Commitment Corner: 2018 RHP James Filippelli (Niagara Wheatfield HS)

PBR:  Tell us all about your recruitment process, when it started, and why you decided to commit to Mercyhurst University.

Filippelli:  My recruitment process started throughout summer ball, as I received numerous calls from college coaches suddenly, within a span of about 3 days. I continued to stay in touch with some of those schools and went on visits. In the end I chose Mercyhurst because of the success of their program, the proximity to home and the coaches’ willingness to make me a better player at the next level.

PBR:  Looking at your skillset on the baseball field, what would you say your biggest strength at the next-level will be?

Filippelli: My biggest strength at the next level will be my command of my pitches and being able to stay cool and collected under pressure.

PBR:  What’s your No. 1 priority going into the Winter in terms of getting prepared for next spring?

Filippelli:  My main focus in the winter is getting stronger and building more muscle while maintaining my mechanics and command of my pitches.

PBR:  Who is your biggest influence when it comes to playing the game of baseball?

Filippelli:  My father was the one who showed me the game,taught me the game, and got me to play the game from the time I was 4. He has been the biggest influence in my life so far. However, there are also two important coaches in my life who have helped me develop into the player I am today. The first is Ron Bernick, who is an individual coach I started working with about 2 and a half years ago on both pitching and hitting. He completely changed the way I look at the game and the way I play it, teaching me numerous aspects of the game in a short span of time. The second was my travel coach, Jeff Ziemecki. He helped guide me throughout this past winter, making me stronger and teaching me more about the game. He also guided me through the recruiting process and made sure that I wound up at the right school for me. Without these two coaches I wouldn’t be where I am today.

PBR:   Prep Baseball Report’s No. 1 goal is to provide players with an unrivaled platform filled with next-level exposure through events and multi-media avenues. What’s your experience been with us?

Filippelli:  I attended a few PBR showcases over the last year, including the Campus Series showcase at Canisius College in 2016, as well as the 2017 New York State Games, and both experiences were fantastic. I felt like I was able to get great exposure at these showcases, and I was also able to face new competition and learn more about the game.