Newsday's Top 10 baseball pitchers on Long Island for the 2025 season
Patchogue-Medford's Jayden Stroman throws at the Medford Athletic Complex on March 18. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
The arms have it. They always have an edge early in the spring season on high school hitters trying to find their rhythm and get their timing down. Hard throwers in cold weather with good command are tough to beat.
The pitching dominance continued opening day when three of the first four games involving teams from the Nassau-Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association League were very low-scoring games.
Holy Trinity slipped past Chaminade 3-2; St. Anthony’s edged Kellenberg, 5-0 and St. John the Baptist beat Long Island Lutheran, 2-1.
We looked at the top 10 pitchers on Long Island and asked their coaches to analyze what makes them so good.
Are they pitchers who throw to contact and mix it up enough to have batters swing at pitches out of the zone? Are they straight power pitchers relying on fastball dominance? Do they get ahead in the count and have a repertoire of pitches that keeps the batters guessing and off balance?
THE RIGHTHANDERS
JAYDEN STROMAN, Patchogue-Medford, 6-1, 205, Sr.
Stroman is one of the country’s top prospects. The younger brother of Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman is returning to Patchogue-Medford after playing last year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Duke commit’s fastball has been clocked as high as 97-mph and he’s developed a changeup. He’s never been used as a starting pitcher, just closing duties. But this season will be different.
Patchogue-Medford coach Anthony Frascogna said of Stroman: “Jayden throws in the upper nineties with a devastating curveball. He has command of three pitches. He’ll start at the end of each week.”
LUKE COATS, St. Anthony’s, 6-3, 220, Jr.
He was the big-game pitcher for the Friars in last season’s playoff run to the championship. Two of his five wins came in the postseason. The West Virginia commit finished with 54 strikeouts.
St. Anthony’s coach Paul Parsolano said of Coats: “He commands all four pitches [fastball, slider, curve, change] equally well and wants the ball in big spots. He has the size and strength and a competitive fire to be successful. He has serious stuff and is on the same path as alum Jason Decaro [now pitching at North Carolina] when he was a junior.”
JADEN GROSE, Whitman, P/1B, 6-2, 180, Jr.
The talk of the sophomore class a year ago is an emerging pro prospect with a 90-mph fastball. He finished with a 6-2 record, striking out 74 in 50 1⁄3 innings. Grose led Whitman to nine straight League I wins and the final four in Class AAA.
Whitman coach Keith Barrett said of Grose: “Here’s a guy who had 11 wins before he took the mound as a junior, including a big win as a freshman against state runner-up Commack. He throws a fastball, slider, changeup with command in any count. He’s the big game pitcher.”
LUKE LANG, St. Dominic, 6-2, 195, Sr.
The Iona commit is one of Long Island’s premier power pitchers. Lang owned a 6-1 record with a 0.75 ERA, striking out 57 in 37 innings to earn NSCHSAA pitcher of the year honors.
Luke Lang of St. Dominic releases a pitch during a CHSAA baseball game at the Charles Wang Athletic Complex on April 27, 2024. Credit: David Meisenholder
St. Dominic coach Joe Fusco said of Lang: “He has considerable talent and an unwavering confidence about him that he uses as his motor. His fastball is up to 93-miles per hour and he gets downhill well, allowing his fastball to get tremendous ride through the zone. His breaking ball is a plus pitch that is devastating to hitters with a late sharp break.”
DAVID LIEBERMAN, Syosset, 5-8, 160, Jr.
Who needs to be overpowering when you can dictate pace and game tempo. Lieberman is not the biggest guy in this group but is a real winner. He went 7-0 with a 1.40 ERA for a Syosset team that finished 10-11.
Syosset coach Tom Morritt said of Lieberman: “He challenges every batter he faces regardless of who it is and the situation. He works with rhythm, throws strikes, and doesn’t let the game speed up on him. He lets his defense make plays. His demeanor, control, and efficiency were incredibly impressive as a sophomore last year.”
RYAN PALM, Sachem North, 6-2, 200, Sr.
The three-year starter returned from injury riddled sophomore season to put together an amazing junior campaign. He went 8-0 with three saves and had 72 strikeouts and allowed 13 walks in 51 innings. The College of Staten Island commit is ready for another shot at a title.
Sachem North coach Tom Gambino said of Palm: “He’s the guy you hand the ball to in big games. He has command of three pitches and improved his arm strength.”
DYLAN WILKINSON, Connetquot, 6-2, 180, Sr.
He has the mentality to start or close games, and no task is beyond his reach. His effectiveness comes with his movement and a four-pitch repertoire, which includes a newly developed sinker. The St. Thomas Aquinas commit had seven wins and two saves last year.
Connetquot coach Rob Burger said of Wilkinson: “He was a starter and a reliever on the back end of each series. He loves to close games. He’s a warrior and the spark plug for our team. He never worries about pitch counts and is always fresh and ready to go when called upon.”
THE LEFTHANDERS
NICK FRUSCO, Miller Place, 6-5, 220, Sr.
Frusco is an overpowering lefthander, who struck out 81 batters in 39 1⁄3 innings last year. The Clemson commit will mix his 94-mph fastball with a changeup and a slider.
Miller Place's Nick Frusco on March 27, 2024. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Miller Place coach Joe Mancini said of Frusco: “He’s added a curveball to the arsenal. He’s an ultra-competitive athlete who doesn’t give up in tough situations. He’s your bear down and get it done guy.”
THOMAS COSTARELLI, East Islip, 5-11, 175, Sr.
He is one of the top lefties on Long Island. Costarelli struck out 65 in 44 innings as a junior and committed to nationally ranked East Tennessee State. His fastball can reach 88 mph but it’s his breaking stuff that has been unhittable.
East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi said of Costarelli: “He’s a Division I athlete. He could pitch or play the outfield in D-I. His arm is so free and easy and loose. At some point, as his body matures his velocity will bump again into the nineties. He has a plus changeup and breaking ball.”
JACK DURSO, Kellenberg, 6-3, 215, Sr.
The smooth southpaw went 3-0, striking out 34 in 18 innings as a junior. He is committed to the University of Miami and will serve as the Firebirds ace this spring. Durso throws his fastball consistently in the 87-88 range but tops out at 91.
Kellenberg coach Pat Miles said of Durso: “We had him on a pitch limit last year because he was coming off arm surgery. He spent a lot of time in the off season working out and building his body. And he’s added a nice changeup as a third pitch. We’re excited about him this year.”
Other pitchers to watch: Jack Molini (Floyd), Thomas Harding (Massapequa), Evan Byrnes (West Islip), Christian Danzilo (Wantagh), Nick Lang (Valley Stream North), Jesse Kostulias (Mineola), Joey Hiller (Center Moriches) and Mike DiOrio (Manhasset).
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.