Eastside Catholic Crusaders incoming sophomore Kenji Suzuki has already decided where he will continue his career on the diamond following high school.

Suzuki, who was the Crusaders baseball team’s starting second baseman during the 2017 season, verbally committed to play baseball at NCAA Division-1 Clemson University in South Carolina. Suzuki plays for the Chaffey Baseball Club in the summer.

“Clemson has definitely always been my dream school,” Suzuki said.

The 16-year-old infielder is thrilled to have made his collegiate decision with three more years of high school baseball remaining.

“It is really relieving,” Suzuki said. “Now I just get to focus on baseball and getting bigger and stronger.”

Shortstop is undoubtedly his favorite position on the diamond.

“Basically every play, there is a chance the ball can get hit to you,” Suzuki said. “It is definitely the most demanding position on the field.”

Suzuki is a huge fan of Crusaders’ head baseball coach Kyle Larsen.

“He is really good guy,” he said. “Kyle is probably the nicest coach that I have ever played for. You never really hear him yell at you. He puts his trust in his players. You can go 0-for-15 and he will keep batting you No. 4 in the order. He trusts his players a lot.”

Suzuki credited Seattle Select baseball coach Mike Stanley for transforming him into an elite prospect. Stanley coached Suzuki from 2010-2012.

“I never really started seriously playing baseball until I joined the Seattle Select baseball team coached by Mike Stanley,” he said. “He really helped me become a much better player.”