Ianniciello Adds Twelve Newcomers to 2024 Baseball Roster

I am excited to welcome this very talented and balanced group of student-athletes. Each position group is well-represented – high-end arms, solid catching, skilled middle and corner infielders, and athletic outfielders. It is also an exceptional group in terms of both academics and character. This group begins our transition towards a younger roster and we will look for immediate contributions from this all-freshman class.”

Evan is a hard-working, hard-nosed player who applies himself wholeheartedly to the game. He is a strong, athletic kid with a very competitive mindset. These are all important qualities for a successful catcher. Evan has some power with the bat and is capable of hitting the ball out. He runs well, notably for a catcher, and has the speed and athleticism to play capably in the outfield, as well. I am confident Evan will bring focus and discipline to his game as a Panther and be a solid player at our level. I have seen leadership qualities in watching him play, which will serve him well as a field quarterback and in handling our pitchers.

Erick is an outstanding young man who I was delighted to have make his commitment with us early. He is an exceptional athlete with length, a highly projectable young body and still-developing skills. He has big potential with the bat as he continues to work on his aggressiveness and strength. He is a very good shortstop who could wind up playing anywhere on the field with his skills set. Erick is an excellent addition to our program. I am looking forward to seeing him on the diamond at Adelphi.

James has been an elite player for very strong baseball programs with the Long Island Titans and MacArthur High School, playing the premium position of center field. He has the ability to be a dominant player with his hitting and speed. He has game-changing tools. He has shown excellent range going and getting the ball in the outfield. I expect him to be an impact player for us at Adelphi, and more so as he gets bigger and stronger. James has unquestioned talent to be a special, standout athlete in the highly-competitive NE10.

You will quickly note one thing in common among Billy’s accomplishments above – 2023! This is the year he exploded onto the scene as a dominant pitcher. At our prospect camp two years ago, his fastball sat in the mid-70’s. That is clearly in the rear-view mirror. He was commonly upper 80’s this year, touching and topping 90. He threw a perfect game, another no-hitter and two one-hitters in high school this spring. He has worked very hard to get to this level. Billy comes here as an exceptional student-athlete, his academics as lofty as his pitching prowess. I am eager to see him take the mound at William J. Bonomo Memorial Field.

Cameron is a Massachusetts kid whose recruitment to Adelphi started with his outreach to us. I spoke at some length with his club team pitching coach about both his pitching skills and intangibles. Cam then attended our August 2022 prospect camp, where he competed on the mound with good command of his repertoire. His fastball has some late movement, he has a “plus” slider with depth and late break as well, plus a competent change-up. Cam is a solid kid, who I expect to be a good addition to our program and pitching staff.

Bryan had a truly extraordinary high school athletic career, excelling in three sports and earning accolades in each. He is an exceptional student-athlete with clearly-demonstrated leadership capabilities. The unsolicited input I have gotten from so many people on his character and positive make-up has been unprecedented. On the field as a junior, I saw Bryan as a good catch-and-throw guy. His senior year, his bat emerged in a major way with home run power and timely hitting. My view is that Bryan has a high ceiling -- on and off the field -- coming in to Adelphi.

Dawson is a high-end student-athlete. He has a highly-projectable pitcher’s body and electric stuff for his age with a lethal fastball-slider combination. He will only improve as he continues to add strength to an already-athletic frame. On a personal level, I have found him to be a very confident kid, quiet and humble, while also personable. He has expressed excitement with joining our program and I am equally excited to see him wearing “Adelphi” across his chest. I expect Dawson to make a successful leap from high-school ball to the NE10.

Anthony is a high-acumen, skilled ballplayer who impacts games favorably for his team in many ways. He is a high-on-base hitter, who also handles the bat adeptly. He is capable of driving the ball in the gap or just putting it in play; he can hit-and-run, bunt for a hit and sacrifice. He is an excellent baserunner who can steal a base or take an extra base. He is also a quality defensive outfielder. Anthony is well-respected by his teammates for his team-oriented approach to the game. I expect him to be a very good all-around player for us and a great program kid.

Michael’s club team coach reached out to me about his high interest in Adelphi. I watched him in tournament play and he drove the ball very well against competitive pitching. He similarly showed extra-base power with the bat at our prospect camp. Michael is an aggressive hitter with a very advanced swing and good bat speed for a player coming out of high school; plus, he hits from the left side. Defensively, I have seen him play on both sides of the infield. We will figure out where he best fits with us on the field. I believe his bat will play favorably at our level of competition.

Jake is one of several talented downstate student-athletes we welcome to our program this year. Each time I have seen him pitch, he has shown shutdown effectiveness. He works quickly, confidently and efficiently. Fielders love to play behind him. He commands and spots multiple pitches, understands how to work at-bats, and exploits hitters’ weaknesses. Jake is a true gamer. I have high confidence he will pitch with great success at Adelphi and am indeed very happy to have him join us.

Ethan is a very interesting addition to our program. He is a super-high academic student who reached out to me with a high interest in Adelphi University and our baseball program. From Syracuse, he is a rare position player I barely saw play – other than at our August 2022 prospect camp – before I offered him a spot. He is an impressive young person. At camp, he showed a very athletic body, with strength and very good speed. He moved well in centerfield. He competed in his at-bats, but was also very receptive to suggested adjustments to his hitting approach, which he made capably. Personally, he shows exceptional makeup. He knows what he wants to do and figures out quickly how to go about it. Ethan will be highly successful in life. I am eager to see him further on the field as part of our program this fall.

Justin is a solid two-way baseball player. He has the strength and ability to hit for both power and average. He is also a very sound defensive first baseman who understands the position thoroughly. He shows strong fundamentals across his game. Being a lefty-lefty is a double plus. Justin exudes a genuine, positive personality. I observed in both high school and club ball that he is well-liked and well-respected by his teammates. Team parents also speak very highly of him. I believe Justin projects to be a force in our lineup and an important presence in our program.