St. Rose High School’s Brad Currao is one of the top pitchers in the Shore Conference. However, the senior from Howell helps the team out at the plate, as well. He batted .431 last spring, helping the Purple Rose win the division title. St. Rose is off to a 4-0 start this season. A left-hander with a fastball in the high 80s is certainly going to catch the eye of college scouts and coaches.
St. Rose High School senior Brad Currao, who lives in Howell, was no exception. Last year’s Shore Conference Class B Central Division Pitcher of the Year, Currao attracted his share of college offers and decided on Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y.
“I liked the campus better [than other colleges I took recruited visits to], and I liked the coach staff,” said the Purple Rose’s ace starter. “I felt most comfortable there when I visited. Everything just fell in line.”
In signing with Wagner of the Northeast Conference, Currao was fulfilling a goal he’s had since he started playing Little League baseball. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play Division I baseball,” Currao said. By signing early with Wagner, the St. Rose senior has avoided the outside distractions that in-season college recruiting can create.
“It feels good to get it out of the way,” he said. “I can relax and focus on helping my team win games.”
That is what St. Rose, which is 4-0, is doing as it looks to defend its B Central crown from a year ago. Currao had a lot to do with the title as a pitcher (2.09 ERA) and hitter (.431 batting average). Although 4-4, he was on the mound for the games that matter for the Purple Rose, helping him understand how to approach pressure game.
Currao played for Howell South Little League, winning a district title along the way with Ryan Stewart, who is also his teammate at St. Rose. He was coached by his father Vinny Currao, who didn’t let him throw a curveball until he was in the eighth grade. It worked out fine for the younger Currao; from the start, he always had the fastball.
Even with a 2.09 ERA last spring, Curraro worked on developing another pitch to add to his arsenal that includes two-seam and four-seam fastballs, a curveball and a slider.
“I developed a changeup in the offseason,” he said.
Now, the lefty has another pitch that hitters have to worry about, and it’s more than velocity or the variety of pitchers the St. Rose hurler has. He can throw them all for strikes.
“I have confidence in all my pitches,” he said.
Currao knows the first rule of pitching is the first strike.
“You have get ahead of batters,” he said.
From the start, Currao preferred pitching because he liked “being in control.”
Although his fastball has hit 89 mph, the lefty doesn’t look to strike everyone out. He’ll pitch to contact because of St. Rose’s defense.
“I have a lot of confidence in the fielders behind me,” he said.
As his .431 batting average from last year attests, Currao helps the Purple Rose out with his bat.
Currao remarked that St. Rose has high expectations for the 2013 season.
“We have a lot of guys back,” he said.
The first goal is to repeat as the division champions and then make a run at championships in the postseason.
Over the summer, Currao went to several showcase tournaments with Farrah Builders, which gave him a glimpse of what he’ll be up against in college.
“There were a lot of good batters. It was a great experience,” he said.
The Howell native knows it will be more of the same at Wagner.
“Everyone in college was the best on their teams [in high school],” he said. “One through nine [in the lineup], you can’t make mistakes.”
Currao isn’t thinking about that challenge now. His focus is on bringing another championship to the Belmar campus.