Paul Rappoli

Owner/Instructor SINCE 2004

Paul attended Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA where he was Boston Globe All-Scholastic in 1989, and a member of the Massachusetts All-Star team. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1989 at the age of seventeen, by longtime Red Sox scout Bill Enos. While pursuing his professional baseball career he earned a degree in Business Management from Northeastern University. Paul spent 1989-1997 as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization, in his eight seasons with the Red Sox he’s proud to have been coached by Red Sox and Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Rico Petrocelli, Jim Rice, and Carl Yastrzemski, as well as major league coaches and managers DeMarlo Hale, Ken Macha, and Terry Francona. Paul also played alongside major league stars Mo Vaughn, Jeff Bagwell, Trot Nixon, and Nomar Garciaparra to name a few. In 1994 Paul represented the Red Sox in the prestigious Arizona Fall League where he was teammates with basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

Paul began teaching and conducting clinics and academy style programs in 1995 with then Pawtucket Red Sox teammate Eric Wedge (Cleveland Indians Manager 2002-2009 and Seattle Mariners 2012-2013). In 1998, Paul founded and directed his first Nomar Garciaparra Summer Baseball Camp, and has continued this summer tradition with Red Sox Stars, Trot Nixon, Jason Varitek, and Dustin Pedroia. In 2002 Paul founded RBI-Rappoli Baseball Inc. and opened his first training academy as part of the state-of-the-art Mass Premier Sports Complex in Foxboro, MA in 2004, RBI opened its second training center in Carver, MA in November of 2012. Coach Rappoli serves as an associate scout with the Boston Red Sox and as the New England Regional Director for USA Baseball’s NTIS program, he is currently a manager for the RBI Hawks (14U Black) travel baseball program. Paul resides in Foxboro, Ma with his wife Hope, his sons Reece and Nolan, and his daughter Dylan.

Email Paul: prappoli@rbiacademy.com

Chris Welch

General Manager/Instructor SINCE 2004

Chris has served as the General Manager of RBI Academy since 2004.  In that time RBI has trained and developed thousands of youth athletes through our many developmental programs including Winter Skills Training, Summer Day Camps, Fall Baseball, Private Lessons, and many more. Coach Welch has also served as a head coach in the GBG Northeast program (Owned and operated by RBI Academy) since 2010.  In that time he has served as the director of college development, and GBG has seen over 160 of its athletes compete at the collegiate level.  

Coach Welch graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2001. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management. While as a starting pitcher for Bridgewater, he helped lead the Bears to NCAA regional berths in 2000 and 2001 and set the record for most wins in a season. During college Chris was a member of the Manchester Silkworms of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and set the record for strikeouts in a season while there.   After college Chris was signed to a professional contract by the Johnstown Johnnies of the Frontier League.

As a coach and instructor at RBI, Coach Welch has coached at the 14, 15, 16, and 17U levels for the GBG Northeast Hawks and has also served as one of RBI’s lead instructors since 2004 training players at all ages. 

Chris has also served as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Easton Huskies of the Cranberry Baseball League.  In November 2017 he was inducted into the Cranberry League Hall of Fame for his years as a pitcher for the Huskies. 

During the summer, Chris has perviously served as the director of the Chris Sale Summer Baseball Camp and has directed camps with Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, Terry Francona, and Nomar Garciaparra. 

Chris is a native of Brockton, MA and currently resides in Rehoboth, MA with his wife Regina and daughter Madeline.

Email Chris: cwelch@rbiacademy.com

Joe Breen

Director of Operations/GBG Hawks Director/Instructor SINCE 2006

Coach Breen was a 3-sport captain at Swampscott High School in Swampscott, MA before completing a post-graduate year at The Canterbury School in New Milford, CT.  Joe went on to receive his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Stonehill College where he was a pitcher for Head Coach Pat Boen and the Skyhawks.  .  In 4 years as a pitcher at Stonehill, Joe appeared in over 50 games as a starter, reliever, and closer.  As a captain in his senior year, Joe finished in the Top 5 in Wins, Saves and Appearances in the Northeast-10.  Following his playing career, Joe was named as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater under Head Coach Pat Boen, where he worked with the pitchers and recruiting from 2006-2009. 

Coach Breen was hired by RBI Baseball Academy as the Assistant Director of Baseball Operations in 2006 before being named Director in 2007, a position he still holds today.  As Director of Baseball Operations, Joe runs RBI’s Summer Camps, Fall Leagues and Winter Player Development Clinics while giving year-round private instruction.  In 2013, Coach Breen took on the additional role of  Director of the RBI Hawks Travel Baseball Program (now GBG Northeast).  The program saw significant increases in win % and player retention rate while interest in the program reached new heights. 

Coach Breen was named Head Varsity Coach at Mansfield High School in December of 2014 and the program has had enormous success while promoting dozens of players to college baseball.  The Hornets were 2015 Division 1 South Finalists and made the Massachusetts "Super 8" in 2018 and 2019, achieving the school's first ever Super 8 win in 2019.

Coach Breen lives in South Boston, MA with his wife Bridget, daughter Emme and dog Briggs.

Email Joe: jbreen@rbiacademy.com

Chris Sullivan

Director of Player Development/Instructor SINCE 2008

Coach Sullivan was a standout player at Foxboro High School, having been named Captain in 2002. In that same year, Coach Sullivan was named team defensive MVP as a catcher and was the starting pitcher in the Hockomock All-Star game. He led his team in At-Bats, Hits, Doubles, Runs, RBI, Walks, Stolen Bases, E.R.A., and Opponent’s Batting Average. Coach Sullivan ended his stellar high school career with a 2.32 E.R.A. As a member of the Foxboro Post 93 Legion baseball team in 2001, Coach Sullivan hit .370 and lead his team to 17 straight wins, a District Title, and a Sectional Finals appearance. Coach Sullivan went on to play for Framingham State College from 03–04.

Coach Sullivan returned to Foxboro High School as an Assistant Coach in 2005 where the Warriors won their first MIAA Tournament game in 10 years. Chris remained at FHS as the Freshmen Coach and Varsity Assistant from 07-10 during which time the Warriors reached the South Sectional Finals in 07 and the South Sectional Semi Final in 09. After spending two seasons at Bishop Feehan High School, Coach Sullivan returned to his alma mater as Varsity Head Coach in 2013.

Email Chris: csullivan@rbiacademy.com

Jeff ambrosini

Director of Youth Development

Jeff Ambrosini is currently an Assistant Coach with Franklin High School. He brings a diverse resume to RBI as a former Pitcher and Shortstop at Mascenic Regional High School in southern New Hampshire and Catcher/ Outfielder at Wheaton College. After being part of 4 NEWMAC Conference Championships and 4 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player at Wheaton, Ambrosini joined the coaching staff a year later working as a Catching Coach and assisting Zach Brown as a Hitting Coach. He was on the staff for 3 more NCAA Tournament appearances including the 2006 Division 3 World Series National Runner-Up team. At Franklin, he has been on the coaching staff since the 2014 hiring of Zach Brown. In the 7 seasons there, Franklin has qualified for the State Tournament all 7 years including winning the Super 8 Division 1A State Championship in 2018. He was also a member of the Central Mass Umpiring Board from 2012 to 2019 working all levels of Baseball from Little League to Tri-Valley League Varsity games. 

At Mascenic Regional High School, Ambrosini piled up accolades as a 3-sport athlete earning Athlete of the Year in 1999 and induction into the school's inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2013. He was the Captain on the school's first ever State Championship Basketball team in 1999 and earned multiple All-State and All-Academic awards throughout his four years.

Off the field, Jeff graduated with a Psychology Degree from Wheaton College in 2004 and has worked at State Street Bank in the Financial Services industry since 2005. He remains very active in the community serving as a youth football and basketball coach while also being a member of the Medway Youth Baseball And Medway/Millis Youth Football Board.

Email Jeff: jambrosini@rbiacademy.com

zach brown

Director of College Development

Zach Brown has been recently hired as our Director of College Development. Coach Brown has established himself as one of the top high school baseball coaches in the Northeast at Franklin High School in Franklin, MA. Zach is a true teacher of the game and exudes a level of passion and professionalism that has earned him a stellar reputation in the baseball world.

Coach Brown’s resume features multiple Coach of the Year honors including USA Today Massachusetts COY, National HS Baseball Coaches Association Region 1 COY, Boston Globe D1A COY, and many more. His Franklin HS squads have become an annual powerhouse in the state of Massachusetts appearing in the Super 8 in 2018 & 2019 including a D1A State Championship in 2018.  He currently owns a career head coaching record of 117-45 (.722) at FHS.

Coach Brown began his coaching career as an Assistant at D3 Regional powerhouse Wheaton College where he coached 11 seasons. In those 11 seasons, the team racked up 10 NEWMAC Regular Season Championships, 9 Conference Tournament Championships, 2 NCAA D3 Regional Championships, and 2 National Runners-up at the D3 World Series.

As a player, Zach Brown attend Plymouth Regional High School in Plymouth, NH.  He was a 2-time captain at PRHS.  The Bobcats won state championships in both Coach Brown’s junior & senior seasons.  Then Coach Brown signed a Division I letter of intent to pitch at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.  After transferring to Wheaton College, Coach Brown became a 4-time captain.  Coach Brown helped guide the Lyons to 4 Regular Season Championships, 4 Conference Tournament Championships & 3 NCAA Regional Tournament appearances. 

Coach Brown will be involved in all facets of RBI/GBG but will specifically be heavily involved in our high school age groups, will coach one of our HS summer teams and lead our College Recruiting/Development.

Email Zach: zbrown@rbiacademy.com

joe edgerly

Assistant Director of Youth Development

Coach Joe Edgerly joined the RBI staff during the winter of 2018-2019 (4th year), after spending time with the South Shore Spartans (4 years) and Dirt Dawg Sports (1 year). Joe attended North Quincy High School (‘09), where he was a Patriot League All-Star and an All-Scholastic honorable mention, before attending Bridgewater State University (‘16). Currently, Edgerly enters his ninth year as Assistant Varsity Coach at North Quincy High School and works as a Paraprofessional for Quincy Public Schools. Last summer, Edgerly was HC for 14U Black and AC for 16U Black. Recently, Edgerly was named Assistant Director of Youth Development for GBG and RBI Academy and will be Head Coach for 12U Black and 15U Black for the 2021/2022 season.

Mat Venti

Professional Instructor

Coach Mat Venti is entering his 4th season coaching in  the Hawks Program, his 2nd as a head coach.  As a Full Time RBI Employee since 2013, Coach Venti has taken on a number of roles, including as a Pitching and Hitting Instructor.  Coach Venti is currently the Director of RBI’s Youth Introductory Programs including the Head Start and 8U Programs due to his vast knowledge of baseball fundamentals and ability to work with players of all ages.  Mat was an original Member at RBI Baseball Academy when we opened our doors in 2004 taking pitching lessons from fellow GBG Coach Chris Welch.  Coach Venti was also a member of RBI’s Tournament Team that competed in Myrtle Beach and Florida prior to the inception of the Hawks Program.  Mat was a Starting Pitcher and a Shortstop for Westwood High School as well as for Westwood American Legion Post 320 before beginning his coaching career at RBI Baseball.