Coming out of high school, NIU was the only Division-I school that recruited Matt German.

Coming out of high school, German threw in the mid- to high-80s and had a loopy curveball.

Thanks to a change in his delivery and the development of a devastating slider, German left NIU as the school’s all-time saves leader, and now he’s on his way to the major leagues as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

German has been outstanding this season for the Class AA Reading Phillies. So far, German has thrown 9 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 16.

“This is probably the best start I’ve had in minor league baseball,” German said. “I wish I could tell you what I was doing differently or what I’ve changed.”

German’s strong start comes off his 2008 season when he went 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings for High Class A Clearwater where he participated in the Florida State League All-Star Game.

German finished up his Huskie career in 2007, going 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA and saving 13 games as NIU’s closer.

After the season, German signed with the Phillies as an undrafted free agent. But don’t let the term “undrafted” fool you.

German was a fifth-year senior in 2007, and at that time, fifth-year seniors who completed their college season before the draft were allowed to sign with teams as free agents. The rule was changed last season.

According to NIU head coach Ed Mathey, German would have been drafted in the 15 to 20th round had he been eligible.

In the summer of 2007, after he signed with Philadelphia, German reported to Short-Season A Williamsport and struck out 28 batters in 22 innings while posting a 1.23 ERA.

His performance earned him a promotion to Low Class A Lakewood where he posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 18 batters in 13 innings.

“I don’t think you can count Matt out; he’s a tremendous competitor,” Mathey said. “He’s going to go in there and do all the right and necessary things every day.”

When German first came to NIU, he didn’t exactly have “potential major-leaguer” written all over him. Coming to NIU out of Aurora’s Marmion Academy (the same school that produced Larry English), German topped out at 87 to 88 mph. He red-shirted the 2003 season and had an 11.48 ERA in nine appearances in 2004.

“I had a big arm slot, and hitters would kind of tee off on it,” German said.

But after the 2004 season, German decided he needed to make a change to be successful.

He decided to drop his arm angle to sidearm, and he ended up developing that slider. While he only throws 80-84 mph now, he uses the slider to rack up strikeouts.

“My slider’s my out pitch,” German said. “I get that for strikeouts. You throw your sliders over, and you try to get them to chase it.”

Mathey raved about German’s slider.

“The breaking ball he had for us was great,” Mathey said. “It was a major-league average breaking ball.”

If German ends up making it with Philadelphia, it will probably be as a left-handed hitter specialist even though he has shown he can get right-handers out just as well.

The next step for German will probably be Class AAA Lehigh Valley, the last level of minor league baseball before the major leagues. German said he would be surprised if he reached Philadelphia this season.

“I think there’s a really good chance I could get a September call-up ­— if I don’t give up an earned run all season,” German said. “I just think about what I need to do here at Reading. If I get blessed with the opportunity to go up there, that would be great.”