Big League Draft Pick for HHS Pitcher Nick Fanti and a First for Hauppauge Schools
Hauppauge High School Varsity Baseball Pitcher Nick Fanti realized his dream to play professional baseball on June 10, 2015 when the Philadelphia Phillies chose him in the 31st round of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft. Later that night, the Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association announced that Fanti was the 48th recipient of the Carl Yastrzemski Award – the most prestigious award given to a Suffolk County baseball player.
The southpaw earned the Yaz Award with one of the best statistical seasons in Suffolk County history. Fanti went 7-1 with a 0.67 ERA, a 0.63 WHIP and 87 strikeouts in 52 innings. He allowed 14 hits (only two for extra bases), walked 19 and had six pickoffs. In addition to the Yaz Award, Fanti was a four-year Varsity Starter, three-time All-League, two-time All-County, Northeast Region All-American and 2015 League V MVP. He also was the only Long Island baseball player to get picked right out of high school when the Phillies took him 924th overall in the 31st round.
"Not only is Nick a great player, he's a fantastic person. He's incredibly humble, is a great teammate and leader and has a work ethic that's second to none,” described Hauppauge Varsity Baseball Coach Josh Gutes. “Anyone who knows Nick would say the same thing. Nothing was handed to him. He has worked for and earned all of the accolades that he has received. He's just a tremendous kid, and I couldn't be more proud that he is representing Hauppauge Baseball."