E.J. Folli spent most of the first years at Buffalo on the bench overshadowed by his brother and teammate, Mike Folli. Now, he is a team leader and top player on the baseball team.
While he seems like the average American guy with a love for baseball, passion for the game and his team pours out of Folli. Originally from Endicott, NY, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 160 pounds, Folli has entered his final season playing for the Bulls. Although slightly small in stature, he has a good approach to the game and is a hard worker with a good attitude.
"Personally, I just want to do whatever I can do to help us win, and if I can do that then my job is done," Folli said.
Edward Jacob Folli was born July 17, 1985 to parents Ed and Wendi along with three other siblings. The outfielder comes from a baseball family. After being coached by their father in high school, Folli and twin brother Michael both came to Buffalo to play ball. Michael left school after last season to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
When he's not playing baseball, E.J. enjoys fishing, taking his dog on walks and spending time with his girlfriend. Currently a communication major, he hopes to graduate in Fall 2009, and plans to go to graduate school for turf management.
Folli's attitude centers on making sure that his team works hard and remembers that baseball is a game.
"All of the MAC games are real fun, going on the road with the guys is a blast," Folli said. "We had a great time in Texas over spring break and I enjoy all the games. There's no specific game that stands out, I just come to each game ready to go."
Folli is a very team-oriented player; he wants everyone on the team to do well, not just him individually. He not only enjoys the game of baseball, but also playing for the Bulls and the time he spends with his teammates off the field.
"My favorite part of the team, well this is it," Folli said as he pointed around the locker room. "What we do at practice and then coming here. We spend a lot of time in here - an hour after practice, we're sitting here watching television, telling jokes just us guys, and it's fun being on the road with them and going on road trips and doing all that."
For his last season with the Bulls, Folli would like to see his team make the playoffs.
"Our team goal is to make the playoffs, and it's something we've never done before and we want to do it. We came very close last year, and actually playing for something in May was fun too," Folli said. "If we could do that again, that would be great."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
