Will Gasparino has MLB aspirations thanks to family, school
LOS ANGELES (BVM) 鈥� Will Gasparino had dreams of a soccer career growing up. But with his father鈥檚 role as the scouting director for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was only a matter of time before his mindset changed.
鈥淢y dad never pushed it (baseball) on me,鈥� Will said. 鈥淎s I got older, it was like, 鈥楴ot only is it in my family, but it鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥� So I kind of grew the love for it myself.鈥�
Billy, his father, has served in that position for the Dodgers since 2014. This has allowed Will to do some pretty cool things whether that was meeting guys in the clubhouse or serving as a batboy in spring training.
But now it appears that Gasparino will attend spring training in the near future as a player himself.
The star outfielder at Harvard-Westlake School ranks as the No. 34 player in this year鈥檚 MLB draft class according to . He stands at 6-foot-6 and has all the capabilities to become a five-tool player in center field.
Before we get started today, here's Will Gasparino (CA) from yesterday. Tested very well, ran a 6.46 60 and threw 91 from the OF, with a darn good BP, too. Had a bunch of high EV's in game, got to 104 on a single. Long, lanky w/ projection. Big time riser this week. Texas commit.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24)
Gasparino鈥檚 potential, and current production, had colleges across the country trying to recruit him. At the end of the day, the Longhorn baseball program was the best fit for him. He announced his commitment in September of his junior year.
I鈥檓 excited to announce that I鈥檒l be continuing my academic and baseball career at the University of Texas. I want to thank my family, coaches, and teammates who have helped me throughout this process. I鈥檓 so grateful for this opportunity and I can鈥檛 wait to be a longhorn! 馃馃А
— Will Gasparino (@WillGasparino)
鈥淭exas always stood out to me. That鈥檚 where I always knew I wanted to go,鈥� Gasparino said. 鈥淪o it was a pretty easy decision.鈥�
He loves everything about the city of Austin. Whether that is the people, the community, or just the overall atmosphere there, and it is nice to have that route in his back pocket.聽
However, he will have a decision to make come July when the MLB draft comes around if he wants to go ahead and sign with an MLB organization. But that is something Gasparino will not worry about until the time comes.
鈥淚 just try to go play and not try to think about those things,鈥� Gasparino said. 鈥淲hether the decision is right for me and my family, we will decide when we get to that point.鈥澛�
Gasparino is keeping his focus at the moment on what he can continue to do for the prestigious Harvard-Westlake program.聽
Will Gasparino (23 CA) already made a diving catch in CF and now strikes an RBI hit at the plate. Uber projection in the frame and already a very functional athlete.
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting)
The school has produced major league talent in recent years such as Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty. Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Chicago Cubs鈥� No. 1 prospect according to , also attended the school.
Crow-Armstrong was a senior when Gasparino was a freshman.
The prestige and the expectation of the school has ultimately benefited Gasparino in the long run.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a younger kid, you get to see these older kids do all these great things,鈥� Gasparino said. 鈥淵ou want to be like them. You look up to them. I looked up to Pete freshman year. That type of mentality helps for sure.鈥�
Gasparino was a part of a CIF championship team his sophomore year and he would love nothing more than to go out with another one in his final season of high school ball.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 my biggest goal and that鈥檚 what I see us doing this year.”
