Michael Gallaro '21 Recruiting Profile

Ever since I started playing baseball at the age of five, my dad has taught me the right way to play the game.  Every time I step on the field, I honor the game and hold its unwritten rules to be most important.  Being a leader, a good teammate and having sportsmanship, are values I take extremely seriously.

I always prepare myself off the field, to be successful on the field on game day.  I know I have succeeded, when I can tell myself after each game that I did everything in my power to perform well on the field and most importantly, help my team win.   

When I was a kid, I excelled in baseball as a standout All-Star player.  In middle school, I started to play for the .9ers Baseball Club, in New Jersey.  I wanted to improve my baseball skills and get out of my “comfort zone.”  I put myself in a more competitive atmosphere than ever before.  It was the first time that I ever played with teammates that matched my skill level.  I still look forward to competing against them at every practice, to this day.

My coaches with the .9ers continue to light a fire inside of me, to become the best player that I can be.  Every brutal practice with them is worth it, because it makes me a better player and more importantly, a tougher person. I tell myself, if I can personally win every warm-up, practice, lifting session, pitch, out and inning, I will reach my full potential as a player and help my team win games and most importantly, win championships.

I decided I wanted to pursue a future in college baseball when I started middle school and achieving that goal has been my main priority ever since. I had a very good middle school baseball experience in 2017 and my team won the Shore Conference "A" South Championship.  I was also named the Southern Regional Baseball Defensive Player of the Year, as a catcher.

I entered high school in the fall of 2017.  The following spring, I was the named the starting catcher on the JV team as a freshman and I was also earned a spot on the Varsity roster and had some Varsity game experience.  I had another very successful season on a personal level, hitting .367 and I played well on defense.

In my sophomore year, I was named the starting catcher on the Varsity baseball team, where we had a .500 record and competed in the Ocean County Tournament.  My high school coach Keith Cocuzza gave me full pitch-calling responsibilities and I developed a role as a leader on the team.  I had another very good defensive season, while also leading the team in hitting.  I led all catchers in the Shore Conference "A" South Division, with a .390 batting average.  I was considered for various post season accolades. 

My baseball coaches have never had to worry about me in the classroom, because I hold my academics to a very high, personal standard.  I believe I am different from other recruits,  because I will be successful at a very high level in the classroom and on the baseball field.  Currently I am able to handle all AP and Honors classes in high school, on top of an extremely busy baseball schedule.  It is something I have mastered and I am confident that I will continue to do in college.

I intend to major in engineering and I also have an interest in sports medicine, as an alternative.