Joshua Pagan is a leader on and off the diamond for Frankford
The senior is a catcher, captain and cleanup hitter.
Frankford's Joshua Pagan takes an incredibly positive approach to being a major multitasker.
The 18-year-old is a four-year starter behind the plate, a take-charge captain and a powerful cleanup batter.
Away from baseball, he has a 3.9 grade point average and is senior class president, president of the National Honor Society and part of a peer connection group.
On top of that, Pagan has a 4-year-old son, Josh. He was an eighth grader when he became a parent.
"I guess I would say it was a beautiful mistake," Pagan said of becoming a father at such a young age. "Everything happens for a reason, and Josh has been a true blessing."
To aid in the financial support of his son, Pagan, who lives three blocks from Frankford, works 24 hours a week at a Walmart in Northeast Philadelphia.
Instead of taking a downward turn or dropping out of school, Pagan, who also wrestled the last two seasons, has thrived while juggling his many responsibilities.
"When Josh came into the world and I held him for the first time, it clicked that life wasn't just about me anymore," he said. "It was a reality check. It motivated me to be a good person and dad."
Pagan, who has five sisters and two brothers, said he left his family's home in the summer. He now rents an apartment with his fiancée, Melanie, and her older sister. Pagan said he is working with his former girlfriend regarding shared custody.
"When you look at what he's been able to accomplish despite the obstacles, it's pretty amazing," Frankford baseball coach Juan Namnun said.
On Monday afternoon, Melanie watched as Pagan and the host Pioneers blanked Olney Charter, 4-0, in a Public League Division A contest.
"She's been my other half since sophomore year," Pagan said. "Whenever I'm feeling down or stressed, she's there to pick me up. She tells me to relax and just worry about the next thing in front of me."
Pagan said Namnun has been "like a father figure for me. I want to be just like him when I grow up."
Namnun and his wife, Lena, teach health and physical education and history, respectively, at Frankford. The couple has three boys, 15, 12, and 9.
"Mrs. Namnun is a moderator for the peer connection group, a program that has upperclassmen mentor freshmen and special-needs kids," Pagan said. "She's had a big influence on me as well."
Frankford was 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the Public League going into Wednesday's game against String Theory Charter. The Pioneers are aiming to claim their first Public League title since 2013.
Of Pagan, who last season earned first-team all-league honors, Juan Namnun said, "There's no denying the fact that he's the leader of this team. He's without a doubt one of the best captains I've ever had."
Pagan said he plans to play baseball and major in biology at Penn State-Abington. His goal is to be a doctor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"Having a child played a big part in me wanting to be a pediatrician," he said. "I love seeing Josh, and all kids, smile."
@ozoneinq