Baseball Rutgers announces 10 person recruiting class

[Richie O]

Via ScarletKnights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Feb. 20, 2019) – Consisting of 10 student-athletes from five different states, Rutgers baseball officially announced its latest recruiting class today. All are set to join the Scarlet Knights’ roster in the fall. The group includes Armando Albert, Matt Ciccone, Reece Horneck, John Luberto, Devon Patel, Kyle Potthoff, Joshua Rodriguez, Grant Shulman, Gustavo Sosa and Jordan Sweeney.

“We are excited to announce our 2019 recruiting class,” head coach Joe Litterio said. “We are not only excited about their abilities on the diamond, but also the type of people they are and the quality families they come from. These student-athletes are a great fit for our culture and will be terrific representatives of Rutgers University. They have bought in to what we are about as a program, and they share our vision of where Rutgers baseball is headed in the coming years. We are thrilled to be able to bring this group of players into our program.”


Armando Albert

SS | 5-10 | 160 | L/R

Plantation, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep School


Notes: Plays shortstop for Belen Jesuit in Miami … led the team with a .515 on-base percentage, 26 runs, 23 walks and 10 stolen bases on a .359 average as a junior in 2018 … named first team all-district and Miami-Dade All-County … hit .304 with a .451 on-base percentage, 10 runs and 12 walks as a sophomore in 2017 … played travel baseball for the X Team in 2017 and 2018 … son of Jerry and Maria Albert … has two older siblings, Carolena and Gerard, and a twin sister, Ariana.


Matt Ciccone

RHP | 6-0 | 175 | L/R

East Hanover, N.J./Newark Academy


Notes: Set to be a four-year varsity starter at Newark Academy … pitched 145 innings over first three varsity seasons with 193 strikeouts and 14 victories … named First Team SEC American Division in 2018 and helped team win the state sectional final and advance to the state final … earned First Team Prep B and Third Team All-Non Public in 2017 … also a two-time letterwinner in football … played travel baseball for Blue Chip Baseball for eight years … also pitched for Farrah Scout and U.S Elite Ferber, finishing 19thin the country last summer via Perfect Game … son of Tom and Sylvia Ciccone … has two older siblings, Tommy and Nicole, and a younger brother, Frank.


Reece Horneck

OF/1B | 6-2 | 183 | L/L

Colts Neck, N.J/Colts Neck High School


Notes: Set to be a four-year varsity letterwinner at Colts Neck … named captain for 2019 season … played travel baseball for Gallagher Sportika for four years and 9ers for two years … a member of the National Honor Society … earned community service recognition letter from mayor of Colts Neck … son of Robert and Denise Horneck … has three siblings, Melissa, Candace and Dean … intends to major in actuarial science/finance.


John Luberto

RHP | 6-2 | 200 | R/R

Nutley, N.J./Nutley High School


Notes: Has played for Nutley since 2015 … struck out 48 in 31.2 innings as a junior with a 3.09 ERA … allowed just 16 hits … batted .321 at the plate … played travel baseball with CPBA since 2016 … competed two seasons of high school football with 15 receptions for 217 yards and made 74 tackles … son of Jeff and Boguslawa Luberto … has an older sister, Emily, who rows crew at Stockton and majors in pathology, and a younger sister, Stephanie.


Devon Patel

RHP | 5-11 | 170 | R/R

Spring, Texas/Klein Oak High School


Notes: Set for second season of varsity at Klein Oak … named MVP Pitcher, second team all-district as a junior … team earned bi-district championship … struck out 12 in a five-inning relief outing during the district playoffs … part of JV district title as a sophomore … played on sophomore team as a freshman and named team MVP during district championship season … played travel baseball with Houston Heat, Evoshield Canes Tx, White Sox Scout Team and Marucci Elite Tx … inducted into the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta … ranked in top three percent of class academically out of over 1,000 students … son of Karen and Ajay Patel … had two siblings, Adara and Liam … intends to major in business.


Kyle Potthoff

RHP | 6-5 | 195 | L/R

Chesterfield, Mo./Marquette High School


Notes: Set for fourth season with Marquette baseball … named a top prospect at the IL GPA Games, the IL Unsigned Senior Showcase and 2018 Southeast Showcase … also named to prospect list for 2018 Perfect Game Fall Showcase … played summer baseball with Mustangs for three years … also a three-year high school basketball player … three years of Silver Scholar Athlete for baseball and basketball … member of the National Honor Society … son of Michael and Patricia Potthoff … father played baseball and basketball at the University of Missouri and played in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system … has three siblings, Tyler, Dylan and Ryan … cousin, Luke Lawson, plays basketball for Army West Point … intends to major in business and Spanish.


Joshua Rodriguez

CF/INF | 6-2 | 196 | R/R

Belleville, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional High School (Montvale)


Notes: Plays varsity baseball at St. Joseph’s (Montvale) … named First Team All-Bergen County last season after hitting 32-for-77 (.416) with 30 runs, 17 RBIs, five doubles, one triple, six home runs, 12 walks and 14 stolen bases … son of Angelo and Joselin Rodriguez … has two sisters, Valerie and Liz.


Grant Shulman

3B | 6-1 | 200 | L/R

Wall, N.J./Wall High School


Notes: Set for third seasons of varsity baseball at Wall … named First Team All-Shore and helped team advance to sectional semifinals … also first team all-division … participated in the Carpenter Cup … played for Baseball U for six years … named to seven all-tournament teams … a Preseason Underclass All-America honorable mention pick … son of Teresa and Greg Shulman … mother played field hockey at Rutgers … has an older sister, Julia … interested in majoring in business.


Gustavo Sosa

C | 6-2 | 180 | R/R

Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville High School


Notes: Set for first season at Tottenville High School … previously played at Moore Catholic … named First Team All-Staten Island … a Third Team Preseason Underclass All-American … played travel baseball with Richmond County Baseball Club from 2013-18 … took part in mix martial arts for six years … takes part in yoga … son of Gustavo and Lisa Sosa … has two older twins sisters, Carina and Carolina … sisters are in college studying special education and sign language.


Jordan Sweeney

1B/OF | 6-5 | 215 | R/R

Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp. High School


Notes: Set for four season of varsity baseball at Egg Harbor Twp. … hit .380 on 71 hits with 71 RBIs in first three seasons … also had 17 doubles, 15 home runs and 57 runs scored … named First Team All-State, First Team All-South Jersey and First Team All-CAL in 2017 after hitting .467 with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 46 RBIs … a varsity scholar academically … also played varsity basketball … played travel baseball for Tri-State Arsenal for two-plus seasons and for South Jersey Sand Shark for five years … son of Michael and Melinda Sweeney … has a younger brother, Justin.

 

[zappaa]

A bit more National recruiting it seems.
Pretty much any high school pitcher not on the MLB draft radar, even if it’s the 20th round...is going to struggle for the most part.

 

[Big East Beast]

10 players seems like a big class, no? Do we have a B/JV team these days?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

10 players seems like a big class, no? Do we have a B/JV team these days?

On top of 16 newcomers this season!

 

[rufeelinit]

Am I correct in thinking baseball is like soccer these days and that it is less about what you do for your high school team and more about your performance on travel/club teams and at showcases? Quite a geographically dispersed bunch once outside the state. Hard to get a sense of just how good a group they are.

 

[zappaa]

Am I correct in thinking baseball is like soccer these days and that it is less about what you do for your high school team and more about your performance on travel/club teams and at showcases? Quite a geographically dispersed bunch once outside the state. Hard to get a sense of just how good a group they are.

Not if you’re gifted.
You’re ability to dominate will standout to scouts wherever you play.
I mean Rick Porcello throwing 95 mph or Mike Trout hitting with power and speed like Mantle
are going to be found wherever they are...but you’re probably right on 90% of the kids

 

[ScottRU93]

Am I correct in thinking baseball is like soccer these days and that it is less about what you do for your high school team and more about your performance on travel/club teams and at showcases? Quite a geographically dispersed bunch once outside the state. Hard to get a sense of just how good a group they are.

Exactly. College coaches rarely come to Hs games now. Sometimes a local coach to a Midweek game but that’s about it. It’s all about the Club Teams and Showcases in the Summer.

 

[zappaa]

Exactly. College coaches rarely come to Hs games now. Sometimes a local coach to a Midweek game but that’s about it. It’s all about the Club Teams and Showcases in the Summer.

Why not have a relationship with MLB scouts and cross checkers.
When did college coaches ever go to HS games.
Every scholarship kid on your roster should of drawn MLB draft interest like Cerutto, or continue to be a non factor

 

[Big East Beast]

Why not have a relationship with MLB scouts and cross checkers.
When did college coaches ever go to HS games.
Every scholarship kid on your roster should of drawn MLB draft interest like Cerutto, or continue to be a non factor

I’m skeptical of what scouts are bringing to the table or if there are potential violations there. We have a young squad but there is some talent. I think the formula is the same as it’s been for 30 years— catcher, SS, CF, three full-money pitchers and you try to squeeze 12-15 spots out of the remaining money. I think one key is if one of the full money guys isn’t delivering you need a way to move them out of the program without upsetting the AppleCare. Downside with recruiting out of state is in addition to addl recruiting expense, we (or family) needs to come up with more tuition money differential.

Hopefully the pitching coach can raise the bar on talent coming in and performance. I think it’s fools gold to go after the flamethrowers that are already high draft targets, but there are plenty of kids who are 6’3 throw low-mid 80s and can get up to 90s in a couple of years in a college program. Not everyone can be a weekend starter as a frosh.

I think we should also leverage RUs football program and scale in general to get more dynamic athletes. There are a ton of amazing athletes on campus for whom baseball may have been secondary to football or basketball but they can be hidden gems if you get them to a tryout. Hill took a couple of kids who really could only run and turned them into solid players over time- you can’t teach speed.

There’s also a certain athlete who would rather try both football and baseball vs just going to a football factory. Matt Alaimo the UCLA transfer would be a no brainer given his pedigree and comes at zero cost to baseball scholarship count. We’ve had success with E. Young, Stephens, Kivelean and Harris so it’s certainly something with a precedent and is clearly a win win for the baseball program and seemingly the kid. You also can’t teach 6’5”. Ash would need to be convinced that this will get him better players too, but I would think this would be something that he’d have to be amenable to in certain circumstances especially as long as baseball in large part deferred schedule-wise.