MLB Draftee, Fagnant, Wants Time To Develop In College

Christian Fagnant C / SS / East Granby, CT / 2019

EAST GRANBY, Ct. - While a broken leg the summer prior to senior year of high school had a major effect on the recruiting process of Christian Fagnant, it did not prevent the recent East Granby graduate from being chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft.

“I was at a game and my mom told me,” Fagnant reflected about being notified he had been taken by the Baltimore Orioles. “I had no idea what to expect with the draft because I had missed out on all that time and all those showcases. I wasn’t sure who was interested, but I knew I had a chance.

Colby Perez, an Orioles scout, had seen me my sophomore year and was the only guy to see me that spring. I spoke to him and filled out a questionnaire and it all worked out.”

The selection by the Orioles came in the 39th round with the 1,158th pick of the June draft.

“It was a cool feeling, everyone dreams of being taken in the MLB Draft,” Fagnant said. “All my teammates were as excited as me and my coaches came up and congratulated me.”

But after careful consideration, the 5-8 180-pound  left-handed hitting catcher decided to forego professional baseball and will honor his commitment to Amherst College.

“I’ve decided that going to school is the best choice for me to develop over the next three to four years and be ready for the draft again,” Fagnant explained. “I feel it’s the best decision for my career. I’ve always been of the smaller size physically, and right now I’m not sure I can compete to the best of my ability. Going to college will help me develop physically so I’ll be more prepared.”

The determination to attend Amherst, a Division III college in Massachusetts that competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference where the Mammoths have finished tied for first in the West Division three of the last for years, came after interest from bigger schools dropped off following his injury.