Fordham's Sebastian Mexico of Baldwinville has given Worcester Bravehearts a summer boost

WESTFIELD — Sebastian Mexico had a short list of teams he wanted to play baseball for this summer following his freshman year at Fordham University.

And there was one clear favorite.

“I live fairly close to Fitton Field, so I’ve grown up knowing the Bravehearts,” said the 19-year-old Baldwinville resident said. “And my goal this summer was to play as close to home as possible so I wouldn’t have to live with a host family.”

That wish was granted as the Futures League perennial playoff contenders added Mexico to a roster that’s annually dripping with collegiate talent from near and far after taking a call from Fordham coach Kevin Leighton.

While the Bravehearts entered Sunday’s home game – just their second at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field in two weeks – against the New Britain Bees looking to snap a six-game losing streak, the overall experience has been personally enjoyable and rewarding.

“Really fun,” Mexico said, repeating himself for emphasis before a road game here in Western Mass. earlier this month. “I like the way the Bravehearts carry themselves and all the energy with these guys.”

Mexico grew up playing baseball at Blouin Field in his hometown with his mom, Rebecca, a former Narragansett Regional three-sport standout who once threw three consecutive no-hitters in softball, and dad, Todd, who married his high school sweetheart, cheering him on.

After having drawn the attention of prep school coaches while playing summer ball for the New England Ruffnecks, Mexico matriculated to powerhouse Phillips Academy in Andover, where he was part of a super-skilled Class of 2021 assembled by coach Kevin Graber.

“We had a very, very talented senior class,” Mexico said. “I don’t know how it worked, but KG did a great job of recruiting.”

The group included former Bravehearts Jonathan Santucci, a Leominster native who attends Duke, and L.J. Keevan, who hails from Holden and attends UMass Lowell.

Unfortunately, the pandemic derailed the title hopes of the Big Blue as the 2020 season was canceled and there was no postseason in ’21 following a 13-1 regular season in which the only loss came by a run in 13 innings.

“COVID screwed us up so bad,” said Mexico, who pitched as a freshman and a sophomore before transitioning fulltime to the outfield as a senior.

Mexico committed to Fordham, the first school to offer him, just prior to the start of his senior year.

The transition to the Division 1 collegiate level for the true freshman was impressive as he appeared in 50 of a possible 52 games with 39 starts, batting .261 with 23 runs, 19 RBIs and an impressive strikeout rate of 12.7 percent (21 of 165) while playing flawless defense.

Mexico got his career with the Rams off to a rousing start as he lashed a three-run double with two outs in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie at Texas A&M. It was his first hit and second at bat as a collegian.

“That was crazy,” Mexico said with a big smile. “That field is incredible and there were so many fans there. To be honest, I think it was a blackout swing. Didn’t remember anything and then, all of a sudden, I was standing on second.

“That alone was a huge confidence boost. And, not only that, I doubled the next weekend at Virginia Tech. So it was cool to have an SEC and an ACC double.”

Mexico, who bats left and throws right, entered the weekend batting .310 for the Bravehearts with a pair of doubles, an RBI, four runs, and four walks in 29 at bats. Defensively, he had played all three outfield positions.

“Obviously, one of the best high school experiences you could have in the country and had a really good year as a freshman this year,” manager Alex Dion said. “This is a kid who has a lot of goals for himself, physical goals and goals on the baseball field.

“Another really good, fairly local kid who hopefully gets what he needs to get out of this summer for us. He can produce at the top or the bottom of the order, has a little bit of power, runs well, plays a really good outfield.”

Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichGarvenTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Baldwinville's Sebastian Mexico of Fordham has given Worcester Bravehearts a summer boost