Matt Tarabek at the 2015 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament.

Matt Tarabek (@MattTarabek on Twitter), a 2016 shortstop/second baseman from Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg, PA, was part of a group of players that were announced recently having committed to Fordham University to play for the Rams in the 2017 season.

The 6’1″ infielder is a native of Irwin, PA and part of the varsity squad at Hempfield that has enjoyed sustained success with Tarabek having a helping hand in winning three consecutive WPIAL AAAA Section 2 Championships (2013-15). He’s gotten it done in his time at Hempfield, named to the All-Section team twice and playing all four years with the varsity team.

Tarabek has spent a good majority of the last few years attending various Baseball Factory events, beginning with his first Under Armour Baseball Factory Tryout in Pittsburgh, PA as a 13 year-old in June, 2011. In 2013, Tarabek participated in Baseball Factory’s Team One North event and impressed scouts with his bat; a nice, level swing that produced some impressive swings. One year later, he attended Baseball Factory’s Team One South event, taking the next step forward with his bat, displaying gap-to-gap power.

The senior will be making his third appearance as an Under Armour Pre-Season All-American this coming January in Mesa, after a strong performance in last year’s Pre-Season event, running his fastest 60-yard dash to date (7.15) and defensively, where he showed the greatest big-play potential in his game.

Fordham Rams Head Coach Kevin Leighton spoke glowingly about Tarabek recently on Fordham’s website, noting the importance of his defense as a middle infielder and the legit pop in his bat that will only help grow the Rams baseball program as soon as he steps between the white lines at Houlihan Park in the near future.