Alumni Spotlight: Justin Echevarria

To break up the monotony of the daily current player profiles, I would like to take a couple posts to spotlight a few alumni who currently are playing professionally in MLB organizations. I called the segment the Alumni Spotlight and hope you enjoy it.

Justin Echevarria #7

Bio: Justin is a 6'0" 195lb Catcher from Uniondale, NY. He went to Uniondale H.S. and graduated from Stony Brook in 2010 with a degree in Sociology and History. While in high school he played all four years on varsity. As a freshman he was named all-league and earned all-county as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was also the team MVP as a junior and senior, hitting over .400 in all 4 seasons totaling 93 RBI over his H.S. career.
**His college career started slow as his freshman year he saw time in 13 games starting 1 at catcher. Ech slugged .333 and had 2 doubles. He got his first career collegiate hit against New Orleans. Had a season-best 3 runs scored while going 2-6 in a win over Wagner, having good games against Hartford and St.Francis as well.
**In 2007 as a sophomore Ech started 47 games all at catcher. He hit .287 with 21 RBI, 6 doubles and had 11 multi-hit games. His efforts behind the plate were crucial to the teams success, throwing out 24-38 attempted base stealers. He had solid offensive performances throughout the season. Including having 2 hits and 2 runs scored in a win over Maine, a 3-3 game with an RBI against Hartford, had two hits and a run scored against Albany and went 4-4 with a RBI at UMBC. This season earned Justin a spot on the All-America East second team.
**In the championship season of 2008 as a junior Justin started 37 games as a catcher. He hit .333 in three America East tournament games, hitting a walk-off RBI double to beat UMBC 4-3 in the opening round. He had a three-run HR in a win over James Madison and had 2 hits and 3 RBI in a win over Vermont. He led the America East with 17 caught attempted base stealers, and handled an impressive pitching staff along the way to an America East Conference Championship. This season took him and the Seawolves to the Tempe, AZ Regional of the NCAA Tournament hosted by #1 seeded Arizona State. This season Ech was named to the America East All-Tournament team.
**In 2009 Justin went down with a season ending shoulder injury which led to him taking a red-shirt for the year. The team went to the conference tournament and struggled going 2 and out. He hit the rehab hard and looked ahead to the coming 2010 year to bounce back from a tough 2009.
**2010 was a historic season for Stony Brook and Justin helped lead the way playing in 46 games all behind the dish. He hit .291 with 2 HR and 23 RBI. His biggest hits came at the right times especially against NC State at the Myrtle Beach Regional where he had a hit and a RBI in a 6-2 victory, the first NCAA Regional win in Stony Brook history. He threw out 13 of 19 attempted base stealers and was on the Johnny Bench watch list as one of the top catchers in the country. This season earned him second team All-America East honors and he was then drafted in the 40th round by the San Diego Padres in the first year player draft.

Justin catching @ Alabama

Making a tag at home 

***Professionally Justin played last year for the AZL Padres in the Arizona League which is the Rookie Ball level. He saw some time early on and played well behind the plate but only after a few games he broke his jaw and was forced to sit out for the remainder of the season. He continued to work at his game as much as possible during the time he was out and got himself in even better shape then before. He enters this season reporting back to Arizona and should be making his way up the ladder this year. One of the hardest working players I know and a true leader behind the plate Justin  should have no problem succeeding as a Professional baseball player and there will be updates on his status as the season progresses. **

Ech warming up as a member of the AZL Padres

Coming Soon Player Interview With Justin and another Alumni Spotlight on Tommy Koehler!!!