He’s a 6-foot native of Lawrence, New Jersey who came to Stevenson with a dream of becoming a successful pitcher at the collegiate level. Unfortunately, after only pitching 7 Innings his freshman year, a serious injury would put a halt to that dream. Determined to not let this injury define him, after missing the entirety of his sophomore season, he put in hard work to finally get back to being healthy this year. Meet Dhruv Indelicato, pitcher for the Stevenson baseball team.
Q: Can you talk about your injury?
A: So, coming back from summer vacation, I threw a bullpen for the first practice in the fall and did really well. But the next morning, I woke up and couldn’t move my arm. I knew something was wrong, and I wasn’t going to be able to throw for a while. I had surgery on October 23, 2024. After that, I didn’t toss a baseball until March, and I didn’t start pitching again until July, so I missed the entire year.
Q: You did play a bit during your freshman year. How was that experience?
A: I wasn’t one of the top guys on the team. We had a really stacked roster with a lot of older guys. I always tried to find ways to get on the field, but it was tough. I got a few opportunities early on, and towards the end of the year, I started and gave us a win during a tough losing streak. That was definitely a good moment for me.
Q: How did not playing your entire sophomore year affect you mentally and emotionally?
A: It was really tough. I didn’t fully understand the extent of what I was getting into when I first got hurt. The coaches knew more than I did when I first met them after my MRI. I thought I’d have surgery, come back, and be fine. But after seeing the coach’s faces, I knew it was going to be a long journey. Watching the team struggle while I was sidelined was difficult. We went from a solid program my freshman year to a rough year last year, and not being able to be part of that just really motivated me. It put a huge chip on my shoulder, and I was hungry throughout the entire rehab process to get back to what I was.
Q: You’ve been playing baseball since you were five or six. How did it feel to miss an entire season for the first time?
A: Missing a whole season for the first time in 14 years was incredibly hard. The hardest part was during January and February, when the team was getting ready for the season, and I knew I wasn’t. It crushed me not being able to get ready for something like that. It didn’t just affect me on the field, but also my school life, personal life, and relationships. It brought me down as a person.
Q: Talk a little about your teammates during your recovery time. What were some of your interactions like?
A: I can’t describe how much the guys around me helped. They were there for me throughout the whole process—texting me, checking in, and visiting me. Coach Larose even came over to my apartment unannounced the day after surgery, and that really meant the world to me. The coaching staff has always had my back, and that’s been a big part of why I’m back to where I am now. I’m fired up and ready to have a great season.
Q: How does it feel to be back playing again this year?
A: There’s nothing like striking someone out on the field in front of fans at home. I’m just so excited to be back, to contribute to the team, and show everyone what we can do. I’m excited to be around the guys, be part of the team, and really show what we’re capable of.
Q: When you finally got back to playing, what did you realize?
A: When I got back, I realized just how much baseball was missing from my life. I didn’t even fully recognize it during the tough months, but when I started playing again, I understood that baseball was what I had been missing all along. That was a huge realization for me.
Q: What’s your outlook for the team this year?
A: For sure. We’ve got a really solid freshman class, a bunch of transfers, and the returning guys look great. We had a really good fall. This team is full of grinders who aren’t going to give up. Even if we’re down by 10 in the eighth inning, we’ll keep fighting. That’s our identity. I think this mindset will take us farther than last year, for sure.
On Feb. 23, Dhruv went on to face four batters in his first appearance back from injury in a 14-7 loss against Penn State Harrisburg. Despite the loss, it was a monumental moment for Indelicato who took the mound in a game for the first time in almost two years. His story is a common thing that happens to many pitchers. Athletes with similar injuries or recovery times should strive to take it head on like Indelicato.
