PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Saint Joseph’s University baseball program has a new all-time leading home run hitter.
Senior catcher Andrew Cossetti made history for that school’s program earlier this month in the second game of a doubleheader at Radford University in Virginia.
The La Salle College High School graduate hit the 31st home run of his college career, which broke the school record set by John Brue.
“[It was the] first pitch of my first at-bat in the second game, and when it left the bat, I knew,” Cossetti said of the 2-run homer that he smashed in the first inning.
“I was definitely relieved, I don’t get too emotional during a home run trot, but I was smiling that entire time and it was definitely an exciting moment.”
The record-breaking home run was the second homer of the doubleheader for Cossetti. He hit three in total that day, which led to powerful reflections on the team’s trip back to Philadelphia.
“I think on the bus ride back from the game, I was sitting there and I was looking at my roommate. And I was just thinking how surreal it is,” he admitted.
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“When I chose to go to St. Joe’s, I had this idea in mind that I was going to be one of the best players they had at the school. Cementing myself in the history of St. Joe's with the all time home run record definitely puts me in the in the all-time players list.”
Cossetti has become one of the top hitters in NCAA baseball this spring. He had 10 home runs on the season as of early Tuesday afternoon, ranking in a tie for third in the country.
“I've always been a kid that can hit a lot of home runs. At high school, I think I had like 20 career home runs, somewhere around there. Even my freshman year [at Saint Joseph’s], I hit eight home runs,” he said. “I've always been a power guy. I'm trying to hit a little more for average.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the times when he couldn’t train on-campus, his parents stepped in and helped him keep his swing and his overall game intact.
“COVID-19 really put a crazy spin on things,” he said.
“Nobody knew what was going to happen or how to react to it. But luckily, I have a wonderful mother who built a batting cage in my backyard. I would go out there with my dad every day over COVID, and I think that I think that really helped me get to where I am today. So I can't thank them enough for helping me get through it. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.”
Cossetti said his long-term hope is to have a major league team draft him, but he has no control over whether that will happen. Instead, his goal is focused on each moment at hand, each game at hand.
“Go out there trying to win every game. Do the best I can at the plate and hopefully, the chips will fall where I want them to,” he said. “But right now, the big focus is just trying to win baseball games.”