Chris Calacci opted to leave Fordham Prep in the fall of 2024 by reclassifying as a sophomore at Canterbury School.
The Rye, N.Y., native then had a major growth spurt, jumping from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-7. While the added height made him more attractive to college recruiters, it also came with minor challenges.
"It all happened in a span of two years,'' said Calacci. "At Fordham, I just showed up and threw the rock. I had a natural ability for competing on the mound and didn't really face any adversity until I got to Canterbury. As I grew, my mechanics got funky, and my control struggled, so I had to work very hard to rebuild my timing and patterns. It was really hard, at first, for me to adjust to a new school, and I struggled so much in the game of baseball.''
Calacci, also a basketball standout with the Saints, has since figured things out. His fastball now tops out at 90 mph, and is complemented by a proficient curveball and changeup.
