Ethan Blanchette '21 Recruiting Profile

I have loved baseball for as long as I can remember. My mom was the head volleyball coach in Alvin, TX (hometown of Nolan Ryan!)  and when I was young, I was always up at school with her. The guys on the baseball team would always take me out to throw, bat and run the bases. I was hooked! I have been blessed to have very good baseball mentors since my earliest days, from my cousin who was all conference at UTSA to those Alvin guys (including Nathan Eovaldi, who is still my mentor) and so many awesome coaches along the way.

I am a catcher and I know what that means. I am a grinder. A good day for my pitcher is a good day for me.  I work very hard at my craft to make sure that pitchers have the biggest strike zone I can give them. I want to make sure they get the call for every single strike they throw, and maybe some they didn’t. I won the blocking competition among all catchers at 2018 The Catching Camp (in New Hampshire) because I don’t ever want anything to get by me. I block even when there are no base runners because I want my pitcher to stay confident, and if one ever does get away from him, I want him to know that I got it. I don’t want there to be baserunners, but if there are, I want to erase them. I know that umpires thinking I am a hard-working and respectful player helps my team. I love a hard workout and thrive in the weight room. I will grind to do whatever I can behind the plate and at the plate to give my team the chance to win. 

As I said before, I am a coach’s kid. That means I know to be the first to the field and last to leave. That no one is too important to pick up the bases. To stay extra to catch bullpen for anyone who wants to throw because they want their chance to get on the mound, too. She taught me that leading by example is the only way. There is no substitute for hustle, selflessness, or grit. I know I need to be a selfless teammate and team needs always come above mine. Because of all this, I can be coached hard and keep my composure. I know to learn from criticism. Not to leave my dad out because he is pretty amazing, too. He is the first person in his family to ever go to college and now he is a Neurologist and the Medical Stroke Director of the largest hospital system in San Antonio. He moved across the country to go to school where he knew no one. What that has done for me is show me every day that hard work and determination can get you where you want to go. My work ethic comes from him and there is no quit in me. He also taught me that there is no place for fear while you chase a dream. My parents like to say that we are an old school family and from that, I was taught physical and mental toughness.

It is my dream to play baseball for as long as I possibly can. I am hoping you are looking for a player like me. I would love to find a school that helps me become the best player I can be.