Personal Statement
My name is Jose Steven Pastrana, a student-athlete at the renowned baseball national powerhouse, Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, NY. I am 6 foot 3 inches tall and weigh approximately 195 lbs. I have a twin brother who is in the same process right now and we both are looking to get recruited within the next few months. I currently reside in College Point, Queens. Daily I make a three hour round trip to Xaverian HS where I am offered a solid academic opportunity as well as the opportunity to play on the one of the best baseball programs in NYC. Xaverian's college preparatory curriculum has pushed me to achieve a 3.6 grade point average. I strongly believe my studies are just as important as the hours of workouts and practice that I put in each and every day. Being an intelligent student-athlete is definitely an advantage when dealing with the college process and growing up with the mentality of using my good grades and baseball skills to get a chance to play at the college level has helped me a lot and has pushed me in the right direction. I am a right right-handed pitcher who has been tabbed with the honor of being considered the ace of such a well-balanced pitching staff here at Xaverian. My best pitch is my fastball, which has been clocked about 86-89 mph. I consider my change-up as my next best pitch, which I consider a "must-need" in order to successful on the mound. I can throw it for strikes consistently which helps me keep hitters off balance. I do mix in an effective breaking ball every now and then which interrupts the hitters approach and makes them chase pitches in the dirt. I am fortunate that my family has supported me throughout my high school experience. It has been all I could ask for up to this point in my life and I will like to top it all off by winning the NYC championship this upcoming spring, landing a baseball college scholarship at an institution such as yours, and continue to flourish throughout the summer on my traveling team, Youth Service League, coached by well-known, Mel Zitter. I consider YSL as one of the best organizations in NYC. Having him as a coach and mentor for the past two years has been a blessing and has made me mature dramatically as a person and as a player. Although his approach has been deemed intimidating to the players he coaches, his experience and knowledge of the game is not something to ignore. It has helped me a lot and I appreciate having someone like him guide me through this game and also life. Our team has been very successful the past two years and we hope to continue our winning traditions next summer. Based off my experiences and opportunities, I believe I know what it takes to be successful at the college level and even at the pro level. I have been mentally preparing myself on being successful in life and in this game. I am open-minded and willing to learn new things that others may have to offer and incorporate them into my daily routines. Having a strong, positive attitude about everything can only boost my self-esteem. I feel the difference between me and many others of my age is that the main focus is on my future. Along with my strong work ethic and determination to improve in every aspect of the game, I strongly believe that your school would be a great fit for me as a home to fully grow as an individual and as a player.
