Courtesy photo: Ryan Lavarnaway of the Lowell Spinners hustles to first at the Futures at Fenway game.
BOSTON — Ryan Lavarnway did his best to play it cool on the first two balls he hit over the Green Monster, stepping back into the box to take another swing.
But he couldn't help but watch the third sail over the legendary left-field wall, his furthest shot of the day that brought cheers from the early-arriving crowd.
"I hit the third on the last swing of my round so I got to see it go over the wall and hit the Sports Authority sign," he remembered from Spinners batting practice at Futures at Fenway. "It was a high priority of mine coming in here. (Playing at Fenway) was a unique experience. I wanted to make sure that when I go home and, years down the road, when I hang up my spikes I can say I hit a few over the Monster."
Lavarnway has plenty of experience putting on a show with the bat after leading the NCAA in hitting in 2007 and setting seven career or single-season records at Yale. But after a serious wrist injury and disappointment on draft day, the catcher finds himself having to prove himself again.
After a stellar senior season at El Camino Real (Calif.) High in which he hit .482 with 46 RBIs, Lavarnway fulfilled a dream by being accepted to renowned Yale.
"My parents always stressed academics then sports," said the philosophy major. "I decided that if I could attend the best university in the country and still make a name for myself in baseball, that would be the best of both worlds."
Lavarnway made an impact right away for the Bulldogs. He started in left field as a true freshman, hitting .281 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 43 games.
Before his sophomore season, Lavarnway learned he would move to catcher for the first time in his life. He responded by delivering the best season in Yale history.
In 2007, Lavarnway set the single-season Bulldogs records in batting average (.467), home runs (14), RBIs (55), hits (70) and doubles (17). His average and slugging percentage (.873) in 43 games led the NCAA and he was named second-team All-American by Pingbaseball.com and third team All-American by Baseball America.
"Ryan just became a force with the bat," said Yale head baseball coach John Stuper. "For a young man to lead the nation in hitting is pretty special. And most that do that have speed. Ryan does not have speed, so that really shows the kind of hits and season he had. His pitch recognition is outstanding and he is a power hitter that doesn't strike out (65 in 393 career college at-bats)."
Lavarnway was on his way to nearly match those this season. In 34 games he was hitting .384 with 42 RBIs and 13 home runs, breaking the school's career record for homers (33) and RBIs (122). But against archrival Harvard, trouble struck.
"I tried to jump over the catcher to avoid a tag," he remembered. "And I felt a pain in my wrist. But the trainer didn't think it was broken, so I played three more games."
But the pain persisted, and further tests showed he had suffered a non-displaced fracture of his scaphoid bone. He had surgery on April 21 and missed the rest of Yale's season.
"I had a screw inserted in my wrist that'll be there for the rest of my life," he said. "I like to think that I am part man and part metal."
Prior to the injury, Lavarnway was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick by Baseball America. He ended up falling to the sixth round, where the Red Sox selected him 202nd overall, the final pick of the draft's first day.
"I thought I was going to go higher in the draft," Lavarnway said. "I thought I might go in the third round. By the time it happened, I was really more relieved than excited. But I have been proving people wrong for a long time. I came from Southern California, so I was never the best player on my team growing up."
The 21-year-old signed on June 27 for $325,000. He then spent the next month working back from the surgery.
"There was never a point I didn't want to sign," he said. "Then it was a matter of rehabbing my wrist. This is an injury that a lot of players have suffered and come back from at 100 percent. I wanted to get a few games under my belt in professional baseball. It is much different."
He finally made his professional debut on Aug. 8. He is hitting just .219 in 20 games, but has found his swing lately. In his last six games he is at .285 (6 for 21) with two home runs and six RBIs.
Despite being projected as an outfielder by many scouts, his former coach believes he can be a catcher in the majors.
"Ryan has excellent hands and his feet improved on a daily basis," said Stuper. "I believe he can remain a catcher at the next level. The things he needs to work on will work themselves out over the course of 200 or 300 games behind the plate.
"Ryan is very serious regarding his baseball future and what he wants to achieve. He has really matured as a player and a person."
