Ethan Petry (South Carolina) strode to the plate for his second Cape League at-bat with the same level of looseness and relaxed nature that’s allowed him to become an All-American and jump to the top of 2025 MLB Draft boards.
It didn’t take long for the newest Red Sox first baseman to display his elite power prowess in his debut. Petry golfed a 1-1 pitch down in the zone over the center field wall for a solo home run and had an ear-to-ear grin as he trotted around the bases and greeted his new teammates in the third base dugout.
Petry’s positive demeanor is as consistent as his power as the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and All-SEC honoree had his Cape League debut delayed because of a hairline fracture he sustained in his hand during the NCAA Tournament. He made his presence felt by reaching base three times, going 2-for-4 with a single and a home run in Y-D’s 9-2 loss to Cotuit.
A sign of things to come in the heart of Y-D’s lineup, Petry’s profile features some of the most dynamic power in the Cape League after hitting a combined 44 home runs with the Gamecocks in the last two seasons. Amid a historic collegiate career, Petry plays the game with the same energy and passion he used in his childhood days running around the fields in Land O’ Lakes, Fla.
“Baseball’s a game that’s for kids and if you enjoy it, the better you play,” Petry said. “If you start saying ‘ah I struck out this at-bat, taking it to the next at-bat, you’re gonna strike out again or get out again so I treat the game as a kids game and just have a bunch of fun.”
Petry was named the National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game in 2023 and broke the South Carolina freshman home run record held by former Cape League star Justin Smoak with 23 blasts.
Petry has slashed .341/.471/.686 with a 1.157 OPS during his South Carolina career with professional level power in his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame. His stats have put the college baseball world on notice as he’s ranked the No. 7 prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft by Baseball America and the No. 2 college prospect by D1Baseball.com.
Despite the laundry list of accolades, Petry is focused on making the most of his Cape League experience and said he doesn’t pay attention to the distractions. He plays with a unique mentality that’s free from the outside noise and a plethora of trust in himself.
“I just don't even listen to that stuff,” Petry said. “It’s a kids game, you start listening to that stuff, you start getting that stuff in your head. You almost have to be brainless out there and trust your approach, trust what you’re doing in the cage, trust with all the other people have done for you.”
Petry said he’s looking to limit the swing-and-miss on the Cape, cut his strikeout rate and build his plate discipline. His approach remains consistent from the habits he established with the help of South Carolina associate head coach Monte Lee who’s earned the unwavering trust of Petry.
An approach consisting of game-changing bat speed, hips that fly through the zone to drive the ball gap-to-gap and quiet hands ready to explode, Petry has learned that playing with a clear mind and the infectious joy of a kid in the sandlot are recipes for success.
“A lot of the game is all about trust so that is why people have success in the big leagues because they trust their coaches and trust their approach,” Petry said. “They don't think about ‘oh, I just had a really good game yesterday,’ they flush it. It’s a new day tomorrow, I don't know who we play tomorrow but it’s a new day with new at-bats.”
