Alex Feuz '22 had big league dreams, but less than junior varsity talent. You don't need a fastball, though, to make it to the majors.
He's been in the broadcast booth for the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League wanted him for the summer, before the pandemic spoiled the season. So instead, he was the voice of the Albany Dutch. His podcast attracts national profile guests from Pete Rose to Tim Kurkjian, and he's interviewed the likes of Bob Costas, Adam Schefter, and Andrew McCutchen, to name a few. For some broadcasters, that's a career. Alex Feuz '22 is 20 years old.
The Rotterdam native would have preferred a different career path, if only he could hit for power or develop a curveball. But, by the eighth grade, his athleticism hadn't caught up with his ambition. The junior varsity coach made it official when he cut Feuz from the team. Feuz could have sulked from the sidelines, but he picked up a microphone instead.
In the eighth grade, Feuz started his own sports show. A year later, with his YouTube videos gaining hundreds of views each, the 15-year-old budding sports announcer was featured in the Daily Gazette. By the end of high school, his brand was a known commodity in the Capital Region sports scene, but he left the area for Dean College in Massachusetts. Tragedy and opportunity brought him home.
Feuz's father, Mark, was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer on March 11 this year. He passed away five months later. Soon after the diagnosis, Dean College transitioned to remote learning. Feuz was unexpectedly back home and got to spend the final months of his father's life by his side. His dad, an avid sports fan, lived vicariously through his son's experiences. Soon after he passed, Feuz called the final two games of the Albany Dutch season. The Times Union told the story.
“Because I just felt his presence and felt this is what he wanted me to do. I was broadcasting those games for him. … From the first pitch to the last pitch, it just felt right in a way, like I should have been there. It’s hard to explain, but it’s just when I got there, it just felt right.”
After the death of his father, Feuz decided it made more sense for him personally to be closer to home, near friends and family. Two years ago, Siena launched its communications major with a sports communications track. It was the perfect fit. Feuz transferred into Siena less than two months ago, and he's already made national news.
