Matt Malcom is fired up about beginning another chapter in his baseball life.

Even a little more than he usually is about anything baseball related.

Malcom is preparing to play a graduate season at UConn after a stellar career at Eastern Connecticut State University.

“It’s been a crazy journey,” Malcom said. “I’m very grateful to have this opportunity again this year.”

Crazy, indeed.

After graduating from East Lyme High School in 2018, he almost didn’t go to college. Without any attractive offers to play baseball, he planned to enter the workforce.

Then, one day in late July in 2018, Malcom got a call from Eastern coach Matt LaBranche with an offer.

Malcom jumped at it.

Now, after an accomplished Eastern career that included winning a Division III national championship, Malcom, a 5-foot-8, 200-pound catcher, is a member of the Division I Huskies.

“I wasn’t even planning on attending (college), but Eastern took a shot on me and I took a shot on Eastern,” Malcom said. “I always knew that I could play at a high level so I continued to put in the work. And I had to roll with the punches a little bit with COVID, but it was always at the back of my head that I could play at (the Division I) level and do some damage up.

“Maybe not UConn, but I was hopeful. … If you told me as a freshman that I’d be playing on this stage, I would have looked at you crazy. I knew I could have done it. But I didn’t know the journey that it would take to get there. It’s a blessing.”

Malcom entered his name in the transfer portal earlier this year before completing an All-American senior season. He finished with a career .342 batting average with 39 home runs, 148 RBI, 100 walks and 38 stolen bases in 168 games.

The UConn coaching staff reached out.

“When he got in the portal, we pounced,” said UConn coach Jim Penders, a former catcher. “It was a no-brainer for us to pursue him.”

After weighing his options and talking to Penders, Malcom decided to join the Huskies.

“Coach Penders said he wanted a guy who brings the fire to his team,” Malcom said. “He ultimately convinced me to go to Storrs.”

Penders remembers watching Malcom play high school ball. He also took in a couple of Eastern games last spring; His son Hank plays for the Warriors.

He believes Malcom will be a good addition to the program.

“We’re excited about him,” Penders said. “He’s a helluva competitor. Obviously, he’s a national champion. He brings an energy that we need. He’s a guy who’s not afraid to let a pitcher know when he’s short-changing himself.”

He had some advice for Malcom.

“I told him that I don’t want you coming in here tip-toeing in. I don’t think that’s in your nature. I need you to be yourself. And if I have to tone you down, so be it. But I can’t tune you up. … Because if I have to tune up a catcher, that’s a bad place for our team to start. So, I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Division III transfers have had success at UConn.

Last season, Stephen Quigley and Andrew Sears, who previously played at Wheaton and Rhode Island College, respectively, pitched in the starting rotation. Luke Broadhurst, who played with Malcom at Eastern, was one of the team’s top hitters, batting .312 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI.

Malcom hopes to make a similar successful transition. He’s one of four catchers on the roster, joining newcomer Michael Oates and returnees Ryan Hyde and Matt Garbowski.

“I think they had about four Division III guys in their starting lineup last year,” Malcom said. “It definitely gives me a lot of faith that I can do the same damage that they did here.”

He believes his Eastern career helped prepare him for the jump to Division I.

“‘I played a lot of baseball at Eastern,” Malcom said. “I had the honor of being the starting catcher for four years. The experience prepared me for UConn, knowing how to manage a pitching staff and calling a game correctly and what I learned from my different coaches. … All these things have prepared me to be a Husky.”

Malcom is coming off a brief but productive summer baseball season.

As a late addition to the team, Malcom helped the Norwich Sea Unicorns capture their first Futures Collegiate Baseball League championship earlier this month. After playing in just three regular season games, he went 3 for 12 with two walks, three runs scored, a double, a home run and four RBI in three postseason appearances.

“It was an honor to be a part of the team,” Malcom said. “My buddies were the coaches of the team so they knew that I was trying to get some at-bats late in the season and they gave me the opportunity to play. … It was very fun, very special to be a part of that team.”

Just last week, Malcom moved with some new UConn teammates into an off-campus apartment, about a mile from Elliot Ballpark, the home of the Huskies.

He can’t wait to get started in the fall season.

“I’m super excited, super fired up about it,” said Malcom, who will be working toward his graduate certificate in leadership and public management.

g.keefe@theday.com