RallyNorth.net: High School Sports - Merrimack Valley and Southern NH

Caught up with a physically-menacing Ronnie Rosario at the Haverhill boys hoop game Tuesday night.
Rosario looks like a man, stress that word man, on a mission. He’s bulked up some, looks dynamite and has clearly hit the weight room hard as his senior season behind the plate for the Hillies approaches.
After thinking he was headed to Southern New Hampshire earlier in the recruiting process, Rosario, on a referral from a professional scout, has accepted a full scholarship to play at national power New Mexico Junior College.
NMJC is a legitimate baseball factory, churning out 195 MLB draftees since 1990 alone.
“They last won the (Division 1 JUCO) World Series in 2005 and contended for it last year,” said Rosario. “Right now, they are ranked No. 4 in the nation.”
Relocating to Hobbs, New Mexico, might be a giant culture shock for some. Rosario says he’s ready for a new challenge like NMJC presents.
“Right now, it’s all about my dream of someday playing pro baseball,” said Rosario. “I don’t really mind going away. It’s in the middle of New Mexico, with nothing around but corn fields. The closest thing to campus is a Walmart. I don’t mind that at all. You wake up, eat, sleep and drink baseball. That’s something I’m really looking forward to. This is all about pursuing my dream to be a professional baseball player. To do that I’m going to have to take it on the road at some point. Why not now?”
The junior college option makes a lot of sense for Rosario, who has already gotten some significant looks from pro scouts.
Instead of waiting three years to be drafted, if he went to a four-year school, now he could sign after any of the next four springs.
This will be a serious test for the rifled-arm backstop. He’ll be dealing with some serious talent, all by himself, while needing to hit the books while he’s in the middle of nowhere.
The rewards and the exposure, though, are just too much to pass up. And remember, there is a very good chance he’ll get drafted this June and potentially turn pro beforehand.
Great to see Rosario has things in order, with a plan of attack for the future. He’s got the tools and the drive.
And he looks ready for a monster season.