Riverdale Press Article
Riverdale, NY – Manhattan College Baseball Head Coach
Mike Cole has announced the addition of 17 student-athletes for the upcoming season.
Cole on the incoming class:
"With our seniors and fifth-year guys, plus losing Fabian (Pena) to the draft, we lost 14 guys off last year's team. It looks like we're over-recruiting, but we're not. We're just trying to replace what we had."
GRADUATE TRANSFERS
INF Shawn Blake (Stratford, CT / Fairfield Prep / Elon) (6-2/245) (L/L)
Cole on Blake:
"Shawn is a fifth-year guy that is a big physical lefty hitter who will see time at first base and likely hit in the middle of the order for us."
LHP John Cain (Middletown, NY / Pine Bush / Lafayette) (6-10/235) (L/L)
Cole on Cain:
"A big, strong power pitcher with a hard slider, he was a weekend starter throughout his career at Lafayette and will compete for a spot in the rotation."
OF Cam Crabbe (White Plains, NY / White Plains / South Florida) (5-11/200) (R/R)
Cole on Crabbe:
"Cam is another fifth-year senior that is coming from USF. A very athletic player that can play all three outfield positions, he has shown that he can hit for average and power and will be counted on to compete for an everyday job."
TRANSFERS
INF/RHP Jose De La Cruz (New York, NY / George Washington / Westchester CC) (5-11/190) (S/R)
Cole on De La Cruz:
"A
super athletic kid from right here in the Bronx at traditional powerhouse George Washington, Jose is a switch hitter that will also double as a reliever at the back end of the bullpen."
RHP Teddy Sabato (Rye Brook, NY / Brunswick School / UNC) (6-2/180) (R/R)
Cole on Sabato:
"A transfer from UNC that was with us last spring, he is an athletic righty that has shown the ability to throw a hard sinking fastball to go along with a swing-and-miss slider. Teddy will be counted on to give us some big innings."
FRESHMEN
OF/RHP Keury Abreu (Bronx, NY / St. Raymond) (5-11/163) (R-R)
Cole on Abreu:
"Keury is a super athletic two-way player from the Bronx and St. Raymond's. He has the ability to play all three infield spots and has the speed to play anywhere in the outfield. His biggest tool right now is his arm and has shown an upper 80's FB with a plus slider that will be counted on out of the bullpen this year."
INF Matthew Alfonso (Miami, FL / Christopher Columbus) (5-6/155) (R-R)
Cole on Alfonso:
"A Miami product from one of the top schools in South Florida. A second baseman that is a plus runner and defender, he is tough competitor that plays the game as hard as anyone."
INF Jonathan Barditch (Miami, FL / Belen Jesuit Preparatory) (5-7/165) (R/R)
Cole on Barditch:
"Another Miami product, Johnny can play all three infield positions and projects as a top-of-the-order hitter and has a very high motor and baseball IQ."
Catcher Nick Cimillo (Airmont, NY / Suffern) (6-3/210) (R/R)
Cole on Cimillo:
"One of the top players in Section 1 the last two years, Nick is a big strong righty-hitting catcher that will also see time in the outfield. He will add power to our lineup and a strong accurate arm behind the plate."
OF Lewi Clarke (Saratoga Springs, NY / Saratoga Springs) (5-11/160) (R/R)
Cole on Clarke:
"Lewi is an outfielder that is a plus defender with above average speed. As he matures and gets stronger, Lewi has a chance to be a good college hitter."
RHP Carson Coon (Meriden, CT / Orville H. Platt) (6-5/200) (R/R)
Cole on Coon:
"An athletic righty from Connecticut, he is your prototypical sinker, slider guy with a power fastball from a three-quarter arm slot, which creates serious sink to go along with above average slider."
OF Sam Franco (Bardonia, NY / Clarkstown South) (6-1/215) (R/R)
Cole on Franco:
"Sam is one of our most athletic and strongest players. An outfielder, he has above average speed and the potential to really hit for power as he matures."
1B/OF David Moffett (Oneida, NY / Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Senior) (6-5/215) (R/R)
Cole on Moffett
"Regarded as one of the top hitters in the state of New York, Davey will bring an athletic physical presence to our lineup and be counted on to hit in the middle of the order early in his career."
Catcher Jacob Radziewicz (Middletown, CT / Middletown) (6-1/170) (R/R)
Cole on Radziewicz:
"Jake is a plus-defender behind the plate that receives the ball well and has a strong accurate arm. He comes from a baseball family that has instilled a strong baseball IQ and work ethic."
OF/RHP Howard Sewell Jr. (Middletown, NY / Middletown) (6-1/185) (L/L)
Cole on Sewell Jr.:
"Howard is another athletic two-way player. A lefty pitcher, he also has a very polished swing that will allow him to see time at both first and in the outfield."
RHP Mason Vaughan (Endicott, NY / Seton Catholic Central) (6-2/220) (R/R)
Cole on Vaughn:
"Mason came to our fall prospect camp and really impressed our staff. He has three pitches and really knows how to pound the strike zone. His fastball sits in the mid-80s and that should increase as he gets integrated with the program."
RHP Luke Walter (Guilderland Center, NY / Guilderland) (6-4/185) (R/R)
Cole on Walter:
"A tall righty with a hard fastball and a very good slider, he has very clean and loose arm action that allows him to locate in the strike zone."
