NEW LONDON, Ct. - The Future Games is where Stony Brook first saw Zion Fraser pitch. The Ledyard High School junior is now committed to the American East Conference school.

“After the Future Games they invited me to a camp they were running at the school,” the 18th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in New England reflected. “In the middle to end of fall they saw me throw again and right after that they offered.”

Central Connecticut State, Quinnipiac and Fairfield were other schools being considered by the 6-0 175-pounder, but it was Stony Brook that rose to the top.

“I like the area and the location,” pointed out Fraser, who lives 21/2 hours by ferry ride from the university in Stony Brook, N.Y. “The campus is great, the coaches are awesome and it’s not too big of a school. I think I have a shot at playing all four years.”

An improved skill level on the mound has helped the cause for the 49th-ranked junior in New England, who fanned four of six batters he faced in his time pitching for Team Connecticut at the Future Games.

“I have a lot more confidence in my offspeed pitches,” Fraser noted. “I can throw 2-1 and 2-2 curveballs. My command has also gotten a lot better after quarantine than it was before.”

The offspeed pitches are something that impressed Stony Brook.

“They like that I have two good secondary pitches,” Fraser said. “They like how confident I am with them and how I execute them. They like how I throw strikes and go right at them.”

Fraser pointed to Scott Chiasson, coach with the Connecticut Hurricanes, and Chris Wojick, a coach with the Connecticut Crush as well as at Eastern Connecticut University, with playing important roles in his development as a pitcher. Additionally, Fraser credited Trevor Brown, PBR Connecticut Director of Scouting, with helping the cause and introducing him to the two coaches.

“PBR was a huge help to me,” Fraser explained. “I went to some of their events and got invited to the Future Games. That’s where Stony Brook noticed me. Going there helped me to see all the talent elsewhere and in Connecticut and I thought I matched up. It was cool to see how I could compete with all of those guys.”

Now the challenge awaiting Fraser is matching up with players at the next level.

“I think I’ll bring a consistent pitcher who will give everything I have,” Fraser said. “I’m not going to make it easy for anybody, somebody hitting against me or someone wanting to take my spot.”

A 3.65 student considering criminal justice, mathematics or electrical engineering as a college major, Fraser anxiously awaits the days ahead at Stony Brook.

“I’m looking forward to the competition,” Fraser said. “I’m really excited to see how my stuff plays at that level. I can’t wait to be in that kind of environment around guys that want and deserve to be there.”

Admittedly, the end of the recruiting process brings a sense of relief.

“It was interesting,” Fraser related. “A lot of schools would keep in contact, sometimes three or four would call at the same time. Then a week or two would go by and they’d call again. They all want you to go to the same type of camps. It was cooler than I thought it would be but I’m glad it’s over. It’s a lot more relaxing now that I know where I’m going.”

The ninth-ranked 2023 right-handed pitcher from Connecticut also understands the challenges ahead.

“I need to build up my velocity and get more confidence in my changeup and try to develop it,” Fraser said. “Having four pitches would be huge.”