Player Name: Andruw Gazzola
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| Photo Credit: Jesse Borek |
School: Stony Brook
Position: 1b
Written by Jesse Borek
Andruw is a 6’0″ 190 lb graduate of Longwood HS. After spurning the University of Louisville and the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, Gazzola decided to stay home and join Stony Brook.
Offensively: While the Cardinals wanted him as a pitcher only, Stony Brook saw a middle of the order bat—an honor for a true freshman. A left-handed hitter but right-handed fielder, Gazzola possesses a sweet, compact stroke that allows him to use all fields. He keeps his back elbow bent prior to the pitch.
In Stony Brook’s America East Conference opener against Binghamton on March 15-16, Gazzola caught fire, going 7-for-13, in addition to two walks. Playing his fourth game in three days against Iona on March 17, he hit a rocket-shot RBI single the opposite way.
Defensively: Gazzola has been the Seawolves’ primary first baseman thus far in 2015, and should continue to be down the line with the Stony Brook pitching staff well populated.
On March 17 against Iona, he had a season-high 10 putouts. In the second inning of that contest, he had a nice backhanded stab to his right that resulted in an out off of what could have easily been a base hit. He possesses plus-instincts.
To start the season, Gazzola found himself batting towards the bottom third of the order. But after having a five-game hitting streak to start his collegiate career, coach Matt Senk has moved him up into the meat of the order and he has responded. After hits in all three games against Nicholls State, and in two out of three against Louisiana-Lafayette, Gazzola is primed to take down whatever the America East has coming his way.
