January makes verbal commitment to LSU

Having colleges all across America chasing you when you?re only a sophomore in high school can be challenging. But according to Derek January, his son, Ryan, was ready for it.?I think,” January says, “that his passion, and his goals, which are obviously to play professional baseball, made him aware of the whole process and how intense it was going to be before he came to some kind of a decision.”The younger January, who lives in Swampscott, has made that decision, and it?s Louisiana State University, to which he has made a verbal commitment (he cannot sign a letter of intent until November 2015).Ryan January, a catcher, has been ahead of the pack since his Little League days.?He?s always played ?older? baseball,” his father says. “He?s always played at older levels, and he?s always done well … exceeded expectations of coaches and coaching staffs (he was an Item baseball all-star as a freshman before transferring to the Salisbury School).?He also has always been a good-sized kid, and that?s allowed him to have the confidence necessary to play against older kids.”Derek January says the winnowing process that led to the LSU decision began a year ago.?It started out with some regional schools, and then in the last few months, a lot of the high-end baseball schools expressed interest,” he said.In the end, it came down to four schools: LSU, St. John?s University, Vanderbilt and Arizona State.?Vanderbilt was very tempting,” Derek January said, “considering it won the College World Series and they have a New England connection (which includes English graduate Ben Bowden).?But in the end, it came down to what seemed to be the best fit. Ryan felt that academically and athletically, that was the place for him. He wanted to play in the Southeastern Conference.”Ryan January?s grandfather, Don, is a noted baseball umpire and football official who was drafted out of Saugus High by the Cleveland Indians as a catcher. He played professionally for six years, advancing as high as Double-A ball.Both Derek and his brother, Jeff, were stars at Swampscott High.Now that Ryan January?s college decision has been made (?which is a load off his shoulders,” his father says), he can “concentrate on getting ready for next season, getting bigger and better.The Januarys also have their eyes on the 2016 Major League draft.?I think,” Derek said, “that if he continues to get better at the rate he?s been going, we?ll have a decision to make come 2016. But it?ll be a good decision. Right now, we?re just going to concentrate on him finishing school, keeping his grades up, and getting improving.?He has that extra kick … I guess that?s what you call it … that all the good athletes have,” Derek said. “He can come up with that extra desire to win, and that extra desire to work hard.”