Tanous Excited To Bring Energy To Central Connecticut State

Gabe Tanous SS / 2B / Barrington, RI / 2024

BARRINGTON, R.I. - Trust is the big thing Gabe Tanous was looking for in a college baseball staff. The Burlington High School junior believes he has found it in Central Connecticut State.

“They saw me my sophomore year during the high school season and continued to see me in the summer and at the Future Games,” reflected the third-rated 2024 shortstop in Rhode Island. “Eventually they made an offer about a month ago and I sat on it for a while.”

But in analyzing the situation, Tanous came to a conclusion.

“It checked all the boxes,” noted the seventh-ranked junior SS in New England, who had interest from URI and Bryant along with an offer from Army. “It was about trusting the staff to put in a lot of work for me. It’s close to home which I like, but mainly about how much trust they have in me. They just checked every box I wanted.”

The trust Central Connecticut State has in Tanous is genuine.

“They like my glove, my energy on the field, my bat and how I run,” explained the fifth-rated junior in Rhode Island. “I was everything they’re looking for in a shortstop.”

It was a year-and-a-half ago that Tanous made the 90-minute trip to New Britain for a visit during a recruiting process that had its ups and downs.

“The process started early for me, I was talking to a few schools my freshman year,” Tanous related. “But it was unreliable with the transfer portal and all. Some don’t call back and some call back and then they don't. That's the worst part, not knowing which ones were truly into you.

“Getting my metrics out there with PBR was big, and going to the Future Games. That helped find out who’s truly interested in you. I had some reach out to me there and others that had seen me before had a chance to see me again.”

What coaches saw in Tanous was a player making improvements.

“The main thing was adding strength,” the 6-2 170-pounder explained. “That’s what kept some away from me. I added weight and strength and my power has increased and I’ve gotten faster.”

Tanous pointed to his father for “helping his game” and PBR Rhode Island Scouting Director Trevor Brown for “helping with the process” in making his dream to play at the next level a reality.

“I’m happy to find a place that’s comfortable for me,” Tanous said. “I’m excited for the future.”

Something in the business field is the probable major for Tanous, a 3.4 student at Burlington who believes he can make a difference at Central Connecticut State.

“I’ve always been a base stealer, good fielder and high-average guy,” pointed out the 30th-rated 2024 in New England. “I’m an energetic player on and off the field. I’m someone who’s going to steal bases and bring energy to the team.”

It has the 17-year-old excited about being part of a program that has won three of the past five Northeast Conference tournaments and is currently in first place in the NEC regular season.

“I’m looking forward to playing against some of the top teams in the country and winning,” Tanous concluded. “Central has dominated the NEC and we’re looking to continue that.”