When Devin Kellogg started to think about his baseball career after his time at Northampton, his sights were set on Division III schools, maybe Division II because of his size and age.

I’m 5-foot-9,” Kellogg said. “Maybe 5-foot-10 on a good day.”

Kellogg, 17, also has a late birthday, which makes him a bit younger than his classmates.

During his junior year, Kellogg’s power at the plate and his play at shortstop both drew attention from Division I schools.

Kellogg, who broke the school record for home runs in a season with five, will attend the University of Hartford when his high school career is over next year, he said Wednesday.

“It’s a competitive Division I school,” Kellogg said. “It was screaming out to me that I should join the Hawks.”

After mutual interest from both Kellogg and Hartford, he went down for a visit.

“I got a tour of the campus, and I fell in love,” Kellogg said.

Kellogg also had a chance to play at Fiondella Field on the Hartford campus with the Advanced Performance Academy. The AP Academy gives sports-specific training to student athletes.

Kellogg also heard from Holy Cross, the University at Albany and UMass.

Northampton coach Mark Baldwin identified him as a special talent as a freshman.

“He was the second-best player on the team, and he just keeps getting better and better,” Baldwin said. “He has the special combination of talent and being such a hard worker.”

Baldwin understood Kellogg’s initial mindset of playing lower-level baseball in college.

“Sometimes colleges overlook players because of size,” Baldwin said. “Most of the players that have moved on to Division I have been bigger.”

With his college decision in place, the focus for Kellogg is to continue with weight training to get stronger.

“I have to work my butt off in the gym and eat right,” Kellogg said. “But I have to improve every aspect of my game. I have decent speed but it can better. Hit better for contact.”

Baldwin will reap the benefit of Kellogg’s extensive offseason training at AP Academy.

“It keeps him focused during the offseason,” Baldwin said. “He is working on his skills all year there.”

For his senior season at Northampton, Baldwin will not change Kellogg’s role.

“He will bat third and play shortstop,” Baldwin said. “He is a really good defender, moves really well and can hit with power against good pitching.”

Last season, Kellogg hit .427 with 28 RBIs for the Blue Devils.

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