Whiz Kid of the Week: James Foti

Where do the accolades begin for 13-year-old James Foti’s latest baseball season?

In 60 games with Waterford Babe Ruth and the AAU team Connecticut Crush, he hit .606 with a .850 on base percentage. In those 60 games, he had 85 RBIs. If you carried that rate to a 162-game major league season, it would equal 230 RBIs (the major league record is 190).

To top it off, Connecticut Crush just became co-champions of the Chris Potvin Memorial Tournament (the championship game was called a tie after it was stopped from darkness), and Foti was named co-MVP.

“I just love the game,” the Clark Lane Middle School student said. “I have it in my blood.”

Foti is being literal. His grandfather was a minor league baseball player for many years.

The Adjustment

Foti, who is 5’10”, 160 pounds, was the biggest kid in little league last year. He dominated the league, hitting 24 homers in his four years.

This year, he moved up to Waterford Babe Ruth’s 13-15-year-old team, and was now one of the smaller guys on the team. But for him, it wasn’t much of an adjustment.

“No, I wasn’t nervous,” Foti said, who plays third base and pitches. “I love playing against the high school guys.”

Foti also plays the Cello, and is a honor roll student. He plans on playing for the school team when he goes to Waterford High.