CANTON, Ma. - Three batters were enough to convince UMass Amherst that Andrew Middleton had recovered from surgery and was right for the Atlantic 10 Conference program.

It was a year prior that interest in the third-rated 2023 left-handed pitcher from Massachusetts initiated while Middleton was still at Canton High, a season highlighted by a no-hitter and perfect game.

“A lot of coaches wanted to talk after the perfect game, but then I had surgery and was shut down,” explained the Dexter Southfield senior, who had Tommy John in August of 2021. “It was tough to have it happen a week before school and I was at a new school. It made for a tough spring watching friends play and it was tough this summer.”

There was “intense rehab” along the way according to Middleton, whose performance pitching at a GBG camp in late August rejuvenated interest from colleges, including an offer from Stonehill.

“I was throwing bullpens six or seven months after surgery, but I wasn’t 100 percent until a week before camp,” Middleton related. “It was definitely a little nerve-racking at the camp. I threw one inning and everyone else threw two or three. I just tried to throw strikes. I hadn’t pitched for a year so I just pounded the zone.

“I did well,” Middleton added.” I faced three batters with three strikeouts. After that UMass told me they really liked me and were looking forward to following me.”

The first week of September, Middleton took a visit to the university located two hours from home.

“I always liked the idea of going to a bigger school, and I have a lot of friends there,” Middleton reflected about the visit. “The field was beautiful, the campus was beautiful, the facilities are nice and they have the major I wanted.”

The eighth-ranked senior southpaw in New England, who carries a 2.9 GPA and plans to major in psychology, began thinking about college baseball being part of his future the summer going into sophomore year of high school.

“I gained 10 miles-an-hour on my fastball and started thinking this is something I could truly accomplish,” Middleton noted.

Surgery did not diminish those dreams.

“I came back throwing a few miles-an-hour harder, but everything else was the same,” the 6-1 200-pounder assessed. “I’m still working on getting my offspeed command back.”

UMass Amherst came away feeling Middleton was a good fit.

“My offspeed stuff, my changeup, is one thing they liked,” Middleton explained. “They like how I attack with first-pitch strikes and they also were impressed with my velocity for the first time back on the mound.”

The commitment brought an end to a recruiting process that had ups and downs.

“UMass first saw me at the Top Prospect Games before surgery and they reached out after the event and said they liked what they saw,” Middleton related. “After the perfect game they said they really liked me and were looking forward to seeing me in the summer. Then came surgery and we lost contact for a while, but after surgery I went to the camp and they came to see me at a PBR tournament.”

The 118th-rated 2023 in New England is confident about making an impact at UMass.

“I hope to bring them an arm with decent velocity, someone who is able to pound the zone and get up on hitters resulting in a lot of ground balls,” Middleton said.

GBG coach Chris Welch and Dexter Southfield coach Dan Danato are credited by Middleton with playing important roles in reaching out to colleges during the process.

“It’s truly a weight off the shoulders not having to worry about an injury and not being able to play college baseball,” Middleton said. “Everything after the surgery came so fast. It’s a weight off knowing where I’m going and that I have a place to play baseball.

“I love how close it is to home so my parents can come to the games,” Middleton added. “That’s nice to know.”

The idea of being at UMass in less than a year also brings excitement to the 18-year-old.

“I’m looking forward to competing, being the best player I can be and, hopefully, advancing to a regional,” Middleton concluded.