Freshmen That Could Have an Immediate Impact

There was once a time when freshmen had no choice but to watch from the sidelines.

It didn’t matter how talented they were, how quickly they retained information or how much leadership ability they possessed.

In 1968–finally–the NCAA ruled that freshmen were now eligible to play. The NCAA still has bizarre rules and finds ways to hold people back from prospering, but at least they got this one right.

Coaches these days do not care about anything aside from a player’s ability to help a team win ballgames. There’s no reason to discriminate on anything aside from talent. This year, there are a number of talented freshmen that will play crucial roles among the local teams. Here is a list of the top ones…

2017 tryouts will be Jan. 15 at MacArthur HS

Sean Hogan, Molloy

He was named All-League at Holy Trinity four times. The backstop was praised by his teammates for his work ethic in the fall. He could be a critical member of the Lions as a freshman and will be stepping into a role of handling a veteran pitching staff. One source said he looks “ready to play at this level right now.” He also ran track in high school, which means he will certainly not be a liability on the bases.

Noah Lorenzo, LIU Post

Lorenzo fits the mold of a crafty lefty. I watched him pitch last year against St. Anthony’s and he fired a CG against a difficult Friar lineup. More importanty, he wiggled out of a bases loaded, none-out jam in the sixth inning with consecutive strikeouts and an infield popout despite not possessing elite velocity. He commands both sides of the plate. His time playing for Coach John Habyan certainly benefited him. Among a staff that has 17 (!) arms, he could be the freshman that rises to the top. One teammate noted he has a penchant for expanding the strike zone based on the hitter’s tendencies. That is not common among 18-year-olds.

Kyle Martin, Fordham

This kid had an unbelievable high school career and he earned basically every accolade possible last year, including first-team All-State and Nassau County Diamond Award. We named him the ninth best prospect on Long Island. He entered Fordham as a potential two-way player but Coach Leighton told me he will be exclusively on the mound come the regular season. He has a wicked slider and great command of an upper 80s fastball. He has that bulldog mentality. I watched him shut down a powerful Massapequa lineup last year in blustery conditions. I can see him beginning the season in a middle-relief role but quickly working his way into the mid-week rotation by the middle of the year, similar to Chris Pike did for them in 2010.

Ben McNeill, NYIT

It was easy for McNeill to fly under-the-radar at Commack last year with such a star-studded team of Div-I players. McNeill simply minded his business and caught every ball his way at shortstop. Coach Malvagna was very impressed with his athleticism and feels he could be a starter from day one. Any production his bat supplies will be considered a plus with his elite defensive capabilities. A former teammate from Commack said he is the “best teammate I’ve ever played with”. Players with those characteristics tend do well.

Sean Rausch, Hofstra

Rausch was an All-American wide receiver and now he will be looking to showcase that athleticism for the Pride. He has tremendous power and leadership ability. He will most likely be making the switch from catcher to a corner outfield position with the Pride being set behind the plate with Vito Friscia and Chris Hardardt. Not many players can put it out of the deepest parts of Hofstra’ University Field, but Rausch is one of them. He will have an opportunity to step in right away and solidify a spot in the lineup. His HS Head Coach stated that he is a “legit five-tool player” and the “strongest high school kid I’ve ever coached or worked with.”

Troy Simpson, Adelphi

The Longwood grad has garnered experience pitching in the difficult Suffolk League I, which means he shouldn’t be overwhelmed by the moment after facing some imposing lineups the past few years. While college is another ballgame, he has already showed that he can come in and throw strikes in the fall and that bodes well for a team that will be looking to take the important leap from .500 last year to a deep playoff run in the NE-10.

Michael Wilson, Stony Brook

Wilson was drafted in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox out of Colonia HS in New Jersey. He’s a lefty hitter and has shown some power from the plate, which is very nice considering he plays a premium position in the field. Reports are that he performed flawlessly in his private workout at Fenway Park. He smacked six home runs in his senior year. His presence immediately benefits the Sea Wolves, who will be looking to bounce back after a .500 season.

Final Thought: Now, there are a number of factors that could play into the outcome of the 2017 season. There is always the chance a player could get off to a rough start and get relegated to a lesser role, but I feel confident that these are the types of individuals that are not just physically gifted but also mentally tough. There are also a ton of other talented freshmen that will play crucial roles this season, but we limited it to seven for purposes of brevity.