On May 29, 2025, the Westfield Starfires exploded for 15 runs in just their second game of the season, dismantling the 2024 FCBL champions, the Norwich Sea Unicorns, by 10 runs. Obviously, in a performance like this, the Starfires got contributions from nearly every spot in the lineup; however, only one starter on the team reached base in all six of his plate appearances: the FCBL rookie Evan Menzel.
Menzel resides in Coventry, Connecticut, just under 50 miles away from Westfield. Baseball was the only sport he played growing up, so it was fair to say that Menzel had some ambitious plans for his future.
“It is always a kid’s dream to want to get drafted and play in the MLB,” he said. “I had that goal in mind from a very young age.”
He played his entire high school career at Coventry High School, where he hit .430 with a .531 OBP in his senior year. He helped lead his team to the State Championship during his high school career and was also named to the All-State Team twice and the All-Conference Team three times. He spent his summer months playing with Antonelli Baseball, a prestigious youth development baseball program.
With his tremendous success at the high school level, Menzel received several offers, including UAlbany, Farleigh Dickinson, Maine, and Franklin Pierce.
Menzel noted that Maine stood out to him for a variety of reasons.
“I loved coach Derba and the rest of the staff there,” the shortstop noted. “Having my end goal of making it to the MLB, I felt as though Maine was my best chance at doing that.”
A few days after visiting, he called and committed to the Black Bears program in Orono.
In the 2024 season, Menzel helped Maine drastically improve from their previous season, nearly doubling their win total from 12 in 2023 to 20 in Menzel’s first year in 2024.
Menzel himself had quite the rookie campaign. He got his first start on March 18, in a game against Fordham in which he recorded two hits with a double. Menzel clubbed his first collegiate home run against Binghamton on March 22 and had his first three-hit game on April 11 versus UAlbany.
Over the season, he led the Black Bears with a 1.009 OPS, a .354 batting average, a .460 on-base percentage, and was second on the squad with a .549 slugging percentage. He drove in 18 runs and scored 28 runs in his 34 games played. This earned him a spot on the All-America East rookie team, as well as second-team all-conference.
After his rookie season, Menzel was considering playing summer baseball in North Carolina, but then Maine pitching coach Cejay Suarez asked Menzel if he wanted to stay local and play in the FCBL. Suarez, who had experience coaching in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, convinced Menzel, who ended up with the Westfield Starfires in 2025.
Menzel picked up right where he left off in college and has been leading the charge for the Starfires’ offense early this season. He is currently fourth in the FCBL with a .400 batting average, including recording a hit in 10 of 11 games played so far this year. He has also drawn 11 walks with only eight strikeouts.
“Evan has been a huge note of consistency,” said Starfires Associate Manager Nate Cormier. “His approach at the plate has been exactly what we are looking for and what we ask of our guys. He sets the tone day in and day out, which is so pivotal to success in this league.”
He has had three multi-hit games in his past four starts and hit an inside-the-park home run against the Vermont Lake Monsters back on June 6.
“The guys are awesome, welcoming, and easy to get along with,” Menzel said when discussing the team. “The coaches want the best out of every player and want to win more than anything else.”
As he has been playing for the Starfires this summer, it is important to note that Menzel entered the transfer portal on May 28, the very day that the FCBL season started.
“After a long talk with coach Derba and the staff, I decided that this was my best career move with my goals of getting drafted and playing professionally,” he declared.
Menzel entered his name in the online transfer portal as well as posting on X with an attached highlight video. He notes teammate Cole Silvia, who plays collegiately for Iona, has been assisting him in this process.
“Cole and I have gotten along very well in my first few weeks here,” Menzel notes. “He has helped me think about what I plan on doing, and helping me with the transfer portal business.”
Due to his accolades at Maine this past season, the former Black Bear had a fairly long list of potential suitors that spanned all across the country. However, Menzel decided to stay local, committing to the Connecticut Huskies.
“I felt as though the coaches there wanted me to play for them, and would give me the best chance to play at the next level, given the talent level of the program.”
He will join a Huskies team that finished with a record of 38-21 and in a tie for first in the Big East Standings with Creighton after a 17-4 mark in conference play. They fell to the Bluejays in the Big East championship and narrowly missed the NCAA tournament.
“No matter where I play, I will be the hardest-working player on the field,” Menzel said when asked about his greatest strength. “I have never been the biggest guy at any level I have played at, but there is never a doubt that I will work harder than anyone else.”
Menzel’s ultimate career goal is to get drafted and make it to the big leagues.
“I just have to continue to continue to have confidence and trust in myself,” he says. “Getting drafted will be just the end checkpoint and hopefully the beginning of great things.”
Menzel’s approach at the plate, success in high school, summer ball, and early into his college career, has him destined for success. Menzel is bound to catch the eyes of professional scouts, and his self-confidence will destin the young man for tremendous success one day, all of which begins with the Starfires in 2025.
