Chestnut Hill Baseball Roster: The Players You Need to Know

Get to know the Chestnut Hill college baseball team roster for the 2020 season. These are the guys who will be representing the Griffins on the field!

Catchers

The Catchers are an important part of the Chestnut Hill baseball team They not only have to be good at catching the ball, but they also have to be able to work well with the pitchers and help them control the game.

Here are some of the catchers that you should keep an eye on this season:

-George Kottaras: George is a veteran catcher who has been with the team for several years. He is a good leader and does a great job of controlling the game from behind the plate. George is also a very good hitter and can provide some power from the catcher position.

-Mike Zunino: Mike is a young catcher who is just starting his career with the team. He is still learning the ropes, but he has shown a lot of potential so far. Mike is a very good defender and has a strong arm. He also has a lot of power at the plate and could be a very dangerous hitter in the lineup.

-Blake Swihart: Blake is another young catcher who is just starting his career with the team. He is a very good defender with a strong arm. Blake doesn’t have much power at the plate yet, but he is a patient hitter and has a lot of potential.

Infielders

The Chestnut Hill College Baseball Team is loaded with talent up and down the diamond, but especially in the infield. Head Coach Steve Renfrow will have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to putting together a lineup, and that depth will be crucial as the Griffins look to make a run at the Atlantic 10 conference title Here’s a closer look at the team’s infielders:

First base: Junior Matt Long is the returning starter at first base, and he figures to be a key cog in the middle of the Chestnut Hill lineup. Long had a breakout season as a sophomore, batting .303 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs. He’ll be counted on to provide some power again this year, but his biggest contribution may come with his defense. Long has good hands and quick feet, and he’s shown the ability to make plays in the field.

Second base: Sophomore Tim Orton is expected to be the everyday second baseman for the Griffins this season. Orton came on strong late last year, hitting .341 over Chestnut Hill’s final 20 games. He has good speed and should provide a spark at the top of the Griffins’ lineup. Defensively, Orton has solid range and a strong arm.

Third base: The third base job is wide open heading into the season, but junior Sean O’Hara is the leading candidate to win the starting spot. O’Hara is a versatile player who can also play first base and shortstop. He’s a good hitter with some pop in his bat, and he’s also an above-average defender.

Shortstop: Senior captain Mikey Poliak is back for his fourth year asChestnut Hill’s starting shortstop. Poliak is one of the best defensive infielders in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and he’s also a solid hitter at the plate. He batted .276 last season with two home runs and 27 RBIs. Poliak will be looked upon to provide some leadership for this year’s team.

Outfielders

Here are the outfielders you need to know on the Chestnut Hill College baseball team

Sean Burke is a senior who has been with the team for four years. He is a left-handed hitter and throws right-handed. He is a power hitter who can also lay down a bunt when needed. Sean is one of the team’s captain and is a vocal leader on and off the field.

Nick DiMascio is a junior who transferred to Chestnut Hill this year from Division II Franklin Pierce University. He is a right-handed hitter and throws left-handed. Nick is a contact hitter with good speed. He uses his speed to his advantage on the basepaths and in the outfield.

Tommy McCarthy is a sophomore who is in his first year with the team. He hits from the left side and throws right-handed. Tommy is a disciplined hitter who works the count and looks for his pitch. He is also an excellent fielder with a strong arm.

Pitchers

The Chestnut Hill baseball team has a strong pitching roster this season. Here are the pitchers you need to know.

Starting Pitchers
--Drew Smith Andrew is a senior and has been on the varsity team since he was a sophomore. He’s a lefty and our go-to starter.
-Ethan James: Ethan is also a senior and has been on varsity for three years. He’s our righty starter and will be pitching the second game of every series.
-Tyler Lopez: Tyler is a junior who was called up to varsity this year. He’ll be starting the third game of every series.

Relief Pitchers
-Sean O’Malley: Sean is a senior and has been on varsity for four years. He’s our closer and will come in when we need to finish a game.
-Jake Ryan: Jake is a junior who was also called up to varsity this year. He’s our set-up man and will come in to pitch in the seventh or eighth inning.

Designated Hitter

In baseball, the designated hitter (DH) is a spot in the batting order that may be occupied by a player who is not fielding.

The rule was invented in 1973 by Major League Baseball and it has been adopted by almost all professional leagues and many amateur ones. It now appears in the official rules of MLB, NFHS (high school), NCAA (college), NABF (amateur), and many other baseball organizations.

The use of a DH can allow managers to rest their everyday players while still putting a potent bat in the lineup every game. It also gives teams the ability to carry an extra pitcher on their roster without having to worry about his offensive abilities.

In MLB, the DH is used in games where both teams have agreed to its use beforehand. In the World Series it is used only if both participating teams have used it during the regular season

In 2020, there were 13 players who spent at least 50 percent of their time as DHs. Of those 13 players, 10 were members of American League teams and three were members of National League teams. The player who spent the most time at DH was Nelson Cruz, who played 80 percent of his games asDH for the Minnesota Twins

Utility Players

A utility player is a baseball player who can play multiple positions utility players are extremely important to a team’s success because they provide depth and versatility.

The Chestnut Hill Blue Sox have several talented utility players on their roster. Here are some of the players you need to know:

--Pablo Sanchez A versatile infielder who can also play outfield. Sanchez is a strong hitter with good power.
-Mikey Barton: A speedy outfielder who can also play infield. Barton is a great base runner and is excellent in the field.
-Johnny Murray: A catcher who can also play first base. Murray is a power hitter with a great arm.

Rookies

The 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is in Full Swing and that means it’s time to start getting to know the new players on your favorite team If you’re a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies that means getting to know the team’s three rookie Position players outfielder Adam Haseley, infielder/outfielder Bryce Harper and catcher/infielder J.T. Realmuto.

Adam Haseley was the Phillies’ first-Round Draft pick in 2017 and made his MLB debut on August 13, 2019. The 23-year-old rookie has already shown glimpses of his potential, hitting two home runs in his first four games. While he’s expected to spend most of his time in left field Haseley can also play center field and right field.

Bryce Harper is one of the most highly anticipated rookies in recent memory. The 26-year-old signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies in February and has been living up to the hype so far. In his first nine games, Harper has hit .360 with three Home Runs and 10 RBIs. He’s expected to be a middle-of-the-lineup force for the Phillies for years to come.

J.T. Realmuto is another key addition for the Phillies this season. The 27-year-old catcher was acquired from the Miami Marlins in a trade during the offseason and has quickly become a fan favorite in Philadelphia. In his first nine games with the Phillies, Realmuto is hitting .271 with two home runs and eight RBIs. He’s also thrown out two would-be base stealers while only allowing one stolen base himself.

Veterans

The Chestnut Hill Baseball Team has a long tradition of success, and that success is built on the backs of hard-working, talented veterans. Here are some of the veterans you need to know about as the team looks to defend its Championship Title this season.

Pitcher Jake Taylor has been a mainstay in the Chestnut Hill rotation for several years now, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s a workhorse who can go deep into games, and he has the stuff to shut down any lineup.

Third baseman John “Fly” Ryan is another veteran leader on this team. He’s a superb defender with a great bat, and he’s not afraid to take charge on the field. He’ll be a key piece in the middle of theChestnut Hill lineup this season.

Shortstop Mikey Reynolds is one of the best all-around players in the Game Today He can hit for average and power, and he’s a defensively gifted shortstop who makes all the routine plays look easy. He’s a true leader on and off the field, and he’ll be counted on to help young players develop this season.

These are just a few of the many talented veterans who will be taking the field for Chestnut Hill this season. With their experience and skill, they’ll be looking to lead the team back to glory this year.

Free Agents

The free agent period is one of the most crucial times of the year for MLB teams. Fans and analysts alike wait with bated breath to see where the Top Players in the league will end up, and every year there are a few surprise signings that change the landscape of the sport. This year’s free agent class is no different, and there are a few players who will be sure to make an impact on their new teams. Here are the top three free agents that you need to know about.

1. Justin Turner

Turner is a 34-year-old third baseman who spent his first seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. He’s been a key piece of the Dodgers’ offense ever since, hitting .296/.374/.492 with 97 home runs and 368 RBI over his six seasons in LA. He’s also been named to two All-Star teams and won a World Series with the Dodgers in 2020. Turner is a Free Agent for the first time in his career, and he’s sure to command a hefty contract on the open market.

2. George Springer

Springer is a 30-year-old outfielder who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Houston Astros He’s been one of the best players in baseball over that span, hitting .270/.367/.483 with 138 home runs and 384 RBI while also winning three Gold Glove Awards and being named to two All-Star teams. Springer was instrumental in helping the Astros win their first World Series title in 2017, and he’ll be looking for a big payday this offseason as he hits Free agency for the first time.

3. Trevor Bauer

Bauer is a 29-year-old pitcher who has bounced around between a few different teams during his eight-year career. He started with the Arizona Diamondbacks, then spent two years with the Cleveland Indians before being traded to Cincinnati Reds last season. Bauer had his best year yet in 2020, posting a 1.73 ERA and 0.795 WHIP while striking out 100 batters in 73 innings pitched en route to winning his first Cy Young Award He’s eligible for free agency this offseason, and he’s sure to command a large contract given his recent success.

Farm System

The Boston Red Sox have one of the best farm systems in baseball. With a deep pool of top prospects the team is poised for success in the coming years. Here are some of the players you need to know.

Rafael Devers is a third baseman for the Red Sox He is one of the top prospects in baseball and is expected to be a star at the Major League level.

Andrew Benintendi is an outfielder for the Red Sox He was drafted in 2015 and made his Major League debut in 2016. He is one of the team’s most promising young players

Bobby Dalbec is a third baseman for the Red Sox He was drafted in 2016 and is considered one of the team’s top prospects

Michael Chavis is an infielder for the Red Sox He was drafted in 2014 and made his Major League debut in 2018. He is considered one of the team’s top prospects