Lorenzo Morresi with the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners
© STEALING Baseball
From Samuele Bruno to Nicholas Fancellu, there are several young Italian prospects who have recently decided to continue their path of sporting and personal growth in American colleges. With them there are also some who have already made this choice profitably for a few years. Among all, Lorenzo Morresi, a true Macerata native, son of an artist who grew up in the Macerata Angels’ nursery: after excellent seasons at Junior College level with New Mexico, a few months ago he embarked on the adventure at the highest NCAA level with Texas San Antonio in Division I .
For Morresi a 2023 full of satisfactions, first in the USA complete with victory of the Conference title, then in Italy with Macerata as the absolute protagonist of the season in Serie A and coming one step away from the Scudetto semi-final, to finish with fifth place at the European under 23 Championships with the Italian national team. Here is Lorenzo Morresi, exclusively for Baseball.itready for a new beautiful adventure in the United States.
First of all, how did the first months in Texas go and how did you get on with your new teammates and coaches?
All very well, I immediately got along very well with all my teammates and with the coaching staff. I like head coach Pat Hallmark, he is an old-fashioned coach who knows how to deal with young people and as a former receiver I am convinced that he will be able to help me a lot to improve in the various aspects of the role. The environment is very charged after the last two very positive seasons, with 76 overall victories, and the transition from Conference USA to American Athletic where we will face two historic and always competitive programs in the NCAA panorama such as Rice and East Carolina.
Have you found any major differences on the field and academically between Junior College and NCAA Division I?
Yes, the difference was more evident on the diamond than at the study level. In these first months we trained for 2 hours every day so as not to exceed the limit allowed by the NCAA in the period called Fall training and at the same time we played games with each other 4 times a week. The organization is certainly different from that in Italy and the opportunity to play every day allows you to improve.
Let’s take a step back to last season in Italy with Macerata: how do you judge your year and that of the team? Is there a bad taste left in your mouth because of how it ended?
Certainly yes, a positive season overall although I believe that having had a slightly simpler group in the second phase without Parma, Bologna and San Marino undoubtedly helped us in the short term but did not train us for the tougher challenges. I think we could have done better since we were very competitive in the two matches of the Italian and the foreigner with Quattrini and Correa. Unfortunately against Grosseto we didn’t maintain our averages in the batter’s box and on the mound we missed Mejia’s contribution, plus they, coming from a more demanding group, were certainly more ready for tight scoring games.
What do you think of the new formula for the 2024 Italian championship with Macerata included in the 6-team elite group?
I don’t think about the championship formula, there are people better suited than me who have to do it, but I only think about playing and improving every day. At the end of the NCAA season I will see what possibilities there are for me to enter the draft and possibly sign a contract. Otherwise I will return to Italy to play with Macerata.
Do you have contact with the rest of the group of young Italian talents working in US colleges?
Yes, of course, I often talk to Daniel Monti who is now busy in California with Sonoma State in NCAA Division II.
In this regard, would you advise other young players to try their hand at American colleges?
Absolutely yes, mostly to use baseball to get a degree, to grow on a technical and human level, to mature and help the family. I study Economics and I am very happy with my choice which I carry forward with sacrifice.
Another step back, how was the experience with the Under 23 national team at the European Championships last summer in Austria?
I won’t deny that I liked the team a lot and I have an excellent relationship with Alberto D’Auria. In my opinion we were unlucky, because the defeat against Germany destroyed us emotionally and due to an absurd formula we, with only one defeat in the qualifying phase, ended up behind Germany who had lost one more match.
Future prospects from a senior national perspective?
I always hope for it and I play baseball also to one day wear the jersey of the senior national team, it is certainly one of my goals for the next few years.
Favorite role?
I definitely feel like a receiver and I’m also playing in this role at Texas San Antonio but I have no problems occupying other positions on the diamond.
In this regard, what did the experience in San Marino give you alongside 2 great receivers like Simone Albanese and Gabriel Lino?
Simone was certainly very important for me, a great captain who taught me a lot about being on the pitch, especially on a psychological rather than technical level, as was Lino in my second year in San Marino where I bonded with everyone, especially with Leo Ferrini. I consider myself a calm guy who doesn’t worry.
Before saying goodbye and wishing you good luck as you continue your new adventure at College, a consideration on the super contract signed by Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers
I don’t know what to say, he’s a super player, a true superstar but I think that at that level it’s not that easy to put together all those very strong players as the example of the Angels teaches. More than anything, I don’t know how the Dodgers will build a team around him given the super amount they have already committed to him in the long term.
2024-01-09 00:09:13
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