Recruiting Process Comes To An End For Lussier

WELLESLEY, Ma. - A long and memorable recruiting process has come to an end for Matt Lussier. The 11th-ranked 2023 outfielder in New England is a Fairfield commit.

“They have great coaches that are super nice guys,” related the Dexter Southfield junior, whose visit to the Division I university in Connecticut included watching a scrimmage and checking out the facilities and the weight room.. “Last season they were 39-5. That would definitely have been fun playing there and going to the regional final. I’m just impressed with how good the program has been and academically it’s a strong fit. Coach (Brian) Fay (the recruiting coordinator) talked to me about the baseball program and how it’s a great fit for me.”

The college decision came down to Fordham and Fairfield for Lussier, who also had a lot of interest through two years of attending the Future Games.

“That helped big time,” Lussier said about the Future Games. “After the first year I got tons of calls. That’s when my recruiting really picked up.”

An improved game was also beneficial in gaining interest from schools.

“Last summer I was running a 7.1 60,” Lussier reflected back to 2020. “I’d go to PBR events and always be above 7.0. So I worked all offseason on getting it down and also to get my velo up. I got my velo up to 84-85 and my 60 down to 6.7-6.8. I did a ton of lifting, too. That all helped get me to Fairfield.” 

The connection with Fairfield heated up after the Future Games back in early August.

“One of the weekends after the Future Games I went to their camp,” noted Lussier, who had not talked with Fairfield prior. “I played really well and they became super interested. After that I went to another camp through my organization (Evolution) and I played well going 3-for-4. They offered me a week or two after.” 

An overall game stood out to the coaches at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference school.

“I feel I showed all my tools at both camps,” Lussier said. “I’m a speed guy with a strong arm and showed consistency with my swing. They like all my tools, not just one.”

The recently-turned 18-year-old took some time after the Fairfield offer.

“I’d been talking to multiple schools from the Future Games,” Lussier pointed out. “Fairfield was always the top choice for me but I wanted to clear it all up with the other coaches. I went on a few visits and then a few weeks later accepted the offer.”

It was a culmination of a dream to play at the next level.

“It really started to hit freshman year at Wellesley,” Lussier reflected. “There were guys there that were good that were going to college like Henry Weycker (Virginia Tech), Jay Driver (Harvard) and Matt Zajec (Dartmouth) and I was the shortstop as a freshman. Those guys were a big inspiration for me and college baseball became something I could work for. I started going to Cressey (Performance) year ’round, working out a ton and putting on weight.

“Then sophomore summer going into junior year I got my first interest,” the 5-11 180-pounder continued. “That’s when I reclassified at Dexter. That really helped. It was another year with scouts at their games. They’re a really good baseball school and also a good academic school.”

The 68th-ranked junior in New England credited Evolution coach Phil Price with making a huge impact in his future.

“He’s been working with me since I had the dream of playing college baseball, from 13U on,” the left-handed hitting Lussier said. “He knows my swing so well.”

The 39th-rated 2023 in Massachusetts, who carries a 3.45 GPA, is leaning toward a major in business at Fairfield, where he also believes he can be a major benefit to a program that has been to the NCAA Tournament twice in the past four years.

“I think I can bring intensity and multiple tools,” Lussier related. “Steal bases, hit for power, hit for average, move runners over, I can do multiple things.”

It was a reason schools were drawn to Lussier during the recruiting process.

“It was definitely fun talking to coaches and hearing what they had to say,” Lussier explained. “Every coach does it differently, so it was super unique. It was fun trying to find the perfect fit.”

For Lussier, that proved to be at Fairfield, a school located two-and-a-half hours from his home in Wellesley.

“I’m super excited, along with relieved,” Lussier said about making a commitment. “I knew after I did it, I made the right decision. All the support I received was awesome.”