Bryant Has Everything Deitelbaum Desires

MILFORD, Ct. - At the end of summer Trey Deitelbaum reclassified to the 2023 class.

“As a member of 2022 I was still in contact with a lot of schools but none felt like it was right,” the Joseph A Foran junior explained. “It was tough to be seen with Covid and I knew what I was capable of, so I felt it was best for me and my development.”

It did not take long for the 37th-ranked 2023 right-handed pitcher in New England to find a future home.

“I reached out at the end of August to coach (Ted) Hurvul and told him I was going to pitch at a showcase we were having,” Deitelbaum reflected about touching base with the pitching coach and co-recruiting coordinator at Bryant University. “(Head) Coach (Ryan) Klosterman saw me there. I threw a week after and coach (Eric) Pelletier (co-recruiting coordinator) was there. I reached out and we talked out their values and expectations of players. We set up a visit a little more than a month ago and they offered then.”

It was a memorable visit to the school located in Smithfield, R.I.

“What a cool experience,” Deitelbaum related. “It was Alumni Weekend and I saw a baseball scrimmage and toured the campus. I loved everything I saw. They offered at the end of the visit. I took a couple of weeks to commit, but I knew then it was the right fit.

“I love the coaching staff,” added the 113th-rated New England junior. “They do a great job of developing pitchers. The campus had a great feel and was the perfect size for me. It’s 11/2 hours from home and a half-hour for my grandparents, so it’s perfect. The academics have what I’m looking for and it’s high-level baseball. It’s tough not to love everything.”

Bryant got a glimpse of what Deitelbaum can provide when initially viewing the 5-9 185-pounder.

“When they originally saw me it was in a high-intensity spot,” Deitelbaum noted. “I came in with the bases loaded and one out and we got a double play. After that, I filled up the zone.”

An offer from Holy Cross and interest from Stonybrook were also being considered during a long recruiting process.

“It was really tough and stressful,” pointed out Deitelbaum. “It started for me during the fall going into my sophomore year so this was my third year in the process. It was stressful and with Covid it got worse. It was tough not to be able to be seen.”

But even without being looked at in person, recruitment moved on.

“At the Future Games I got in touch with a good amount of schools and that pushed my recruiting forward,” Deitelbaum said in reference to the 2020 PBR event. “It definitely helped as far as speaking with coaches (on the phone) and how to handle the process.”

Help also came from high school coach Garret Walker and the Clubhouse staff of Matt Burns, James Campbell, TK  Kiernan and Mike Porzio.

“My high school coach was one of my biggest resources,” Deitelbaum explained. “He knew the type of player I was freshman year and he put me on a strength program. I’d always call and update him about the process and he’d give me feedback.

“I switched over to Clubhouse at the end of summer and they did a good job of helping with the resources they have and the technologies.”

It proved beneficial in making college baseball aspirations that began at age 12 a reality.

“I always loved baseball,” the 19th-ranked 2023 pitcher from Connecticut reflected. “I got into college baseball at the end of Little League and was always trying to find games to watch. I love the energy of college baseball, it’s just different, and it became a dream of mine. The summer after my freshman year I knew it was possible with the feedback I was getting from my previous coaches.”

Undecided on a college major, the recently-turned 17-year-old has a desire to coach once his playing days end. But first there is a matter of finishing his final two years of high school before becoming part of the Bryant baseball team.

“I’m a really strong competitor and I want the ball in the biggest situations,” Deitelbaum said about what he believes he can provide the Northeast Conference program. “I want to help them win and take it to the highest level they can be. I want to be part of it.

“I’m really looking forward to developing as a player and working with all the guys to win a championship while playing for the school on the front of the jersey.”