Despite MLB draft buzz, Cincinnati recruit Enzo Infelise maintains even-keel focus for Providence. ‘A special player.'

Chicago Tribune

16-03-2025

After winning the Catholic League Blue's player of the year honors as a sophomore in 2023, Providence's Enzo Infelise had a hard time living up to incredibly lofty expectations — both his own and from outsiders — at the start of last season.
Infelise, a senior utility man, is no longer concerned about all of that. In helping lead the Celtics to the Class 4A state championship last spring, Infelise learned he just had to be himself and stop worrying about it.
'Junior year started off not like how I wanted it to,' Infelise said. 'My mentality wasn't right. I'm not used to that. I had maybe 20 strikeouts last year and I had four the year before. I'm usually not a strikeout guy, so it was kind of getting in my head.
'I know I can hit. I just need to trust myself and stop letting the mental side of things get to me.'
Infelise, a Cincinnati recruit, hit .525 with two home runs and 35 RBIs as a sophomore. Last season, his batting average took a hit — down to a still-strong .362 — but he upped his power numbers, finishing with seven homers and 32 RBIs.
Providence coach Mark Smith saw Infelise questioning himself at times a year ago.
'It's a maturation process,' Smith said. 'This would probably go for just about any kid who's ever had such an incredible year as a sophomore. You're not going to repeat that. To hit what he did, .525 as a sophomore against the pitching we see, to repeat that is extremely hard.
'I think he put such high expectations on himself. You're not going to live up to that and that's OK.'
Smith saw Infelise at his best late last spring once he figured out how to take some of the pressure off himself.
'I think about two-thirds through the season last year, he realized, 'Hey, whatever happens, happens, I'm just going to be me,'' Smith said. 'When he got back to being him, things got even better for him.'
In addition to his powerful bat, Infelise brings a ton of versatility to the Celtics' lineup. He expects to play catcher, shortstop and third base this season as well as pitch out of the bullpen.
'When it comes to Enzo, tell him he can't do something and he'll show you how good he can do it,' Smith said. 'That's what makes him a special player.'
Infelise is happy to play anywhere, but he's hoping his future is as a catcher.
'Last year, catching was a little rough for me,' he said. 'But over the fall and stuff, I feel like I really dedicated myself to it more. I know my bat is there, but I really want to show people how I can catch and show that I can stick back there.
'I love catching.'
The Celtics return the top three pitchers from their state championship team in seniors Kasten Goebbert (Gulf Coast Community College), Cooper Eggert (SIU Edwardsville) and Nate O'Donnell (Minnesota).
Eggert and O'Donnell — the 2024 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year — were also two of the state's best hitters last season. Eggert, O'Donnell and Infelise make up half of the six returnees from last spring's starting lineup.
'I feel like it's a good feeling to be the hunted,' Eggert said. 'We're going to have the target on our backs. We're going to see everyone's best, and that will be fun.'
Infelise, who is widely considered one of the state's top senior prospects, knows there will be plenty of eyes on him. But he's ready for that.
'This year, I've heard some more buzz around my name with the MLB draft and things like that,' Infelise said. 'But I just try to not to do too much at the plate or even catching.
'I just want to do my thing instead of trying to live up to something that I'm really not. I just want to do me.'