RIDGEFIELD — Cameron Repetti has done a bit of everything this summer.
He’s played six different positions for the West Coast League Ridgefield Raptors, including four relief pitching appearances, graduated high school, was selected in the MLB Draft, and he even went cliff jumping.
The Cal State Fullerton freshman-to-be is as versatile as they come.
This summer, he most commonly appears at third base for the Raptors (10-5), and is hitting .246 with nine RBI in 13 games.
But he’s also played shortstop, second base, left field and right field. He has two saves and four strikeouts in five innings on the hill, and he belted a pinch-hit grand slam in an 8-7 win over Port Angeles.
“It’s something I take pride in. I can play everywhere but catcher,” Repetti said. “I want to be in the lineup every day so whether that means playing third or playing right field, if I can swing it, I can get in the lineup.”
It keeps Repetti a busy man as he prepares to transition to Cal State Fullerton from California’s Cypress High School, where he was named the Orange County Player of the Year and picked to the all-USA team by USA Today.
The awards, the graduation, the 36th round MLB Draft selection to the San Francisco Giants have made the past few weeks a thrill for the youngster.
“It’s just been a blessing,” Repetti said. “It’s pretty cool and a testament to the work I put in.”
But Repetti isn’t about to rest on his laurels. He knows he needs to mature as a baseball player to follow in his favorite player’s footsteps.
Oakland Athletics’ third baseman Matt Chapman went to Cal State Fullerton also, and like Repetti, impresses most with his glove at the hot corner.
Repetti has made just one error this season — at shortstop — for the West Coast League’s best fielding team.
Ridgefield is much different than he expected. There’s always a bit of mystery journeying to a summer-league team in location unknown, particularly when that ballclub is brand new. It’s been nothing short of stellar for Repetti, though.
“I love the field, the facilities are great, and I love my teammates,” he said. “The fans are coming out every night and cheering. We walk down and they all know our names already.”
Kids swarmed Repetti for autographs after his biggest moments — game-winning solo home run, game-tying grand slam.
But Repetti is like most of us once he packs up his gear and heads back to his host family’s home. He flips on Netflix, and flips on his favorite show: “Friends.”
“I might be a Chandler, maybe a Joey,” he says. “Definitely not a Ross.”
