« Baseball 2008

Eitan Barbalat

School
Bradley University
Position
Pitcher
Ht
6'2
FLD%
1.000
ERA
5.14
W-L
3-1

Classroom

Boasting a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average while majoring in pre-professional biology, Barbalat was a first-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American in 2007. He also was voted a first-team Academic All-District V selection and was named a first-team Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete in 2007. Additional academic honors have included the MVC President’s Council Academic Award in 2007, the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and spots on the MVC Academic Honor Roll and Bradley Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in each of his first seven semesters.

Character

One of just five seniors on the 2008 Bradley Baseball squad, Barbalat has overcome a life-threatening medical condition during his college career, while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the classroom as he prepares for a post baseball career in medicine. He will provide leadership for a squad that features 16 newcomers. Making his story even more unique, Barbalat came to Bradley from Thornhill, Ontario and did not play high school baseball. Eitan is a very polite and respectful young man and he is diligent in all his pursuits. He leads by example in his athletic pursuits and is active in community service projects, both on campus and throughout Peoria. With plans to pursue a medical career, Eitan took it upon himself to volunteer in the emergency department at Peoria’s OSF Saint Francis Medical Center during his junior season.

Community

Among Barbalat’s community service activities, he has volunteered at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center emergency department, he is a member of the campus United Way Board of Directors and United Way Youth Committee Chairman, serves as Vice President of the Mortar Board Honor Society on campus and is a member of LINCS (Leaders Instilling Knowledge through Cooperative Service) on campus. He also participates in the Buddy with the Braves and Missouri Valley Conference Just Read programs.

Competition

Used primarily as a middle reliever, Barbalat owns a 2-3 career record with a 2.79 earned run average. His sophomore season in 2006 was cut short after six appearances when a blood clot formed in his right shoulder, requiring emergency surgery. Unable to pitch the rest of the season, he bounced back in 2007 by posting a 1.61 ERA in 28 innings. His efforts on the mound last season helped the Braves to a 32-21 record and a third-place finish in both the MVC regular-season race and postseason tournament, Bradley’s best season since 1996.