Ventura Ready For 'Unique Experience' With Army

READING, Ma. - An “opportunity to turn baseball into something bigger” sold Evan Ventura on the United States Military Academy.

“The education is a huge part of it,” the Austin Prep junior explained. “It’s a free education valued at $250,000 and it’s the only one that guarantees a job.”

The commitment to Army has Ventura excited about what is to come.

“I’m looking forward to the unique experience,” Ventura said. “The culture there is something you’re not going to get anywhere else.  Right when I stepped on campus I fell in love with it. With the military training, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not many people get to do that.”

Pitching coach Matt Trotta connected Ventura with Army and the 22nd-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in New England was invited to a camp where he “played well” resulting in a visit two weeks later which led to an offer.

“I faced 12 batters live in a game,” Ventura reflected back to the camp performance. “My fastball was up to 89 and worked well with my two-seam. I had seven strikeouts, it was pretty efficient besides a walk.”

The visit was memorable in the eyes of Ventura, who transferred this high school year from Reading Memorial to Austin Prep.

“It’s a beautiful campus next to the Hudson,” the just-turned 18-year-old noted. “I sat in the student section next to the baseball team at the Army-UConn football game. I was really interested in it before, but the coaches sold me on it. I had a call a few days after and that’s when they offered. I took 10 days to think it over and see if anything pushed me away, but I figured it was a really good fit, not only with baseball but with my future.”

Army saw a lot to like about the hard-throwing right-handed pitcher.

“A big part of it is my physical build, I’m 6-2 215 and that popped out to the coaches,” Ventura explained. “One of the first things they talked about with me was the weight room. My fastball is the high-80s with a 2,300 spin and I definitely think I have more in me. There was a time this last offseason that I was sitting 90, topping at 92, for a month but I lost that.”

Ventura pointed to improvement as a big part of being attractive to Army.

“The biggest thing is the physical part,” Ventura noted. “I wasn’t small, but I was weak and not athletic. I ate terribly and didn’t sleep right. I learned how the body works and also about the mental side of the game. I trusted my coaches and my trainer.”

It has the 80th-rated junior in New England on track to play baseball at the next level, something unimaginable just a few years prior.

“My sophomore year I’d meet with my pitching coach and one day we sat down and he brought up college baseball,” Ventura related. “I never thought about it but after that I started thinking about it and thought I’d like to do it.

“I really wasn’t good before,” Ventura added. “I got cut from lots of travel teams. One year I got cut from a team for a kid that didn’t even go to the tryouts. It definitely hurt, but I took that and learned from it and made a bad situation into a good one. I turned that pain into a hunger and I’m where I’m at now because of it.”

That drive has Ventura ready for the challenges ahead in college.

“I honestly can say the coaches were honest about the workload I’ll have,” Ventura reflected. “They said it will be hard but the baseball team is like a family and is always there to help. I’ve always liked challenges and I think this will benefit me in the long run grinding out those four years.”

A visit to Central Connecticut State and talks with “a few other American East schools” had taken place before Army became the college of choice.

“PBR definitely helped with my recruitment,” Ventura said. “I was invited to the Future Games in 2021 and that was one of the best things that happened to me being able to pitch in front of all those coaches. After that I wasn’t as stressed pitching in front of coaches and then they could see I have that potential.

“It was also nice to see your numbers and see where you’re at compared to others. PBR provides some good numbers which you can evaluate and also can send to coaches.”

The 12th-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in Massachusetts pointed to a decision made when Covid entered the picture with playing a big part in getting where he is now.

“During Covid I was wasting time and I decided to get into something,” explained Ventura. “I met with my pitching coach at Nor'easter and I fell in love with pitching. My first time ever pitching was on the big diamond when I was 14.”

Credit was given to a number of individuals in helping Ventura on his baseball journey.

“Coach Trotta inspired me to play college baseball and was probably the biggest part in everything,” Ventura said. “He’s helped me  more than just the game of baseball. Mark Cinelli is my trainer who I’ve worked with the past four years and he helped get me physically ready for everything.

“Coach (Pete) Moscariello was one of my first baseball coaches who prioritized the mental side for the game and really taught me how to be mentally tough through everything. 781 Evo is the place I train and throw now. I’ve only recently been working with them but they’ve been a huge part of this offseason and are going to be a big part of my future.

“Coach (Kevin) Barnaby, coach (Tim) Daneau and coach Riley (MaGee) at Nor’easters helped me get into an AAU program and were some of the first people to give me opportunities to play at a higher level. And coach (Jonathan) Pollard at Austin Prep helped me make the decision and really see the fit at West Point. He helped me learn about it and understand a lot of great things about the school.”

Engineering is being considered as a major by Ventura, who is excited about what lies ahead at college 31/2 hours away from home.

“This is huge for me and my family,” Ventura concluded. “There have been so many ups and downs with my baseball, it was a beautiful moment to commit and see my hard work pay off. There’s no better feeling than to accomplish something I worked so hard for. It doesn’t seem real that I did that. It’s just exciting to finally have a home for the next four years.”