Josh Ellis

Classroom

Josh Ellis holds a cumulative GPA of 3.667, including a GPA of 3.764 in the current academic year. Choosing a difficult major, Ellis studies neurobiology and is preparing to apply to medical schools this summer after taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in January. His classroom interests tie in largely with the community work he does in Haiti.

Character

Ellis was named the Crimson’s sole captain and the team’s 144th captain in program history for the 2017 season, despite coming into the program as a transfer following his freshman season at Bowdoin. Ellis missed most of his sophomore season after rehabbing a severe knee injury that included three torn ligaments. He had just four at-bats as a sophomore due to his lengthy rehabilitation, but seized the starting catcher role as a junior. Head Coach Bill Decker credits Ellis for making the program “better with his personality and work ethic,” and that “we joke he could be President of the United States. He’s a special kid, and that’s how much guys respect him.”

Community

Ellis works intimately with the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation, which funds and operates a medical clinic in the Port Au Prince suburb of Saint Rock. He has been going on medical mission trips to Haiti since 2007 and has increasingly taken on greater responsibility within the foundation. He started off volunteering with children in schools and at the local orphanage and soon after became involved with the medical delivery. Within the first six years of the program, they have hired a full medical staff for a 52-week, year-round clinic that has seen over 40,000 patients. Ellis travels to Haiti 3-4 times per year, and has recently created a mental health clinic. He used a six-week fellowship this past summer to conduct research and a needs assessment for the community and has helped in the fundraising effort that has eclipsed $300,000. Ellis has learned French and Creole and can speak fluently with the community members in Saint Rock.

Additionally, Ellis spends time working at the local homeless shelter in Harvard square and is working with the Harvard Global Mental Health Coalition on campus.

Competition

Ellis was an honorable mention All-Ivy selection last season after hitting .304 with a .375 OBP. He led the team in stolen bases, and tallied seven extra-base hits with 13 RBI. A defensive standout, Ellis threw out nine of 22 baserunners (40.9%), which ranked second in the conference. He appeared in 40 games, mostly at catcher, while also seeing time at designated hitter and in the outfield, posting a fielding percentage of .996. Ellis posted a career-high three RBI against Penn and followed up the performance with a career-high three hits and six total bases at UMass Lowell. Ellis reached base successfully in 11 straight contests from March 12-30.