Commitment To Fairfield a ‘Dream Come True’ For Engle

Harrison Engle RHP / Kingswood Oxford, CT / 2025

AVON, Ct. - A father who played professional baseball gave Harrison Engle the inspiration to play ball at the next level.

“My dad got drafted out of high school in the second round,” related the Kingswood Oxford junior about Tom Engle, who was selected by the New York Mets in 1989 MLB Draft. “Since I was a kid I’ve wanted to play major league baseball. In eighth grade I started wanting to go to college and stay close to home. This summer I thought if I played it right and acted right it would come true and it did. It felt like a dream come true.”

Fairfield, just one hour from where Engle lives, is the college destination for the ninth-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in Connecticut.

“They were there the whole time throughout the summer,” Engle said of Fairfield. “They saw me almost every game. My coach was close with them and gave them an idea of who I was as a player and person and they started watching me at the beginning of summer. They stood out. They were always there and showed the most loyalty to me.”

When college coaches were permitted to make contact with players in the 2025 class things heated up for Engle, with Rutgers, UMass, Binghamton, LIU and Seton Hall also showing interest before Fairfield became the school of choice.

“Coach Brian Fay called on Aug. 1 and wanted me to come on a visit,” Engle related about the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the three-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions. “I went on Sept. 2 and they offered me that day. I weighed all of my options but I felt it was the place for me. I visited other schools, but Fairfield showed they wanted me the most. I felt it was the spot. I absolutely love it.”

The 6-6 205-pounder made an impression on the MAAC coaches as well.

“They feel I fit their mold as a pitcher and definitely as a person,” the 28th-ranked junior in Connecticut said. “We just had very common interests and paths.”

A commitment capped off a recruiting process that became “a hectic month” in August.

“I was at a tournament in New Jersey on Aug. 1 and I’d already pitched,” Engle reflected. “I was there to watch my team but I couldn’t get off the phone.

“It was very good but very stressful,” the 30th-rated RHP in New England admitted about his recruitment. “You had to pick one and you’re thinking, what do you do? How do you know it’s right? But over time it’s about where you see yourself in two years and I can see myself at Fairfield. It was the best fit for me. It’s close to home. It just checked all the boxes.”

His father played a big role in making it all happen.

“He always supported me, good or bad,” Engle explained. “If I had a bad game he’d ask what are you going to do to improve. What are you going to do to benefit you so it doesn’t happen again in the future?”

There was other assistance along the way.

“Coach Matt Brown with MVP New England coached me this summer and last summer,” Engle noted. “He helped with my development piece along with both pitching coaches, Justin O’Brien and Mike Wodnicki.”

PBR was also credited with getting exposure to the 71st-ranked 2025 in New England.

“I went to the Future Games twice and that really benefitted me,” Engle said. “A lot of coaches interacted and talked to me from that. It really helped out.”

The end result was a commitment to Fairfield.

“That was very relieving, a lot of weight was off my shoulders,” Engle related. “It was a really good day for me and made everything surreal. Everyone was excited for me to go there and were very supportive. It was one of the best days I’ve ever had.”

A 3.5 student at Kingswood Oxford, Engle, who turned 18 on Nov. 25, plans to major in business at Fairfield.

“I’ve been thinking about this for awhile,” Engle said about playing baseball in college. “It seems like a long way off but it will be here soon. I want to win a MAAC championship, be a good teammate but also a good person who benefits everyone on the field.

“I want to bring a competitive spirit to the program and to the school,” Engle concluded. “I want to dominate on the baseball field and, better yet, dominate in the classroom.”