DUXBURY, Ma. - College baseball aspirations began for Chris Walsh when older brother Cam committed to Northeastern.

“I tried to do everything my brother did,” related Walsh. “He played football and baseball in high school and I’m playing football and baseball now. When he committed to Northeastern, that's when my dream started. I wanted to play college baseball.”

Not only will the Duxbury High School junior have an opportunity to play at the next level, but the seventh-ranked 2023 shortstop in New England will be doing it at a familiar university - Northeastern.

“I first started talking to them two summers ago when coach (Nick) Puccio helped out my GBG team when Covid first started going on,” Walsh reflected. “I had a pretty good summer, played high school ball and then this summer I got in front of them. At the Future Games coach Puccio saw me and I played well. They ended up offering.

“My older brother played at Northeastern so I’ve been around the program for awhile,” added Walsh, whose brother Cam played for four years at the university in Brookline, Ma., before graduating in 2019. “They have such a great staff.”

Success on the ball diamond is just one thing that stands out to Walsh.

“Academically it’s a great school,” pointed out Walsh, a 3.0 student planning on a major in sports medicine. “The last couple years they’ve made it to regionals with (head) coach (Mike) Glavine and I hope to go in and help keep it going.”

A college decision came down to UMass-Lowell, Holy Cross and Maine before the 38th-ranked New England 2023 decided on Northeastern, thanks in part to an impressive showing at the PBR Future Games.

“Going to the Future Games was unbelievable,” noted Walsh, who was selected Best In-Game Defender for Team Massachusetts during the prestigious event. “Playing in front of so many schools got me great exposure. I played well there and that helped me get the offer.”

There is a lot about the 5-11 175-pounder that impressed Northeastern.

“They like that I’m a multi-sport athlete,” Walsh said. “That fits them well. They also like that I can play many positions. They think I can go in right away and make an impact.”

The just-turned 17-year-old believes he can be a major asset in the Colonial Athletic Association program.

“I feel I’ll be able to contribute right away,” Walsh said. “I’m a great defender that’s able to hit. I’m also someone that’s always willing to help out my teammates first.”

An improved game proved beneficial in his recruitment, according to Walsh.

“I’ve gotten a lot faster and I’m becoming a better runner,” Walsh related. “I’m also a better defender. I still have work to do at hitting, but it’s coming along.”

His brother and father have been instrumental in his baseball development.

“From a young age I was at the field with them,” Walsh noted. “I always looked up to my brother as a role model to me and my dad was there throwing BP.”

NEB coaches Mike Abraham and Scott Patterson are others that Walsh credited with helping his game as well in recruitment.

“It was a great process,” Walsh said. “I knew I wanted to stay close to home and stay in the northeast. Having a brother go there, when I got the opportunity it was a no-brainer for me. I was happy to commit.”

The chance to attend college 45 minutes from where he lives brought a tremendous amount of enjoyment when the commitment was officially made.

“What an unbelievable feeling,” Walsh related. “It definitely took a little weight off the shoulders. I got so many texts from family and friends that first day, it was so exciting.”

Following in his brother’s footsteps at Northeastern brings plenty of anticipation in regard to the future for the 21st-rated junior from Massachusetts.

“I’m really looking forward to playing great competition,” Walsh concluded. “I can’t wait to meet some of the best friends I’m going to have in my lifetime.”