Hauppauge's Michael Oliveto wins Blue Chip Silver Slugger Award
Michael Oliveto of Hauppauge wins the Siver Slugger Award at the Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association banquet on Monday in Wading River. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
During any Hauppauge baseball game, scouts would be following Michael Oliveto’s every move.
The senior catcher never wanted the spotlight to be on him, but being a player of his caliber made that impossible.
Oliveto, a Yale commit and top MLB Draft prospect, received the Blue Chip Silver Slugger Award as Suffolk’s best hitter during Monday night’s Suffolk County Baseball Awards Banquet at East Wind Long Island in Wading River.
Oliveto batted .435 and hit nine home runs, leading Suffolk for the second straight season after hitting eight as a junior. He had a .633 on-base percentage, a 1.617 OPS, 25 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He drew 30 walks with only six strikeouts.
“It's really tough to put into words what he's meant to our program,” Hauppauge coach Josh Gutes said. “Led us to our only Long Island championship and a state championship appearance last year. Led Suffolk County in home runs in back-to-back years. Just who he is as a baseball player, as a person, as a teammate. [He's] just truly a once-in-a-career type of player and human being.”
Perhaps the most jarring stat from Oliveto’s senior season? Fourteen intentional walks, several with runners on first and second. Gutes said he never had seen that level of treatment with a high school player.
“It changed the way that we had to play the game because we couldn't bunt guys in front of him to move runners up because we knew that they were going to walk Michael,” Gutes said. “It kind of changed the way that our entire team had to play. Everybody knew who he was, and to still do what he did knowing that everyone's gunning for you. You're the guy who's going to get pitched most carefully. You're the guy that no one can let beat you.
“To still have the season that he had just makes it that much more impressive.”
During a 4-3 home loss to Eastport-South Manor on May 15, Oliveto was intentionally walked three times — including as the potential winning run to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“I hope that we’re all watching him on TV in the near future,” ESM coach Jim McGowan said after that game. “He’s a great player. The old adage: You can’t let the best player beat you.”
Oliveto also had a tremendous defensive season, catching 10 runners stealing, picking off four at first and allowing only one passed ball.
He will be in Phoenix on Tuesday for the MLB Draft Combine.
Gutes' elementary school students constantly ask him which team is going to draft Oliveto. At Hauppauge’s Little League Day this year, Oliveto was mobbed by youngsters seeking his autograph.
“He's well aware of his talent,” Gutes said. “But more importantly, as cliche as it sounds, he's more concerned about being the best human being he can be.”