Derek Purcella '17 Recruiting Profile

Baseball has been a major part of my life from an early age.  It has shaped me into the person I am today by instilling a serious work ethic and determination in me, not only on the field but in the classroom as well. Although I have always been strong academically, the work ethic instilled by baseball has allowed me to excel academically. Without baseball, I never would have received perfect scores on the math portions of the ACT and SAT. Also, I have received National Merit Commendation. Primarily, I am looking for a school with a strong engineering program, specifically in mechanical or aeronautical engineering. I am open to schools of any size in any part of the country, but the academic rigor at the school needs to be high, so that I can fulfill my academic necessities.  I am a tall and lean pitcher, but I am currently immersed in a weightlifting program to help add weight to my frame. I believe this will also help to increase my velocity on the mound. My repertoire consists of 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs with above average movement, a 12-6 curveball, and a straight changeup. In addition, I play both corner infield positions. Although I am a quiet guy in the classroom, my persona changes when I am on the field. I try to push my teammates, so they reach their full potential. But, in doing so I try to push myself so I can excel as well. My primary athletic aspiration for college is to unlock my full potential as an athlete.