after reclassifying to the Class of 2027.

His brother, Coen, a 2024 15th-round MLB draft pick of the Miami Marlins, is a sophomore catcher at Arizona State after transferring from Oregon.

The Niclai bros have won each of the last three Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year awards, with Coen winning in 2023 and 2024 and Rilen in 2025. You gotta think the streak will continue in 2026.

Niclai, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander, is a five-tool player with unsinkable confidence and two-way skills that can capsize opponents.

Armed with a mid-90s fastball and lights-out slider, Niclai racked up 92 strikeouts in 60.1 innings and a 0.58 ERA in 20 appearances across the last two high school seasons.

He also batted .400 during that time on 52-for-130 hitting with 13 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 46 RBIs with 42 runs scored.

He was named a first-team All-CIC second baseman as a sophomore and a first-team pitcher and shortstop along with Big Stick winner as a junior.

In 2024, Niclai led Service to state titles in high school and American Legion. His Legion season was one for the ages as he set an Alaska 529 Midseason Classic record with eight no-hit innings after retiring 23 consecutive batters, was named State Tournament MVP and selected to the All-Northwest Region Team in Billings, Mont.

Niclai missed last summer’s Legion schedule because of a busy schedule traveling to the Lower 48 for showcase events, such as the Perfect Game Showcase, in front of college and pro scouts.

His decision to go to Arizona State is one of many headlines made by Alaska baseball players this year:

• Anchorage’s Curtis Hebert was drafted in the 20th round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros.
• Eagle River’s Liam Lierman signed with the University of Washington
• Anchorage’s Aidan Ray signed with the University of Miami
• Anchorage’s Edison Polanco signed with Loyola Marymount University.
• Anchorage’s Brody Jessee became the 12th Alaska pitcher to surpass 80 career appearances in the minor leagues.
• Anchorage’s Leland Wilson became the 13th Alaska pitcher to reach 50 strikeouts at the NCAA Division I level.
• Anchorage’s Coen Niclai became the 14th Alaska batter to hit a home run at the Division I level.