Inheriting a pair of freshmen capable of altering the upward trajectory of a program and simultaneously altering their perception on a national scale is rare. Very rare.
Yet in Cathedral Catholic of the San Diego area, Alex and Hunter Harrington did just that during last year’s title conquest. It was Alex Harrington, who parked a two-run shot to cap a hitting onslaught, catapulting No.6 Cathedral to a 5-1 victory over St. Augustine during the Western League Championship. Hunter Harrington, known for his dazzling plays in the outfield, was equally noteworthy in the team’s rapid evolution.
The Harrington brothers were the first-ever freshmen in program history to make the roster. After a productive 2023 season in which both were employed at multiple positions, they inherit prominent roles.
With Alex Harrington’s rapid evolution as a Top-10 player in the country in the 2026 class and Hunter Harrington having rocketed his way up the rankings of the state’s top-tier players, Cathedral is suddenly a national commodity.
The Dons, of the San Diego area, are now no.6 in the country for the first time in program history. While they’ve had notable, sustainable success in the state, ranked No.6 11 years ago, never have they attained this type of high profile stature.
As they have become synonymous with the success of the program and very much the faces of the athletic program as a whole, the Harrington twins are readying themselves for the rigors of the lofty expectations they suddenly feel.
For Alex Harrington, the focus is team-first and unwavering in a steadfast, one game at a time mentality.
“Heading into the season, (the goal) is to get one percent better every day,” said Alex Harrington, who like his twin brother, has committed to prolonging his career at Stanford.
“Focus on the little things. I want to excel my game in the areas in which I feel weaker as well as strong in. I want to push forward and to be the best version of myself that I can be, each day I get to the field.”
Alex Harrington is cognizant that Cathedral is now under a microscope. It’s a day he and his brother have talked about when they both elected to attend the academically prestigious school, as various prep baseball programs tried to woo them and recruited them thoroughly as both became highly reputable prospects via Perfect Game USA and other rankings services and scouting systems.
“I believe that Cathedral as a collective group will look to take a step forward in the correct direction, and prove that we are just as good as anyone, and con compete with any given opponent. We look to accomplish Open Division Goals in San Diego and compete in our county. Then, the objective is to move onto the states and compete from there.”
Hunter Harrington gives Cathedral a high-end athlete, with his blurrish quickness on the base paths and innate athletic ability impacting the game in a vast array of ways. Hunter Harrington, who was recruited by Ivy League programs as an eighth grader for football, spent this past season refining elements of his game.
Now transitioning back to baseball, Hunter has materialized as a five-tool talent. And, he’s made tweaks to his all around game.
“I’m extremely aggressive on the bases and when I’m on the bases, I make the defense work,” Hunter Harrington said. “The aspect of my game I’ve worked at the most is my arm. I feel like I’ve not only kept my arm in good shape throughout the winter and early spring, but I’ve felt it has gotten stronger as well.”
The Harrington twins have also gained an upper hand as marketing, an increasingly popular concept among athletes in today’s times.
They have established Name, Image, and Likeness deals during these embryonic stages of their careers. Both Harringtons have become the veritable faces of Baseballism, an innovative merchandise company which sells unique t-shirts, hoodies, pro-style caps, and various other authentic attire. The twins are actually triplets, as they have a sister, Vienna Harrington.
Alex Harrington already has accumulated a following of 20,000 on Instagram. Several of his tape measure shots have gone viral across social media, dating back to when he was a seventh grader. Hunter Harrington has amassed 6,000+ followers as he gears up for the heavily anticipated sophomore season.
His stock has grown in football, as he was named MVP of the famed Honor Bowl this fall. They are currently being advised by MLB super agent, Scott Boras.
With a high order commitment to baseball, one underscored by a dauntingly competitive schedule which entails criss-crossing the country while entrenched in battles against older and more proven teams, last year’s run wasn’t exactly a case of growing up fast for the twins.
“I would summarize my freshman season at Cathedral as awesome,” Alex Harrington said.
“Going into a great competitive test, playing against players up to four years older than me and still competing and having great success. I got better as a player and was able to contribute to my team’s success.”
