We are in a new era of college baseball which includes the transfer portal acting as free agency for the big Division-I programs. The reality is that it benefits the Power 5 programs much more than our local teams. In certain cases, however, a program like St. John’s could utilize the transfer portal and upgrade their roster with a player that has excelled at the Division-II level.
Garrett Scavelli, a player that thoroughly dominated at Molloy University on his way to being named the 2023 ECC Player of the Year, entered the transfer portal in that summer. Over his 3 year career, he slashed .357/.458/.562 with 121 runs scored, 92 RBIs and 60 extra-base hits.
It was a major talking point from local coaches who obviously were interested in Scavelli’s services, but also in the situation in general. Up until recently, players looked to transfer if they had a negative experience or if they were looking for a particular major that a university offered.
Scavelli is a great example of the modern era in which players can elevate themselves at one school and become a valuable asset to another program. Had he failed, perhaps Division-I schools would’ve been less likely to take a chance on a player in a future situation.
Instead, he batted .316 with a .903 OPS while starting in 55 games. He crushed 6 HRs and drove in 38 runs and was a steady presence in the Johnnies’ lineup and left field every day for a team that won the Big East Championship.
Scavelli has had a long journey to this point. He had initially begun his collegiate journey at NY Tech, before the school unceremoniously announced they would eliminate their teams from NCAA competition. Who knows where he would be had that not happened. Instead, he just finished off an incredible collegiate career and is looking for an opportunity to play professionally.
He has also opened the door for fellow Long Island ballplayers to follow in a similar path; perhaps playing two or three years at a college that they can not only play but excel at, before moving onto Division-I baseball. This year alone we have already seen two players (Freddy Forgione and Matt Milone) follow the same blueprint.
I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say…
Was baseball always your No. 1 sport? Did you play any other sports?
Yes, baseball was always my No. 1 sport. Although I enjoyed switching it up sometimes playing basketball, soccer and hockey, baseball was my passion and I knew that at a very young age. Soccer was a close second and I enjoyed playing in a pretty competitive travel program at the time, but ultimately I knew it would take away from my commitment to baseball, so I had to give it up.
Did you take private lessons with anyone when you were younger?
I took lessons, but pride myself on the hard work and dedication I put in on the field and in the cage on my own time, when nobody was telling me to do it. I had the good fortune to take occasional lessons with some talented coaches and instructors over the years. I’m still in touch with a lot of those guys who have become close fiends, mentors and partners in the game. For me, it really came down to very deliberate and focused hard work. I always made sure to get my daily time in the cages and field whenever I could. I think it’s important to balance your commitment to improving while building muscle memory at your hitting and fielding positions to stay sharp at all times. But I would say, the personal discipline to work could be nicely complemented by a good instructor. Along with that, this past year Coach John Valente really helped me become a better hitter.
Who were some Major League players you grew up emulating?
Growing up I played SS because of Derek Jeter. There are many other players I loved to watch, but Derek Jeter displayed hard work, grit and respected the game every time he stepped on the field. I also respected how he handled himself off the field with his classy interactions with fans and the community. I enjoyed watching that throughout my childhood and it definitely helped me in becoming the player I am today.
Who were some people who had a positive impact on your career?
Undoubtedly my parents. They support me in everything I do and push me to keep going and working hard. They are at every game and always make sure I see them at some point. My grandfather, my older brother, Greg, and sister, Sarah Mae, have always been there to support me along with the entire Scavelli family has been tremendously supportive throughout my career. I come from a big family. They all love coming to the games or following along on the streaming services with “watch parties,” for almost every game of the year. Having that kind of support behind you can really make a difference and for me it’s been priceless.
Can you describe your experience with the college recruiting process and why you chose NY Tech?
My recruiting process in high school was definitely an interesting one. I visited and prospected dozens of schools and participated in numerous camps and tournaments. I had a few offers, but I ultimately chose New York Tech because of their success and great coaching staff. At the time, it was a great fit for me and my goal was to help them get back to another trip to the Div-II World Series, which they had done the year before. Choosing Tech would also allow my family to come see me play and we were set up with a pretty stacked roster, I might add. We would have crushed it.
It was a huge shock and disappointment when Tech decided to shut down all NCAA sports due to financial problems which sent all of their athletes back into the recruiting space to find a new home in a very short time. It was a grueling experience to find a new home once again and then of course COVID impact started impacting everything and everyone. While I was really upset and disappointed how things went down at Tech, it’s great to see Coach Cat and the new running a great program at Hofstra. With that being said, I guess sometimes things are meant to be and happen for a reason. Had NY Tech not closed down their program I would have likely not had the opportunity to join Molloy.
You had an incredible career at Molloy. What was the most thrilling moment?
My 3 years at Molloy were amazing. I was offered a spot on short notice after the closing of the NY Tech program and will be forever grateful for that. It was a weird start with all the COVID impact and restrictions but we made the best of it. We had a strong and resilient team with some amazing families behind us. I would say the most thrilling moment was winning two ECC Championships. In high school and growing up, I always dreamed of winning a championship and “dog piling” with my teammates. Seeing a “dog pile” on TV is nothing like experiencing it in real life. I hope every player who takes the college baseball journey gets to experience that. While it wasn’t a game moment, finding out I was selected as ECC Player of the Year was pretty high up there on my memorable and thrilling moments at Molloy. My Molloy family will always have a special place in my heart.
Can you explain your thought process behind transferring to St. John’s? Was it difficult decision?
Yes it was difficult. After playing three years at Molloy University, winning ECC Player of the Year and 2 ECC Championships, I decided that I really wanted to try playing at the Div-I level. I was confident I had the skills to compete at a high level. I continued to get some looks and recognition in summer ball. Since I was playing in a league with mostly Div-I level players and doing well, it definitely boosted my confidence to take a shot and raise the stakes to play with the best. Entering the portal was a hard decision to make because I was so close with my coaches and teammates at Molloy. Once that difficult decision was made, the outpouring of support from my teammates and my baseball network really reassured me that I was taking a good risk. However, I was really nervous not knowing what the next step would be. A few school reached out, but when St. John’s reached out and I got to meet Coach Hampton, I was pumped. Growing up, St. John’s was always a part of my family. With so many family alum, I started to feel at home right away with just the thought of playing there. I can remember my dad often talking about the Mullen and Lou Carnasecca days, going to basketball games at the Garden and feeling the excitement of the Big East experience. They are memories I will cherish forever and I was fortunate to make some of my own becoming a Johnnie.
St. John’s won the Big East Championship this season – what was that feeling like? How much work goes into being a championship team at the Division-I level?
Winning the Big East Championship was one of the highlights of my life. Being able to catch the last out of a championship has been on my bucket list for a while and I finally checked it off when we “dog piled” once again with my boys. We put in so much work. From the weight room to the field, it was a daily grind that I loved. To come out on the winning side of it was pretty gratifying. We always pushed each other to get better and managed our way through the ups and downs of the season. One of Coach Hampton’s team mantras was “Win the Details” and we did just that through smart baseball, hard work and discipline on-and-iff the field. Playing in the Big East was incredible. It’s a lot to balance with school work and the heavy travel schedule, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. We got to travel to some cool places and play in a historic conference with great competition. We were picked 6th in a few preseason polls which made us even hungrier for a 2024 Big East Championship we knew we could win…and we did. Although I only had one year with SJU, I made such amazing friends and memories and built relationships that I know will be lifelong.
What was the atmosphere like at Mississippi State? Do you think we’ll see another Northeast team make it to Omaha?
The atmosphere playing against Mississippi State was also an amazing experience. They have a very dedicated and supportive fan base and it was fun to play against them. They flooded their stadium and did their chants but our Johnnies fans kept up and were matching their energy! In one of our games against them, I made a game saving catch over the wall in left field (#7 on ESPN top 10 plays that night) and the place went nuts. That was a really good feeling. I definitely think you will be seeing Northeast teams making it to Omaha. There is so much great talent and great coaching within these Northeast schools I know there will be teams making runs. Northeast baseball is vastly underrated and it’s only a matter of time before people start to change that narrative.
What are your goals moving forward?
My ultimate goal is unchanged since I was a kid and that is to play professional baseball, but know that journey is not an easy one. Now that my college playing career is over, I’m going to stay ready, continue my regimen of training and hopefully land a spot at the professional level. Eventually, I do have a strong interest in working in the game in some capacity and coaching.
Favorite restaurant on Long Island?
My favorite restaurant on Long Island is King Umberto in Elmont. The fried capellini is amazing!
Favorite TV show and movie?
Favorite TV show – Ozark
Movie: Kicking & Screaming
Best baseball trip you’ve been on?
I have definitely been on some memorable trips throughout my career. Nothing can top opening our season vs the Gators at the University of Florida. It was an amazing experience. The atmosphere and playing in front of a sold out crowd. It was also my first official game at St. John’s. I knew, especially after taking the win in a huge upset, I knew that we had a very special team and we were going to accomplish great things.
Favorite vacation spot?
Baseball doesn’t allow me to go on many vacations, but I was able to visit Puerto Rico last year and it was awesome. I really enjoyed it and I am definitely looking to go back.
Favorite musical artist?
My favorite musical artist is Luke Combs. I got to see him in concert at Metlife Stadium recently and he killed it!
