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Get To Know: 2017 RHP Brad Camarda (Half Hollows Hills West HS)

January 26, 2017



As we continue to shape-the-state here in New York, several different unique features will be available on our website. Player Spotlights, Progress Reports, Commitment Blogs, Scouting Blogs, Rankings and Top-Performer Lists, and so much more. Without the players we have nothing, so let’s take this a bit more personal - Get To Know: Our new article feature that hones in on what our Empire State players are up to, what makes them tick, and some real-candid inside access..

Name: Brad Camarda
High School: Half Hollow Hills West
Grad Year: 2017
Position: RHP
State Rank: No. 78
Commitment: Hofstra

PBR: Let's start with your baseball commitment to Hofstra. Tell us about the process and how you decided on Hofstra?

Camarda: The process for me was quite simple, and it was truly a positive experience all around. I first met Coach Russo at the Titans facility, where we expressed mutual interest. Productivity and initiative is important, so I told him that I would love for him to come out and see me play during my spring season. I would send emails out when my games were coming up, and he was fortunately able to attend one of them; after the game he invited me to visit the school, and the rest, as they say, is history.

PBR: Baseball has an unbelievable way of positively shaping young man on and off the field. Tell us one life-lesson you have picked up over the years playing the game, and how that life-lesson may impact you later in life?

Camarda: As a pitcher, I’ve learned how to deal with a great deal of pressure; the pressure I place on myself to perform at my highest ability is something that I now take with me both on and off the field. Baseball has taught me to turn the intensity of the game into a positive source of motivation, where I push myself to become a better player and work hard to achieve my goals.

PBR: If you were a baseball scout and just watched yourself play, what would that scouting report look like?

Camarda: I would assess myself as a hardcore competitor who is ready to step up to the pressure—and also loves the spotlight that pitchers get. I’m definitely intense, but can channel that intensity into composure and vision. I also think that I have strong mechanics and can locate my pitches well.

PBR: This one is for our strictly baseball-minded readers. Tell us about your strengths and weaknesses on the field.

Camarda: I’m composed on the field, but also extremely competitive—and I think those two qualities complement each other to make me focused and driven. I would also say that I can put my pitches where I want them, and I throw downhill quite well. I don’t, however, throw in the mid-90s yet, and I’m not quite 6'5".

PBR: You can only pick one, but who is your biggest baseball influence and why?

Camarda: My biggest baseball influence currently has to be Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs. He was drafted out of high school in the 39th round of the MLB draft, but decided to go to Dartmouth College instead. In his junior year, he was drafted in the eighth round, showing a significant improvement from high school. He stepped up for the Cubs this past season, and won some of the most important games for the Cubs—including winning Game 7 of the World Series to end the Cubs’ 106-year World Series drought. I think that his transformation from being a 39th round draft pick to one of the top pitchers in the MLB is inspirational, and he’s proven to be an asset to the team.

PBR: We are knee-deep into the off-season schedule. Tell us about your training, and spring preparation.

Camarda: I have been training at Infiniti Sports Performance in Bellport, where they are helping me prepare for my senior baseball season. I have also been throwing bullpens once a weak with Coach Migliozzi in my school gym to prepare for the upcoming season. My trainers at Infiniti and Coach Migliozzi all do such a great job in making sure that I’m prepared for the season, and I can't thank them enough for all that they’ve done in helping to advance my career.

PBR: Anyone that plays the game with true passion hopes to leave their own legacy. Tell us how you want to be remembered for playing the game?

Camarda: I hope to be remembered as someone who is competitive and who loves the game. I’d love for my peers to view me as a good teammate, a leader, and someone who will always try to pick you up when you’re down.


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