Rutgers baseball — any ties to Mercer County Community College?

[Mr_Twister]

NJ’s Mercer County Community College baseball program has had at least one player drafted by Major League Baseball in each of the last five years. Last year they had a pitcher taken on the 7th round by the Angels and a catcher on the 14th round by the Nationals. Does Rutgers baseball have any ties to MCCC baseball?
MCCC baseball coach Kevin Kerins has an interesting and successful resume, and his teams have included some very talented players.

http://www.mccc.edu/athletics/coach-bio_kerins.htm

 

[Tango Two]

Grades could be an issue

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Have a hell here we go ...AGAIN! [cheers]

 

[rudad02]

Mercer has had some very successful teams in the recent past.

 

[Mr_Twister]

MCCC players have landed at ODU, Fairfield, Delaware, Rider, and Seton Hall. I do not recall any to Rutgers. I would love to be wrong. Ex-Rutgers baseball player Matt Wolski was MCCC's head coach for 6 years.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Grades could be an issue

Or our program's recruiting reach or connections or eye for talent.

 

[Rutgers36]

Shawn Parker of Rancocas Valley high school and Mercer CC and Rutgers under Fred Hill. Shawn now works for Dave Gallagher's travel program. He was a left handed pitcher. Played briefly in Yanks farm system I believe

 

[AreYouNUTS]

As someone who hails from Mercer I can tell you it DOES have very good baseball. Chris Pittaro’s (played and now scouts for The Twins IIRC) kid, whose grandfather is “Sonny” of Rider game, plays as a sophomore at Steiner this year and is already getting major love from some of the nation’s better baseball schools.

 

[RUReady76]

NJ’s Mercer County Community College baseball program has had at least one player drafted by Major League Baseball in each of the last five years. Last year they had a pitcher taken on the 7th round by the Angels and a catcher on the 14th round by the Nationals. Does Rutgers baseball have any ties to MCCC baseball?
MCCC baseball coach Kevin Kerins has an interesting and successful resume, and his teams have included some very talented players.

http://www.mccc.edu/athletics/coach-bio_kerins.htm

Mercer is a powerhouse in baseball. Fully agree with OP that very good ballplayers from both NJ and PA go to MCCC go for the opportunity to play. Many are student-athletes who graduate and move on to continue their education and baseball playing at four year institutions.

Rutgers needs to do better given that there quite a few NJ community colleges that produce talented athletes.

 

[zappaa]

MCCC wins over 40 games a year.
48-14 last year.
51-10 in 2016
I think I might try and start a relationship/pipeline with them.

 

[mikefla]

I was Dir of Personnel at Mercer back in the 80s & they were very strong in soccer & baseball even back then. MCCC won a NJCAA national championship in soccer in 82 when I worked there(also in 88, 91,95,96, 04).......and were also ranked in 81 & 82 in NJCAA baseball. Sports was one of the fun parts of working there.

MCCC was ranked 3rd nationally this year in a pre-season poll. Current coach Kevin Kerins played at MCCC & TCNJ. Making relationships with MCCC baseball would be a big plus for Rutgers baseball. Hopefully Zappaa can get that done!

 

[LetsGoRUwrestling]

Former Jr. college pitcher of year for Mercer is now at Rowan.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I was Dir of Personnel at Mercer back in the 80s & they were very strong in soccer & baseball even back then. MCCC won a NJCAA national championship in soccer in 82 when I worked there(also in 88, 91,95,96, 04).......and were also ranked in 81 & 82 in NJCAA baseball. Sports was one of the fun parts of working there.

MCCC was ranked 3rd nationally this year in a pre-season poll. Current coach Kevin Kerins played at MCCC & TCNJ. Making relationships with MCCC baseball would be a big plus for Rutgers baseball. Hopefully Zappaa can get that done!

Our (Mercer County) soccer was among the best in the nation in the 80's and 90's, top-to-bottom, paraochials and privates as well as publics, and a great feeder system to MCCC!

 

[RBNY87]

Rutgers baseball tend to do a lot more High School recruiting than JUCO. I am sure one reason is stated in the original post, 5 kids getting drafted. You don't want to have too many committed kids getting drafted because then you go scrambling.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Rutgers baseball tend to do a lot more High School recruiting than JUCO. I am sure one reason is stated in the original post, 5 kids getting drafted. You don't want to have too many committed kids getting drafted because then you go scrambling.

What??? Please explain more. Don’t you want the best possible players?

 

[bigmatt718]

What??? Please explain more. Don’t you want the best possible players?

I'm with you. That makes no sense to me. Wouldn't getting drafted by the MLB help a school in recruiting?

 

[RBNY87]

Well if a signed player gets drafted in early June and turns professional, the team would need to try to replace that spot at a time when the best players are committed to colleges. Major colleges tend to fill up their spots with signing high school juniors who often commit as sophomore. Yes you want the best players but you also need to take into account if there is a player ready to sign with baseball club if he is drafted. Hockey can have same risks. Remember alsoonly 11.5 scholarships for baseball. Smaller D1 might have money left for a top JUCO while Rutgers most likely wont.