(This is the third installment of our popular ‘Up Next’ Series in which we spotlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. None of the players have appeared in a varsity game yet, but we are confident they soon will. The first two features were Jayden Stroman and Liam Stemmler. Check out the Yard Sports by clicking here.)
Playing at a small high school has its pros and cons. While it may be more difficult to garner attention as media outlets don’t typically cover the games as frequently, it does give a freshman an opportunity to crack the starting lineup right off the bat and have an impact for four seasons.
In the case of Paul Napolitano, who has an older brother at Kansas and has already started turning heads with his performance on the national travel circuit, he could reap the benefits of being a big fish in a small sea. He batted .393 with an OBP of .476 and OPS of .948 playing as a 14-year-old in a 15U league. He stole 25 bases and drove in 23 runs.
The 5’9 freshman is already running a 7.1 60-yard dash, which should only improve as he gets stronger. He is Up Next.
Who is your favorite player in Major League Baseball and why?
My favorite player in Major League Baseball is New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom. He is my favorite player because he is always intense, he has an outstanding work ethic and is one of the most consistent players in the game. Most importantly, he never lets his emotions get the better of him and channels his anger and frustration positively into his performance.
Who are your biggest role models in life?
One role model that I have is my older brother, Luke. He is always supportive of me, gives me advice and helps me get better. His work ethic and his ability to conquer every challenge and hurdle thrown at him are both very inspiring. Another role model that I have is my older sister, Jaclyn. She doesn’t give in to peer pressure and doesn’t let other people dictate her thoughts, feelings or opinions. Jaclyn going outside her comfort zone and going away to college has motivated me to challenge myself.
What are some of your hobbies outside of playing baseball?
Some of my hobbies include playing basketball for my school, LuHi, watching videos and clips of current and former baseball players and watching movies.
Who are your favorite musical artists?
My favorite musical artists are Florida Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett.
Favorite app on your phone?
My favorite app on my phone is Instagram.
Do you work with any private instructors?
My private instructors for baseball are Nick Clark, Chris Finley and Shaun Manning.
Can you discuss the impact of your brother, Luke?
My brother Luke has impacted me in my baseball career in many ways. He has paved the way and shown me what it takes to be a Division-I baseball player in a Power-5 conference. He has shown and taught me that there are always things you can improve upon and to work on the things that you aren’t so good at.
What has been the biggest thrill of your baseball career?
The biggest thrill of my baseball career so far has to be playing in the WWBA Underclass World Championship this past October with the Rawlings National Scout Team. We lost in the third round of the playoffs but I had the opportunity to be with great players from around the country. One of those players, Trevor Haskins–who is committed to Standford University, gave me great advice and showed me things that really helped me improve my game and how to deal with the pitchers who were throwing about 85 MPH. It was an overall great experience and I had a lot of fun.
What are your goals for 2020?
My goals for this year are to play varsity baseball at LuHi, be a freshman impact player and improve my game every single day.
