While working at the renowned New York Baseball Academy (NYBA) camp at Hofstra during the summer of 2016, I was in charge of working with Group 5 one week. This is for younger players, typically fifth or sixth grade. Most of the players have potential but are very raw and have plenty to work on.
One player that caught my eye was young Ryan Muskopf. Then in fifth grade, he was easily one of the best players in the camp and was well beyond his years in terms of talent.
The camp ends each summer in mid-August and it’s up to the players to continue to work on what they learn. In many cases, the players will really take that experience and grow from it. They will continue to develop and sometimes you end up hearing about these players later.
Muskopf is that player. While conducting research for this series, I was notified about the ridiculous numbers he posted the past two seasons while playing for Team Francisco Notorious 9. The numbers are absolutely staggering.
2017: .501 AVG, 26 HR, 124 RBI
2018: .565 AVG, 42 HR, 170 RBI
He is a 2023 grad (8th grade) in the Half Hollow Hills West district. He has a chance to play JV this season. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say..
You had a monster season at the plate, what do you attribute that power to?
My approach at the plat and the aggression to hitting the ball well is part of it. The bigger part, is the time in the cage, behind the tee or working with Joe keeping my swing simple and efficient.
What has been the biggest thrill of your baseball career?
My greatest thrill has been playing on Team Francisco Notorious 9 for the last two seasons. The coaches; Joe, Bobby and Charlie are great and the rest of the team is committed and very supportive.
What are your goals for 2019? What do you need to work on this off-season?
My goals will be to continue to compete against the best teams; including our trip this winter to the Dominican Republic and to play at by best and help my team have a great season. During this off-season I will continue working on my fundamentals with the goal of conditioning to get bigger, strong and faster.
How would you describe your 2018 season?
My 2018 season was a great experience. I was introduced to many new opportunities, traveling to Georgia in June for the TBS Nationals and Cooperstown in August where we played many of the great teams in the country.
How would you explain your time playing for Joe Francisco’s team?
It has been a great experience. We have competed with the top teams in the region as well as the country in several prestigious tournaments. Joe is a very motivated coach, very passionate about what he does and he pushes the whole team to be our best and to be passionate about this game. It’s not just about playing this season but preparing for the future in high school, college and beyond.
Who are some influential people in your life?
My dad and Joe, for really pushing me to never be satisfied but to always get better and strive for greater things. They have taught me that in order to reach my goals, I need to put in the time and effort. Not just in sports, but in school and my music.
This is the ninth installment of our ‘Up Next’ Series! Make sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram so you don’t miss out on the next!
