Top 100 baseball players on Long Island for 2022
Andrew Koshy of Kellenberg on March 29, 2022. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Jace Alvino, West Babylon, P/1B, So.: Alvino started as a freshman in all of the Eagles' 18 games, including five on the mound (2-2, 22 strikeouts). He committed to Penn State.
Devonte Bailey, North Babylon, OF, Sr.: Bailey is a lefty leadoff hitter with 6.46 speed in the 60-yard dash and the ability to play all three outfield spots well. The Alabama State commit batted .412 last season and topped the team in steals and runs scored.
Dylan Banner, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, P/3B/1B, Sr.: The 6-4 Banner is a power pitcher and hitter who is a returning Newsday All-Long Island selection. He hit .349 with four home runs and 13 RBI. He also won four games by pitching 41 innings to a 3.04 ERA with 58 strikeouts.
A.J. Bardi, Wantagh, C/P/IF, So.: Batted .423 and went 12-for-12 stealing bases last season and is athletic enough to play multiple positions this year and have a spot in the rotation.
Chris Batuyios, Mount Sinai, P, Jr.: The righty, who throws 90-plus mph, went 8-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 42 innings for a Mustangs team that went 19-2 and claimed the program’s first Long Island championship. He committed to St. John’s.
Nic Benhardt, Rocky Point, P, Sr.: He had sparkling numbers on the mound as a junior, going 5-0 with a 1.26 ERA while striking out 43 and walking only nine. He committed to Central Connecticut.
Gabe Beschloss, Garden City, P/1B, So.: The 6-2 sophomore powerhouse southpaw was 3-0 with a 0.91 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP for the Long Island Class II champions. He struck out 17 in 15 innings as a freshman.
Matt Bolton, Division, OF/P, So.: The Binghamton commit hit .520 last season with 14 runs scored and 11 stolen bases as a freshman.
Liam Bowes, Shoreham-Wading River, C, Sr.: He batted .400 last season with 16 RBI and struck out just once. He has committed to Fordham.
Sean Britt, South Side, C/OF, Jr.: Hit .411 with 11 extra-base hits, 28 runs scored, 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases for the Nassau III champion Cyclones.
Mikey Brunetti, Manhasset, C, Sr.: Brunetti slashed .345/.514/.691 with five home runs, 23 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Conor Burns, Bethpage, P/CF, Sr.: He did a little bit of everything as the Golden Eagles went 19-1 and captured a county title. Burns was 4-0 with three saves and a 1.67 ERA and batted .409 with 14 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
Derek Burrell, East Islip, CF, Sr.: Burrell had a .380 average, a .444 on-base percentage, 18 steals and 25 runs scored a year ago.
Jason Campo, St. John the Baptist, 1B, Sr.: A Stony Brook commit, Campo batted .285 with a .482 on-base percentage as a junior.
Dom Carbone, Rocky Point, OF/P, Jr.: He was an All-Long Island selection as a sophomore after batting .463 with nine doubles, three homers and 25 RBI and going 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 41 strikeouts.
Matt Carrera, Mount Sinai, SS, Sr.: Carrera batted .339 last season and has committed to Sacred Heart.
JT Caruso, Mount Sinai, P/OF, Jr.: His sophomore season came with a .452 average, 24 RBI and 29 runs scored. The lefty, who has committed to Miami, also had a win and a save with a 0.00 ERA.
Kyle Chase, St. John the Baptist, P/OF, Sr.: A Newsday All-Long Island selection and the NSCHSAA Pitcher of the Year last season, he won four games while pitching 34 innings to a 0.21 ERA. Chase also batted .306 with 16 stolen bases. He is committed to St. John’s.
Brady Clark, Bayport-Blue Point, P/1B/DH, Jr.: Clark contributed in two ways last season, going 3-0 with 24 strikeouts for a 16-4 team and batting .370 with 19 RBI. He has committed as a pitcher to St. John’s.
Aidan Colagrande, Kings Park, P, Sr.: He had a 14.37 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in his junior season. The lefty committed to Fairfield.
Jack Coogan, Long Island Lutheran, CF/P, Sr.: Was the No. 3 hitter in the order and batted .385 with 20 RBI as a junior. He committed to Molloy.
Dom Crema, Smithtown West, 2B/SS/P, Sr.: Crema started for Smithtown West as a freshman, saw his sophomore season wiped out by the pandemic and transferred to St. John the Baptist for one year. The St. Thomas Aquinas commit will play middle infield for the Bulls.
Ryan Degnan, Carey, P/1B, Sr.: The 6-foot-3 Pace commit went 4-1 last season and recorded 57 strikeouts.
Jake Deslauriers, Eastport-South Manor, P/SS, Sr.: Deslauriers hit .359 with 10 doubles and 14 RBI last season. On the mound, the Hofstra commit held opposing batters to a .197 average and tossed four complete games.
John Downing, Chaminade, P, Sr.: Downing went 6-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 36 innings in helping the Flyers win the CHSAA title. The Newsday All-Long Island selection is committed to Seton Hall.
Antonio Ducatelli, Island Trees, OF/P Sr.: He batted .370 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 21 runs scored in 21 games as a junior. He is committed to Central Connecticut.
Brendan Duffy, Southold, CF/P, Sr.: Duffy’s junior season included a .440 average with five homers and 28 RBI and a 3.30 ERA with 54 strikeouts. He has committed to Oneonta.
James Eden, MacArthur, OF, Jr.: He batted .356 with 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.
Luke Filippi, Port Jefferson, P, Sr.: The Albany commit posted a .471 average, had a .595 on-base percentage and stole 35 bases. He also struck out 50 in 26 innings and owned a 1.35 ERA.
Jack Friend, Ward Melville, SS, Sr.: He batted .365 and knocked in 15 runs last spring, including a walk-off hit against Commack, a Long Island Class AA title team. The Maine commit is also an outstanding shortstop.
Matt Galli, Mount Sinai, 3B/P, Jr.: Galli batted .414 with 25 RBI and 25 runs scored as a sophomore. The right-hander, who was throwing in the low 90s last summer, also earned three saves and had a 0.00 ERA.
Zach Ganca, Bellmore JFK, OF/P, Sr.: The FDU-Florham commit slashed .548/.650/.806 last season with 17 hits and 10 RBI.
JJ Gatti, Chaminade, P, Sr.: Went 3-1 and pitched 25 innings to a 2.55 ERA with 30 strikeouts. He is committed to Dayton.
Michael Gatti, Oyster Bay, P/OF, Sr.: The righthander helped Oyster Bay reach the county title game last season by striking out a whopping 71 batters in 38 innings pitched.
Vinny Giambona, Island Trees, P/SS, Sr.: The Newsday All-Long Island selection went 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. He is committed to play at Queens College.
Nick Giardino, Clarke, P/CF/IF, Sr.: He was brilliant at the plate and on the mound, going 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA and batting .363 with 16 stolen bases. He will attend Misericordia.
Joe Hackal, Newfield, CF/P, Sr.: Hackal batted .365 last season and stole 17 bases. He has committed to Stevens Tech.
Sean Hamilton, Rocky Point, 3B/P, Sr.: Hamilton is coming off a big junior year in which he batted .450 with 10 doubles, four homers and 20 RBI and went 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He has committed to Hofstra.
Patrick Heber, Garden City, P/1B, Sr.: One of the top returning players for the Long Island Class II champion, the lefty was 4-3 as a pitcher with a 2.74 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings and hit .339 with 15 RBI.
Brian Heckelman, Chaminade, C, Sr.: He batted .300 with 14 RBI and three home runs and is a run stopper on defense. He is committed to Towson.
Timmy Hennig, Wantagh, SS/P, Jr.: A multi-tool player, Henning has committed to Binghamton. As a sophomore, he batted. 457 with 12 extra-base hits and went 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA and four complete games.
Rich Heyder, Sachem East, OF/1B/P, Sr. He had a strong junior season at the plate, posting a .394 average, .463 on-base percentage, nine doubles, four homers, 23 RBI, 21 runs scored and 10 steals. He has committed to NJIT.
Tyler Hodella, Miller Place, 1B/P, Sr.: Hodella hit .411 and had a .522 on-base percentage as a junior. He has committed to Bridgeport.
Louie Iannacchino, Center Moriches, CF/P, Sr.: He batted .400 with four homers and 26 RBI last spring. He has committed to Plattsburgh.
Tyree Jackson, Patchogue-Medford, CF, Sr.: Jackson stole 19 bases in 20 games last season. The Coppin State commit is also a defensive standout, so much so that coach Tony Frascogna calls him “by far the best centerfielder we’ve had in my 22 years.”
Louis Kaleb, Longwood, INF, Jr.: Kaleb was a .355 hitter in 2021 with nine of his 22 hits going for extra bases, including three homers. He also had 20 RBI, 20 runs scored and seven steals in eight tries.
Matt Kalfas, Calhoun, P, Jr.: The southpaw pitched to a 4-0 record and a 1.20 ERA over 23 1/3 innings last season. He struck out 30.
Ryan Kiendle, Connetquot, 3B/P, So.: The third baseman batted .302 with two homers and 17 RBI as a freshman. The righthander can also mix four pitches and be a force on the mound.
Mike Knapp, Division, P/3B, Sr.: The Molloy commit was 6-0 last season with a 1.29 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and logged 57 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Josh Knoth, Patchogue-Medford, P, Jr.: Knoth stood out as a sophomore, going 5-1 with one save, a 1.45 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. The impressive righthander, who hit 96 on a radar gun in February and can throw quality breaking stuff, has made the 16U Team USA roster and has committed to Charleston.
Andrew Koshy, Kellenberg, P/3B, Jr: He helped the Firebirds earn the top seed in the CHSAA playoffs by pitching 31 innings to a 1.20 ERA with 43 strikeouts.
Tyler Kregeloh, Plainedge, P/3B, Sr.: The Nassau finalist returns this rotation pillar who was 4-2 with a 1.28 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.
John Kwiatkowski, Kellenberg, P/1B, Sr.: The 6-6, 225-pounder can mash. He batted .333 with 19 RBI in 18 games for the Firebirds.
Alex Larson, Syosset, P, Sr.: Went 3-0 with 32 strikeouts in 24 innings and threw a postseason no-hitter as a junior. He committed to Johns Hopkins.
Jacob Lee, Syosset, 3B/P, Sr.: A power hitter and pitcher, Lee batted .348 and had a .696 slugging percentage in a run to the Nassau AA semis. He committed to Adelphi.
Justin LeGuernic, Half Hollow Hills West, P/1B, Jr.: The 6-foot-4 lefty throws in the mid-to-high 80s and can hit, too. He has committed to Clemson.
Steve Licata, Farmingdale, C, Sr.: A two-way threat, he batted .489 with 22 hits and 16 RBI in 15 games, and also threw out 40% of would-be base stealers. Licata is committed to Purchase.
Sebastian Lippman, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, OF/P, So.: The hard-throwing righty tops out in the low 90s and has emerged as one of Long Island's young power pitchers. He has committed to Georgia Tech.
Luca Lopetrone Goldflam, St. Dominic’s, OF/P, Sr.: As a junior, he batted .432 with a .510 on-base percentage. He is committed to Williams College.
TJ Maher, South Side, OF/P, Sr.: Maher was a centerpiece player for the Nassau III champions, slashing .384/.505/.685 with 28 hits, four home runs and 32 runs scored in 22 games. On the mound, he was 2-2 with two saves and 1.41 ERA.
John Margolies, Hauppauge, 3B/P, So.: A two-way impact player who led the Eagles in hits with 21 as a freshman and added two wins and three saves.
Chris McHugh, Commack, INF, Jr.: McHugh played third and led Commack in doubles, homers, RBI and runs scored in his standout sophomore season. He’s playing shortstop and has committed to VCU.
Jake Meirowitz, Wheatley, OF, Sr.: Begins his fourth season as the Wildcats’ starting centerfielder. His bat showed pop late last season and he finished with a .424 slugging percentage and 13 RBI.
Rob Melo, Patchogue-Medford, 1B/OF/P, So.: The lefty-hitting Melo has power to all fields. This young right-handed pitcher gives the Raiders a shutdown 1-2 punch in the rotation. He is committed to Army.
Matt Merkel, Malverne, OF/P, Jr.: The lefthander pitched to a 5-0 record and batted .404 as a sophomore. He is the Mules' go-to guy.
Cody Miller, Rocky Point, SS/P, Sr.: Miller showed off a varied skill set when he earned Newsday All-Long Island honors as a junior. Last season, the East Tennessee State commit had a .375 average with two homers, 11 RBI, 13 steals and 29 runs scored, and he went 2-2 with two saves, a 3.10 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
Jake Moss, Manhasset, P/IF, Sr.: Moss was 3-2 with a 1.60 ERA and fanned 54 in 25 innings last season. The 6-foot, 225-pounder will attend Penn.
Drew Munn, Cold Spring Harbor, P/1B, Sr.: Munn helped the Seahawks reach the Nassau B final by going 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts. The 6-2, 220-pound senior also batted .351 with 21 RBI in 20 games.
Ryan Muskopf, Half Hollow Hills West, P/OF/1B, Jr.: Muskopf, who has a fastball that travels in the mid-to-high 80s range, went 3-1 with 43 strikeouts in 35 innings a year ago, and he batted .400 with a pair of homers.
Nick Napolitano, Farmingdale, RF/P, Sr.: Comes off a season where he hit .322 with 10 RBI and went 2-1 with two saves and a 2.25 ERA on the mound. He is committed to Caldwell.
Paul Napolitano, Kellenberg, IF, Jr.: He has committed to High Point in North Carolina. Napolitano is a high-impact hitter who transferred into Kellenberg from Long Island Lutheran.
Chris Naronis, Floral Park, P/1B, Sr.: The 5-10, 185-pound Naronis hit a team-high .345 last season. He is committed to Queens College.
Nolan Nawrocki, Chaminade, SS/3B, Sr.: A 6-1 all-around athlete, Nawrocki batted .256 with 10 RBI for the Flyers as a junior. He is committed to Michigan.
Ben Nosovitch, Carle Place, P/IF, Sr.: The 6-2 righthander led Carle Place in wins, strikeouts and ERA and is committed to Queens College.
Frankie Noto, Westhampton, OF/P, Sr.: Noto batted .333, scored 15 runs and didn’t allow an earned run in 2021. He has committed as a position player to Adelphi.
Tom O’Neill, Farmingdale, P, Jr.: The 5-11 righty could end up the Dalers’ No. 1 after going 5-0 last season with a 1.31 ERA and 37 strikeouts. He has committed to St. Thomas Aquinas.
Erik Paulsen, Massapequa, 1B/P, Jr.: A rare two-way player for Massapequa. He is an impact lefthanded pitcher and clutch hitter who is committed to Stony Brook as a dual position player.
Alex Pelaez, Long Island Lutheran, C, Sr.: The Belmont Abbey commit can really control a game. He batted .400 and threw out 78% of runners attempting to steal.
Dominick Persichilli, Centereach, P/1B, Sr.: Persichilli is 6-1, 200-pound right-hander who throws in the upper 80s to low 90s and improved his command even more during the offseason after posting an ERA under 2.00. He is a Chipola commit.
AJ Petraitis, Kings Park, P, Sr.: Petraitis posted a 2.90 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP last spring. The 6-5 righty has committed to Le Moyne.
Leyton Pulsipher, Center Moriches, SS/P, Sr.: He started on a state title team as a freshman, then didn’t play when the 2020 season was lost to the pandemic and missed last season with an injury. He has committed to Central Connecticut as an infielder.
Jack Quinlan, Sayville, C, Sr.: Quinlan made a big contribution last season, hitting .382 with a .485 on-base percentage, and delivering three homers among his eight extra-base hits and 23 RBI. He has committed to Army.
Max Reichenbach, Mount Sinai, P, Jr.: Reichenbach went 6-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 2021. The 6-4 righty has committed to George Washington.
Dylan Rhein, North Babylon, C, Sr.: Solid defensive backstop who threw out 14 runners in 2021. He also had three walk-off hits last season.
Jake Rivera, West Islip, P/OF, Sr.: Rivera went 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA as a starter last season. The FDU-Florham commit tossed 6 2/3 innings of a combined regular-season no-hitter, and he fired five shutout frames in the Suffolk title round vs. Newfield.
Nick Rizzo, East Islip, P/1B, Jr.: The lefty, who’s a Stony Brook commit, earned a Newsday All-Long Island selection as a sophomore. He went 5-1 with a 0.41 ERA, 40 strikeouts and only two walks in 41 innings. Rizzo also batted .408 with two homers, 20 RBI and 15 runs scored for his Long Island championship team.
Kyle Rosenberg, Wheatley, P, Sr.: The Wildcats ace went 6-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 1.03 WHIP and struck out 41 in 38 innings.
Colin Ruddy, East Hampton, P, Sr.: Ruddy went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 36.1 innings as a junior. He has committed to George Washington.
Anthony Scarabino, Connetquot, OF/P, Jr.: The Thunderbirds' leading hitter batted .367 and also stole 10 bases as a sophomore.
Dylan Schnitzer, Huntington, C, Sr.: Schnitzer, Huntington’s top returnee, is coming off a strong season at the plate, posting a slash line of .500/.580/.681 (1.260 OPS), with 36 hits, two homers, 16 RBI and 26 runs scored. He has committed to Trinity.
Billy Steele, Shoreham-Wading River, P/DH, Sr.: Steele, who throws in the low 90s, had a 1.05 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 33 innings. The Army commit also hit .473 with three homers and 23 RBI and drew 19 walks.
Brady Steinert, Chaminade, SS/2B, Sr.: Strong with the bat or the glove, Steinert batted .300 with 11 RBI for the defending CHSAA champion. He committed to Marist.
Cristino Tufano, Babylon, SS/P, Jr.: He hit .303 with four homers, 20 RBI and 24 steals last season. He has committed to George Washington.
Nick Ungania, Chaminade, CF, Sr.: Speedy leadoff hitter who batted .340 and scored 15 runs. Ungania has committed to play at Binghamton.
Jack Vallario, St. Anthony’s, SS, Sr.: The NSCHSAA Player of the Year last season slashed .405/.577/.676 and stole 11 bases for the Friars. He is committed to Fordham.
Ben Waife, Shelter Island, P/1B, Jr.: The 6-2 left-hander didn’t pitch last season because of an injury, but he played first and batted .417. He has committed as a pitcher to Charleston.
Connor Waiting, Island Trees, 3B/P, Sr.: Batted .396 with three home runs, 19 RBI and 15 runs scored as a junior and has committed to Maine.
Sean Welsh, Clarke, P/SS/3B, Sr.: A Newsday All-Long Island selection last season, Welsh hit .439 with seven homers and 30 RBI. He went 7-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 37 innings. He is committed to Molloy.
Charlie West, Ward Melville, P, Jr.: West went 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA in his sophomore season. He has committed to UConn.
Michael Zeis, Glenn, C, Sr.: Zeis threw out 36% of runners attempting to steal. He also hit .350 with four homers, 21 RBI and 17 runs scored. He is committed to St. Thomas Aquinas.