Gibbons Ace Woodrey To Sign With University Of Miami

Cardinal Gibbons ace Thomas Woodrey is signing a National Letter of Intent this week with the University of Miami. The left-handed pitcher will be making the drive down to Coral Gables on Friday to deliver his paperwork in person.

Woodrey said he chose Miami because “it’s always been a great program, and it’s good academic-wise, not just baseball. It’s close to home. I love this area and the weather down here. It was all-around the best choice for me.”

Woodrey, who went 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched last season, said there were no other schools he seriously was considering.

“He’s been the anchor of the staff for the past two years, and this year, I’m looking for the same thing,” Gibbons coach Frank Pisani said. “We have a young pitching staff, and I’m looking for him to develop the younger kids and to lead by example.”

Pisani said Woodrey’s signing “brings notoriety to the school” and he expects scouts to be following his other players, giving them a chance to get noticed.

“I’m glad he’s staying close to home so I’ll be able to follow him in college,” Pisani said. “Miami has always been a perennial power in baseball, and I hope they go to CWS.”

Off the field, Woodrey “is probably one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached,” Pisani said. “He’s truly a team player whether he’s in the game or not. He’s always rooting kids on. Most kids that are such high-profile kids are prima donnas, but he’s the opposite. He’s the first one there and the last one to leave. He’s always working on his game. He’s always looking to get better. He’s never satisfied with his game.”

Woodrey said he plans to focus on his studies while at Miami, but playing professionally is something he’d like to do as well.

“Obviously, I want to get my education before I do anything else,” he said. “But I want to ride baseball as long as I can.”

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