Tom Rinaldi, the catcher on Holmdel High School’s baseball team, will play collegiate baseball at Villanova University.
The senior has signed a letter of intent to attend the Pennsylvania school, which awarded him a partial scholarship. Rinaldi had also considered Boston College, Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., before making his final decision.
The criteria came down to the school, which Rinaldi noted has an excellent reputation; the Wildcats’ recent improvement in the Big East Conference; and, finally, to the fact that Villanova’s starting catcher will be a senior when Rinaldi arrives next year.
He added that Villanova’s coaches were pleased that Rinaldi could play first base and the outfield.
"It’s a good situation for me," said Rinaldi, who plans to enroll in the liberal arts program. "I’ll be able to get a good education and play baseball. I want to make a good impression right away, and hopefully I’ll get some playing time as a freshman."
Rinaldi certainly made a good impression and drew plenty of attention last spring when he helped the Hornets win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey Group II and Shore Conference A Central Division titles. After starting the season in the seventh slot in the batting order, the lefty-hitting backstop was quickly moved to the three-hole, where he produced big time.
Rinaldi, who doesn’t consider himself a power hitter, nonetheless blasted eight homers while driving in 30 runs and batting a robust .472. An excellent baserunner, he stole eight bases in as many attempts, and may have had more if not for the speed-up rule. Rinaldi has been clocked at 6.9 seconds for the 60-yard dash.
"I like to think of myself as a gap-to-gap hitter who is good in the clutch," Rinaldi said. "I like to go with the pitch, and I’m fairly patient at the plate."
Defensively, Rinaldi is agile behind the dish and is able to block most bad pitches. He threw out 50 percent of would-be base stealers last spring and has developed into a team leader.
"Tom calls a real good game," Holmdel Coach Ed Reckage said. "He’s like a coach on the field. He works very hard to prepare for games."
That’s not surprising since Rinaldi himself decided to become a catcher when he was 12 years old. A shortstop and pitcher until then, he made the decision because he wanted "to be involved in every decision on the field."
As a youngster, he played in the local recreation leagues and also for the Holmdel-based New Jersey Mariners AAU team, which won four state titles in its age group. After spending his freshman year at St. John Vianney, Holmdel, Rinaldi transferred to Holmdel where he won the catching job.
Whatever he accomplishes on the field is built, at least in part, on the work he does off the field. In addition to regular, year-round trips to the batting cages, Rinaldi works once a week with a hitting instructor, lifts weights three days and runs at least two days each week. He credits his father, Frank, with teaching him the game and encouraging him to keep improving.
"He works very hard at it," Reckage said. "Tom wants to do well. He loves the game, and it shows."
With eight starters coming back, Rinaldi set his sights high for this spring and is hoping his team will contend for the overall Group II championship. In the meantime, he is working on several aspects of his game.
"I’d like to throw out more runners, ideally between 66 percent and 75 percent," he said. "So I’ve been working on arm speed and throwing. I’d also like to be more of a threat at the plate and increase my average and power numbers."