HOPEDALE, Ma. - Versatility has been the selling point for Alex Luccini. 

Massachusetts-Lowell believes the Hopedale senior-to-be can bring that trait to the program and Luccini is on board after a commitment to the America East Conference school.

“I really started talking with them the last three or four weeks,” Luccini related. “An assistant coach (Kevin Barnaby) works with the NorEaster program and saw me running bases and was really intrigued. He wanted to find out more about me.

“Coach (Ken) Harring, the head coach, had seen me in the past and he contacted and talked to a couple players, Reed Parson and LJ Keevan (both UMass-Lowell commits), that had played with me in the summer.”

Soon after an offer was made.

“A week later, coach Harring said he wants me to be a River Hawk,” Luccini reflected. “I said on the same call I wanted to be part of the program.”

Prior to that conversation, Luccini and his parents drove around campus, located an hour from Hopedale, and also took a virtual visit.

“I really like the campus,” Luccini noted. “The biggest thing for me is it’s close to home which allows my parents, my grandparents and my brother to come to every single game.”

There was also a connection made with the coaching staff.

“A big thing for me was that the coaches were great guys,” Luccini said. “They’re devoted to the team and really care about their players.”

There was a lot that stood out to the coaches about Luccini.

“They like my athleticism,” Luccini noted. “There’s my versatility in the field. I can play outfield, first base, catcher and third base. They like the way I play the game and how I play the game hard.”

It has the 6-3 180-pounder excited about what the future can bring at the next level.

“College baseball is something that’s always been in the back of my head,” Luccini explained. “Baseball has been a passion of mine for some time and I knew I wanted to play the game for as long as I could. So eighth grade summer going into my freshman year I began to focus on college baseball. I started playing with Team Mizuno which gets kids recruited. I talked with the coach and he said I was meant to play college baseball.”

A visit to Stonehill and interest from Bucknell, Lafayette, Worcester State and Emerson were part of the recruiting process for Luccini, who carries a 3.9 weighted GPA with plans to major in political science.

“I feel I found the perfect fit for me as a baseball player and student,’ Luccini said about UMass-Lowell.

Now 15 pounds heavier from the beginning of the year, Luccini points to hard work that brought improvement in his game as being beneficial in finding the right home.

“During the quarantine I hit every day to try and improve myself as a player while also working out to get stronger,” Luccini said. “I’ve also been working hard to expand my versatility on the defensive side.”

But the work is far from finished for the left-handed hitting Luccini.

“I need to improve my body and get physically stronger,” Luccini admitted. “I want to put on more weight and continue to work on my swing.”

According to Luccini, there will not be one set position for him at UMass-Lowell.

“They want me to be a utility,” Luccini said. “I have the ability to play everywhere, they didn’t say I’d play any one specific position.

“I’ve got a lot of versatility and I want to play every position there,” Luccini added. “I have the ability to do it.”

There is more Luccini feels he can provide the program.

“I feel I can help UMass-Lowell in a lot of different ways,” Luccini said. “I can bring speed on the bases, I work hard and I push myself to the max.”

Knowing where his future in baseball is, admittedly brings relief.

“It’s an awesome feeling not having to worry about trying to impress coaches,” Luccini noted. “Now I can zone in on playing baseball and doing the things I need to work on and not worry about what college I’m going to go to. This is definitely going to make senior year a lot easier.”