Player of the Week: Frank Compagnone

Last weekend Frank Compagnone hit three home runs. Two came in the 14-6 win over Georgia State, the other a three-run shot against Rhode Island.

He is tied for third in RBI and home runs, and is one of only two players to have started every game for the Huskies this season. This has earned him this week's Northeastern News Player of the Week honors.

Compagnone has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old. He has played it exclusively since he was in middle school. When he was younger he played basketball and wanted to play football, but ultimately focused on baseball and has been an outfielder since, playing all three spots, with an emphasis on center field. While he was in high school he also pitched.

During his senior year in high school he injured his elbow. He then went on to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. While there he opted not to play baseball, and instead received surgery on his elbow. After he had gone through rehab, Compagnone played in a few showcases to market himself.

"After taking a season off and not playing I realized how much I actually did miss playing, and that's why I enjoy it a lot more because I know what it's like not playing," Compagnone said.

He drew a lot of attention from community colleges in Florida and also received interest from three Division I schools: Marist, South Alabama and Northeastern. The Concord native moved to Orlando, Fla., when he was younger but most of his family stayed in the area. He said this was a major factor when he decided to attend Northeastern.

Compagnone is a middler criminal justice major, and said he plans to go into Homeland Security and Border Control after he graduates.

Compagnone said he intends to stick out the full five year program at Northeastern and receive his degree. He said he hopes to be drafted by a major league team, but wants to have his schooling to fall back on. The level of education was another major reason he decided to attend Northeastern instead of the other schools vying for his talents, he said.

"I'd love to [have a professional career]. That's always been my goal, of course," Compagnone said. "Just when it's all said and done with college, get picked up by someone, but of course I have school to fall back on."

This summer, Compagnone will be playing in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The league uses wooden bats like the local Cape Cod Baseball League, though was created more recently. He will be returning to the Sanford River Rats for his second season. Compagnone also played in the league last summer, earning a spot on the All-Star team. During the summer he usually batted in the third or fourth spot in the lineup.

In his free time Compagnone said he likes to play cards, hang out with friends and like many Floridians, hit the beach. He said he also enjoys four-wheeling and fishing. Being from the Boston area originally, Compagnone roots for the Red Sox, though he said he also roots for the Florida Marlins.

- Nathan Vaughan,

News Correspondent