Senior Varsity Baseball player Peter Cuoco signed with Monmouth University on Nov. 12, capping a baseball journey that began in second grade when he joined Little League with a few friends.
“It was nothing serious at first. I just loved being out there, competing, and hanging out with my teammates. The more I played, the more I realized baseball was the sport I looked forward to every single day. That’s when I knew I wanted to keep going with it,” said Cuoco.
Cuoco originally attended Allen High School in Texas, the largest public high school in the state, before he transferred here to Arcadia. When asked about the differences, Cuoco stated there were many.
“The baseball environment was extremely competitive, and high school sports are a huge deal. The education was strong, but sports often took priority because of how big athletics are in Texas,” said Cuoco.
A major turning point in Peter’s career came during his sophomore year in high school.
“I got the yips on varsity, and my season basically came to an end. At the time, it felt like my whole career was slipping away,” said Cuoco.
For baseball players, “yips” could mean sudden changes in throwing or pitching. While it is usually just mental as it is caused by overthinking, it can be extremely frustrating for the player as it affects even the most experienced athletes. For Cuoco, the yips made him feel as if his whole career was slipping away. That difficult moment forced him to grow mentally and reset his approach to the game.
The recruiting process was another of the toughest parts of Peter’s baseball journey. For Cuoco, not only was it stressful but also confusing in many instances.
“I had interest from schools across all divisions: D1 programs like Columbia, UPenn, and SDSU, all the way to D3 schools like NYU and Baruch,” said Cuoco.
As the summer continued, he shifted his focus to the programs where he could realistically start and make an impact. After traveling, visiting campuses, and meeting with coaches, Cuoco eventually found the right fit. The process was bittersweet, but it taught him valuable lessons about perseverance and patience.
Over the years, Cuoco has improved in many ways, but the biggest growth has been mental.
“Baseball is as much a mental sport as it is physical. Becoming mentally tougher, learning to stay confident, block out noise, and bounce back from failure” are all key, said Cuoco.
Through perseverance, self-reflection, and hard work Cuoco has turned his challenges into opportunities. We wish Cuoco the best of luck with his fall semester at Monmouth in the upcoming year!
