Rutgers baseball: Perth Amboy's Chris Brito heats up for surging Scarlet Knights
As a nine-game road trip began Tuesday at Monmouth University, senior Chris Brito was barely hitting over the Mendoza Line. A year ago, he was on his way to setting a Rutgers season-record 74 RBI while making the Big Ten All-Tournament team.
So who is the real Chris Brito?
Well, that’s him coming around third and heading home. In the past seven games he is hitting .417, with 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, two home runs and six walks.
No coincidence, Rutgers has won six of its last seven and takes a 21-16 record to Northwestern for a three-game series this weekend. After returning home to play at St. John’s next week, the Scarlet Knights return to Big Ten Conference play and end the month with three games at Purdue.
It’s beginning to hint of last year when Rutgers took off and finished with a record of 44-15.
For Brito, a fifth-year senior out of Perth Amboy, baseball is a whole lot of fun these days. And that’s saying a lot, since he absolutely loves baseball.
That happens when you’ve been throwing and hitting a baseball since preschool, especially in the baseball-crazed Dominican Republic. He lived there before his family moved to Perth Amboy when he was 8.
His father was a professional baseball player during those years, eventually making it to the majors where he played one season with the Toronto Blue Jays and one with the Oakland A’s. He finished his career in Korea and China, hanging it up in 2008.
Chris began playing Little League in Perth Amboy, both at Hopelawn Park as well as what the kids referred to as, “The Behind Wendy’s League.” He began to excel in 12U and then 16U leagues, bouncing around playing travel ball.
More: Rutgers baseball's Jackson's Ryan Lasko chasing history
“In the Dominican I had a bat and a ball all the time,” he said earlier this week between workouts inside Jersey Mike’s Arena. “I didn’t have a choice,” he added with a smile. “I would train all year. School and then baseball. School then baseball. Especially in the Dominican Republic. There was no other thing but baseball.
“I look forward to it every day. Being on the field, having fun, mashing some baseballs and running around like a little kid like I’ve always done.’’
He has 39 career home runs, 175 RBI and a career a batting average of .281. In a game at Nebraska a year ago he drove in six runs. Two seasons ago he hit 10 homers, two being grand slams. He also hit a home run in four straight games. He reached base in 40 of his 44 games.
The past two years he has made Third Team All-Big Ten. Though he has played first base, most of his time has been at the hot corner. He was a shortstop at Perth Amboy High School.
“My father played a big role in my development,” Brito said. “My approach to the game. My hitting, the love of the game. Everything. He’s still helping me.”
Already having a degree in Criminal Justice, he is holding out hope that an organization will find a spot for him in their minor league system.
Until then he hopes to move his batting average up, drive in runs and help his team win a Big Ten championship.
Oh, and play a little chess.
“I’m really good. Some of the guys try to beat me, but they really don’t know how to play. They don’t stand a chance,” he said, breaking into a laugh. “(Pitcher) Sam Portnoy gives me a run for my money, but he can’t beat me.”
That’s just his competitive nature, he says. Asked what word would be next to his name in Webster’s Dictionary, he didn’t hesitate. “A dog.
“I think I have a dog mentality,” he said. “Everything I do I go in there with a chip on my shoulder. I try and be competitive in everything I do. Even if I don’t do a sport I’ll try and beat you no matter what. I don’t back down from nobody.”
More: Rutgers lacrosse teammates Bobby Russo and Jon Dugenio are lifelong friends, ultimate competitors
Underlying his determination and confidence is a friendly 23-year-old who smiles easily.
“My mom’s a goofball,” said Brito, who has an older brother, a younger brother and younger sister. “But she’s very strict. She keeps me in check always. My dad’s very strict as well, and he’s a crazy guy. They always keep me on the right track, and I appreciate them for that all the time.”
While baseball remains the career goal, his degree might eventually lead him to being a fire fighter. “Something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
And, well, some day he wants to jump out of an airplane. With a parachute of course. “Two years ago I learned my grandfather did that. One day I will. I like all that stuff; rollercoasters, all that stuff,” he said.
The game he loves has been a rollercoaster ride, and lately seems to be getting closer to the top; a place for so long he’s wanted to be.
“It’s been a good ride so far,” Brito said, “but I definitely want to add a couple of more chapters.”
For the past couple of weeks he’s certainly been doing just that.
Paul Franklin is a freelance reporter for MyCentralJersey.com.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Rutgers baseball: Chris Brito heats up before road trip
