'Changed my life': One phone call grew Rockland's Mike Gervasi into UMass baseball captain

Retired UMass baseball coach Mike Stone doesn't often recommend recruits to the new regime.

Actually, he did so just one time.

Six years ago, former Archbishop Williams catcher Mike Gervasi, of Rockland, was catching a bullpen session and taking batting practice swings in an indoor facility in Duxbury while playing for the Boston Prospects. He held five offers to play college baseball at the time, zero of which were extended by Division 1 programs.

Stone, an instructor on the South Shore in the offseason, saw the 6-foot-3 prospect and made a call to then-UMass pitching coach Nate Cole, who had served on the Stone's staff during his 30-year tenure before the Hall-of-Famer retired in 2017.

Stature, pop and work ethic were the topics of conversation. UMass ended up offering to Gervasi without even seeing him play in a game.

“It’s an unorthodox way to get recruited," Gervasi said. "They took a shot on me, which changed my life.”

This spring, Gervasi finished his graduate season for the Minutemen as a four-year starter and team captain after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023. He homered in a pinch-hit spot during his first collegiate appearance in 2021 and, fittingly, punctuated his career with a long-ball to left field in his final game this May.

“You could tell he was going to be a really good ball player," Stone said. "He had a great career."

How it started

Gervasi was a sophomore and junior on the Archbishop Williams teams that appeared in consecutive state title games in 2017 and 2018. The Bishops won their first title since 1995 in Gervasi's junior season, and that offseason, the catcher held five offers. Gervasi said he was turned away from "upwards of 10" others that had initial interest.

Two offers were from Division 2 programs (Franklin Pierce, Northwestern Oklahoma State) and three were from Division 3 programs (Suffolk, Johnson and Wales, Wheaton).

“I was not a highly touted prospect by any means," Gervasi said.

More: Eagles soar again: BC High baseball beats St. John's to claim first state crown since 2009

Then came that one particularly memorable offseason session in Duxbury.

“He was there every night, it seemed like," Stone said. "I got to know him a little bit and thought he’d be a great fit (for UMass). It worked out well.”

“(Stone) went out on a limb," Gervasi said. "A coach has to have a lot of credibility in order for a kid to just get recruited (like that). They didn’t even see me play in a game, so that was a big leap of faith on UMass’ part. ... It all happened fast. I think some hard work and luck decided to collide that year.”

Tommy John surgery

In the heat of his recruiting process, Gervasi played through a partial UCL tear in his elbow in high school. It held up for a few years without regression, he said, but during a game against Albany his junior collegiate season, Gervasi heard a pop upon throwing down to second base.

The injury occurred in March and he was subjected to a nine-month recovery timeline that held off soft-toss until November and swinging until January.

Gervasi, in the meantime, reengineered his swing by generating strength through his legs and bottom (left) hand of his batting grip.

He hit one home run in 2023. Primarily a designated hitter post-injury, that number jumped to 15, with a .303 batting average and .584 slugging percentage, this spring.

"That surgery led to me putting up the best power numbers I’ve had," Gervasi said. "The Tommy John was sort of a blessing in disguise. It just unleashed power that I didn’t know I had.”

UMass memories

Gervasi was named to the Northeast All-Region second team this year as UMass went 24-29 and appeared in its first Atlantic 10 postseason game since 2012.

One of Gervasi's favorite memories from the season was a thrilling three-game series vs. nationally-ranked Virginia in early-March. He hit a two-run home run in Game 1 of the set, but No. 13 Virginia prevailed, 4-3, in the extra inning.

That highlight stands out in memory alongside the first of his career, which came in his first collegiate at-bat during the eighth inning of a season-opening loss to Northeastern in 2021.

He proceeded to start 39 games of 42 played behind the plate the rest of his debut season.

“That (home run) is what jump-started me starting the rest of the year," Gervasi said. "I was hopeful (for my production), but I was setting my expectations low. I didn’t think I was going to start. I was told I was going to be in the mix for the DH and be the No. 2 catcher, which you play about 25 percent of the time. Luckily, the offense held up and I ended up DH-ing and catching most of the year.”

This season, a standout memory was hammering hit a walk-off home run to left field to seal a series sweep of conference foe St. Joseph's on April 28. He finishes as a career .264 hitter with 24 home runs and 114 RBIs in 172 total games (157 starts).

Gervasi still lives in Rockland and spends his summers hosting lessons for South Shore high school players, mostly in Scituate, Rockland and Plymouth. He is also training for a professional gig to come about.

“I just want to stay in the game of baseball," Gervasi said. "Whether it’s an affiliate or non-affiliate opportunity, I’m just hoping someone takes a chance (on me) in that regard.”

It wouldn't be the first time.

“His mom would call me occasionally and say how grateful she was that he was at UMass," Stone said. "I just say I pointed him in the right direction. He did the rest from there -- it’s all Mike. I just made a phone call and sent a text.”

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Rockland's Gervasi finishes UMass baseball career after underdog rise