Ethan Pecko grew up in Ridley Park and has always been a fan of Philadelphia baseball, writes the Tribune News Service for the Boston Herald.

“Baseball was a sport that always just kind of stuck with me,” he said. “I was a fan from 4 years old until now.”

Now this fan’s dedication to baseball has led to Pecko being drafted in the sixth round to pitch for the Houston Astros.

Pecko, who turns 21 next month, watched the draft at home Monday with his parents Kathleen and Greg, older brother Marc and friend John Lockhart when the reigning World Series champion Astros selected him.

Pecko is a 2020 Ridley High graduate and pitches for the Towson University Tigers.

The pandemic wiped out Pecko’s senior year of high school, then at  La Salle University, he underwent ulnar collateral ligament surgery in February 2021.

He transferred to Towson, grateful they welcomed him to the team.

Tigers coach Matt Tyner described Pecko as “the kind of guy you would want your daughter to date and one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever had on the mound.”

For his sophomore season, Pecko had a 2-2 record, with 48 strikeouts in 42 innings over 11 starts.

Read more about Ethan Pecko in the Boston Herald.