A conversation with outfielder Dante Baldelli
The fifth-year right fielder is hitting a career-best .295 and has climbed in the Eagles' order throughout the year.
Dante Baldelli has been a rock for Boston College for almost five years now. Whether it be patrolling the outfield or providing a consistent bat, he has been a staple of the Eagles’ team for years. This season, Baldelli is having the best year of his collegiate career, posting career highs in every offensive statistic while boasting a perfect fielding percentage.
Baldelli is one of the “super seniors” on the Boston College roster this year, meaning that he was granted an extra year of eligibility after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. He has been fantastic this year in the Eagles’ lineup, as he has been hovering around a .300 batting average all season long.
In April, a month that has not been too kind to BC hitters as a whole, Baldelli has been one of the bright spots. Since the start of the month he is hitting .295, and has been giving the top of the lineup chances to drive him in consistently. He has batted ninth for most of the season, really embodying the term “second leadoff”, but has recently been brought up to the seven-hole in an attempt to give him as many at-bats as possible.
I sat down with Dante to discuss this season and his five years on the Heights.
Andrew Kynes: You’ve been playing really well all season, especially in this last month. You are on pace to set career highs in every aspect of the game, what are you doing differently in your approach this season?
Dante Baldelli: Going into senior year, last year, I took the summer off from playing summer baseball and I focused on gaining weight and getting stronger. I had always been a thinner guy and didn't have a ton of weight on me. I went into that summer at 178 pounds and came out of it at 205. I honestly just worked out as much as I could, while still doing my sprint work to maintain my speed. Going into that fall, I felt great and I was in great shape, both playing wise and physically in general. But then covid hit so we only got about 15 games in, but during those games was the best I’ve felt swing wise and just overall. So I just carried that over through the lockdown and into the fall and obviously into this spring. Mechanically, I just kept working with Coach Murphy. He has been huge for me—especially in these last two years—as we have been working as much as possible to get both my swing and approach as consistent as it can be. Those are the biggest things that have happened for me, and this year it has all kind of clicked and it has really worked out.
Kynes: So I assume that the long break due to the virus was pretty productive for you as a player. Was there anything that you worked on in particular, or was it just about maintaining what you built?
Baldelli: At first it was obviously a little up in the air because we didn’t know if we were going to get to come back at all. But eventually Coach Gambino gave us a call and all the fifth years were able to make their decision. Just in general, I worked out a bunch at home because at the time there were no gyms open in Rhode Island. I would work out in the basement, go with my dad outside and hit on the tee or do some flips, and maybe even go to the field and take BP if we got a nice day to try to keep up my arm strength. Other than that, we were able to get some summer ball in from July until the start of August. There was a league in Newport that was created last summer, and any local guys that could drive there were able to play so I was able to get in about ten games through that. Throughout the whole process I just had to be as consistent as possible with getting the work in. There were only a few opportunities for games so it was everyone one on their own, just getting work in. It all paid off for me this the fall when I came back and felt like I didn’t miss a beat. The consistency was the key.
Kynes: Obviously BC has an electric pitching staff this year with guys like Mason Pelio and Emmet Sheehan. Is there anyone that is particularly fun to hit against?
Baldelli: I honestly really like facing all of our guys because they all make for some incredibly competitive at-bats. I especially like facing them in the fall because it gets a little chirpy and what-not, whether it’s a big scrimmage day or just live at-bats, all the guys are out there to compete. [Alex] Stiegler was a big piece in the fall, he was getting a bunch of starter innings, and the rest of the bullpen guys that were out there were competitive too. I’m not saying one guy is easier than the other, because they are all competitive in general, but it was just great to get after all of them. We’ve had some really good guys in the past, and they have all been tough, especially when they know you and your tendencies as a hitter. It’s more of a cat-and-mouse game out there.
Kynes: I’m sure facing those guys has prepared you for the gauntlet that is an ACC schedule, what has it been like this year facing stellar arms almost every time out?
Baldelli: Even though this year is different, I would say that the mental approach doesn't really change too much. Every weekend you have to go out there and act like it’s the best team in the country each time out. You really don’t want to change the uniform in your head and have a different thought process throughout it, because that’s when you're going to get beat. I just try to think the same thing no matter who the other team throws out there, and we all just try to have the same approach. Obviously it’s been a tough stretch for us recently, we had a nice win against Florida State, but the last month or so has not been ideal for us. We still have the four weekends left, we can still make some noise to make the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament. We need to keep on going, not changing too much and staying as consistent as possible.
Kynes: That being said, you have a big series this weekend as Notre Dame comes to town. It seems to mean a little more when BC plays Notre Dame, is this one that you’re especially excited for?
Baldelli: Yeah, I know last year we didn't get to play them but in the past it was always tough, tough games against them. Not that the other ones aren't as tough, but there is a little more competitiveness between the two teams because of the history. It’s going to be a grind of a series for both teams. We have to go out and put our best foot forward in every facet of the game. I’m confident in our ability to go out there and win some games this weekend.
Kynes: You hit in the nine-hole for most of the year, acting as a second leadoff. Did you embrace that role, or has it been refreshing to move up in the lineup a little bit?
Baldelli: Honestly, I don’t really think about it too much, it’s not that big of a thing for me. I have noticed, especially this season, that I don’t get pitched to differently wherever I am in the lineup, whether it be sixth or ninth. Sometimes they pitch backwards (breaking ball then fastball) and sometimes they pitch normal. So, I have not tried to change my approach that much because I don’t want to get too mental with it, because that’s when things can spiral out of control. When I am in the nine-hole it is in a way that second leadoff, as I try to bring it back to the top with a guy on base. I think with myself and the front of the order we have some speed that can do some damage while on base.
Kynes: About that lineup, there are some guys in there who are four, maybe five years younger than you. Is there anyone you have taken under your wing?
Baldelli: I’ve definitely been talking to all of those guys, not any one guy more than another. If Travis [Honeyman] is with me in doing drills I’ll talk to him a little bit more. I know I was with Cam [Leary] a little bit in center in the fall a lot so we were talking about some stuff. Honestly it’s just whenever they have questions. I don’t feel like I have to explain everything to them, but when they have a question I feel that it is most important that it gets answered. I try and answer it as best I can and maybe elaborate on it more during that particular drill or scrimmage depending on what it was. All the younger guys have all been great, trying to learn as much as possible throughout the season.
Kynes: I think you’ve played in about 180 games and been around a lot of high-level baseball. In your opinion, which stadium had the best environment, and which one did you enjoy the most?
Baldelli: For me personally, It might not be everyone’s favorite, but I really like UNC’s ballpark. I have only been once, my junior year, but I definitely loved North Carolina. A lot of guys love going to FSU and Clemson, but the whole feel of it, the playing surface, and the weather make it my favorite one outside of BC for sure.
Featured images courtesy of Boston College Athletics