Episcopal's Kyle Virbitsky: A pitcher and much more
The senior standout can play all infield spots. He also played basketball and football for the Churchmen.
After being involved in so many activities at Episcopal Academy for the last four years, Kyle Virbitsky might become restless if he concentrates on baseball and his business studies at Penn State.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder was a two-way end in football for three years and a forward in basketball for the same period, and is in the early part of his fourth and final season as a hard-throwing pitcher and infielder.
While maintaining a 3.4 grade point average, Virbitsky is also part of Episcopal's urban farming club and sings in the choir. Away from school, his hobbies include snowboarding and golfing.
For now, the stellar multitasker is focused on excelling on the diamond and helping Episcopal make a surprise run at the Inter-Ac League title.
"I have high expectations for this team," Virbitsky said. "We have the pieces to the puzzle to be successful. It's just a matter of us going out there and doing it."
Virbitsky, a righthander, mixes a fastball that has topped out at 92 mph, a curveball, and change-up. When not on the hill, he can play any of the four infield positions.
"He's a great kid, one of my all-time favorites," said Episcopal coach Mike Hickey, whose squad went 16-15 overall and 5-5 in Inter-Ac play last season.
Last year, Virbitsky went 9-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 592/3 innings. Hickey said there's a "decent buzz" when it comes to the possibility of the 18-year-old's being selected in the Major League Baseball draft in June.
Virbitsky said he has been working on his technique with Episcopal's first-year pitching coach, John Duffy, who was a hurler at Malvern Prep and Richmond.
"He's been phenomenal," Virbitsky said. "He's tweaked my curveball arm slot. The ball bites a lot harder now."
Virbitsky played with the Philly Bandits, a talent-filled showcase squad, the last two offseasons.
His teammates on last summer's 17-and-under group included Penn Charter pitcher Brendan Cellucci (Tulane) and infielder Dom Toso (Bucknell), and Germantown Academy infielder Vince Capone (St. Joseph's).
Episcopal's pitching rotation also includes fellow senior Cam Van Hoorebeke (a Lehigh recruit), junior closer Isaiah Payton (Penn State), and sophomores Jack O'Reilly (Notre Dame), and Cole Dumont.
Like Virbitsky, Payton and O'Reilly double as infielders. Van Hoorebeke, a southpaw, missed most of last season with a slightly torn labrum and his return is questionable.
Virbitsky, a cleanup batter, was first-team all-Inter-Ac last year,. His brother, Brian, is a freshman catcher, designated hitter, and righthanded pitcher for Episcopal.
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