New Cape catcher has adjusted to Midwest, pitching very easily

Cape Catfish hitter Moises Rosario celebrates towards his dugout after recently hitting a double against Danville in a game at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

When Moises Rosario ventured to Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois two years ago, the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic had to make a shocking climate adjustment.

“The first time (it got cold),” Rosario recalled, “I bought a coat, but it wasn’t a good, quality coat. I didn’t know how cold it would get.”

Rosario adjusted (with a better coat) eventually, but where he never had to make much of an adjustment was on the baseball diamond.

The recent signee of the Cape Catfish has not only been tremendous in his first month of competing in the Prospect League, but this summer follows two great years at Lake Land.

Rosario has notched hits in eight of his first 11 games with the Catfish and has tallied six hits (including a double and a triple) in the past three games to go with three RBI and three runs scored.

“I just want to get reps (at the plate) and get better at hitting,” Rosario said recently.

He’s been doing that.

Following a 0-for-5 game in his debut, Rosario has 14 hits in 40 at-bats including three doubles and eight RBI.

“I really like the Prospect League because it is a really competitive league,” Rosario said. “I’m going to just get better in general.”

Rosario landed in the Midwest courtesy of a coach in the Dominican Republic, who knew a coach at Lake Land.

“(Lake Land Coach Julio Godinez) told my coach ‘OK, I’m going to trust you,’” Rosario explained of the selling of his ability, sight unseen.

It worked out.

Rosario hit .301 as a freshman and .406 as a sophomore, as he led Lake Land in at-bats, hits (67), home runs (eight), walks (37), on-base percentage (.530), and slugging percentage (.648).

“It worked out great,” Rosario said. “I am really blessed. I am really thankful for God and all of my coaches. Everything I have now is a blessing.”

What Rosario “has now” is a scholarship to the NCAA Division II program Oakland City University in southern Indiana.

“I really liked the coaching staff when I went on a visit,” Rosario said of the college. “I really liked the environment.”

Rosario explained that landing a scholarship as an international student “gets tough (financially).”

“Most of us,” Rosario explained of partial athletic scholarships which are prominent throughout college baseball, “are not able to pay. Oakland City came to me and said that I wouldn’t have to worry about the money.”

Rosario has not only been steady at the plate for the Catfish, but he has also been good behind it, as well.

“I like being a leader on the field,” Rosario said.

The Catfish will travel to Thrillville (23-16, 2-10) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and REX Baseball (22-16, 7-3) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. (Central).

Cape will host Thrillville on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. in a doubleheader.