By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Joey Baran is currently ranked No. 19 in the PA Class of 2015. The talented two-way prospect has been impressive this summer off the mound sitting 85-89 and touching the low 90's on occasion. The lefty went 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA as a sophomore in 2013 and hit .472 as an outfielder when not on the mound. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound athlete recently announced his commitment to Boston College and was willing to discuss his choice as well as the recruiting process.

PBR:  Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?
Baran: I committed to Boston College because of the great academic fit, built up a great relationship with the coaches, and the college is in a nice area.

PBR:  What other schools were you considering?
Baran: I was also considering Pitt, Stony Brook, VCU, Fordham, Virginia and Winthrop.

PBR:  Was distance from home a factor in your decision?
Baran: I did not want to travel more than seven hours away.

PBR:  Where did the coaches first see you?  How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?
Baran: BC first saw me at a tournament last August in Toms River, NJ. We started talking every week from there and I took three unofficial visits to BC.

PBR:  What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Baran: They expect me to be a 2-way guy, with an emphasis on pitching first.

PBR:  What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?
Baran: Playing hard every pitch of a game is my biggest strength.  It gives my team momentum either when I’m on the mound or in the outfield.

PBR:  Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?
Baran: I play for the Moosic Mets and the most memorable moment was coming back in a semi-final game down by 4 runs to win the game on a 3-run homer by my teammate Mike Sulcoski.

PBR:  What is your current GPA?
Baran: My current GPA is a 95.5 %

PBR:  Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your final two seasons of high school baseball?
Baran:  I want to get stronger and quicker to be able to compete better in the ACC. I also want to be the best player I can be to help my team make a state title push.

PBR: How did Prep Baseball Report aid you in gaining exposure as a potential college baseball recruit?
Baran:   Prep Baseball Report keeps up to date on the progress of the athlete and gives access on current information to college coaches right away.