Life has a way of humbling you. Dealing with prosperity is often harder than dealing with adversity because staying hungry never lasts.
Everyone loves a good comeback story, though. In this article, we will identify 10 players that struggled or suffered an injury in 2017 and are a good bet to bounce back stronger than before in 2018. We have identified some players in the past in this article that have wound up seeing tremendous success, such as T.J. Santiago and Matt Seelinger–who are both playing professional ball.
Chris Weiss, Hofstra
At one point last year, Weiss was gaining some traction among the inner circles of local scouts. He is an undersized RHP, but is tough as nails and he sits in the upper 80s, low 90s. Very athletic player who was a 2B and closer as a freshman. He really struggled in the second half of the 2017 season, and finished with an ERA of 5.17 and 42 walks. Here’s the thing, though. Most of that damage occurred during a three-outing stretch in which he allowed 13 ER over 4 innings. The rest of his numbers were actually really impressive. For example, he held opposing batters to a .197 AVG, and he struck out 68 batters over only 55.2 IP. I think he will be highly motivated with the draft coming up and his command will improve in his senior year.
Anthony Papa, St. Joseph’s
It’s been quite a journey for Papa, who is now on his third college and still has three (possibly four if he is granted his medical red-shirt) years remaining. If healthy, he is arguably the best pitcher in the Skyline. He was an absolute force of nature for Division when they won the Long Island Championship in 2015. He is a bulldog. Here’s the caveat–he hasn’t pitched in a game since 2015. What version of himself will he be? I am willing to be close to the best version of himself considering the adversity he has already faced. With his upper 80s velocity, command and his tenacity, St. Joseph’s has a difference-maker in the way that Jeremy Charles was for Old Westbury in 2016.
Tyler Becker, Mike Demarest Adelphi
Tyler was a decorated player coming out of Eastport-South Manor in 2016. He didn’t get many chances to get on a roll offensively as a freshmen, but with the graduation of Zack Levinson he certainly will given the opportunity to win the second base job. Came out of high school as a shortstop but was moved over with the presence of Brett Malm. I watched him swing at scout day and he looks like he could be a viable bat that moves runners over and can do the little things to win ball games.
As Josh Gutes mentioned in our podcast the other day, Demarest was lights-out his senior year at East Islip for Coach Ciampi. He outdueled Nick Fanti in a now-legendary game by the score of 1-0 in eight innings with both pitchers going complete games. He pitches in the 86-88 MPH range, has guts on the mound and pounds the strike zone. After a dominant freshmen year in which he saved three games and compiled a 2.90 ERA over 31.0 IP, he regressed as a sophomore to the tune of a 7.71 ERA over 16.0 IP and 20 appearances. Judging by the amount of hits he allowed (29) his command within the strike zone was not what it had been in the past. I watched him throw a bullpen the other day and I think he will have a bounce back year. He’s proven that he can pitch or Ciampi, so I have no doubt he’s tough enough to regain his effectiveness in the NE-10.
Bret Clarke, Stony Brook
It was a classic sophomore slump for Bret Clarke. An absolute dynamic freshmen year in 2016 (6-2 record, 2.19 ERA, .241 AVG against) followed up by a very poor 2017 in which his ERA jumped to 6.30 and the opposition batted .306 against him. He pitches from a low 3/4 arm slot and he’s very tough to pick up. I think he is a prime candidate to be motivated by last year’s humbling experience and he will form a dynamic trio along with Brian Herrmann and Greg Marino in that rotation.
Brendan Dowd, NYIT
Dowd is an imposing figure at 6’1″ 225 lbs. He has one of the best arms you’ll see behind the plate. Offensively, he can really swing the bat and I was at the game against Sacred Heart where he hit one HR and just narrowly missed a second one. The rest of the year, though, he was in a rut offensively. He compiled only eight hits over 49 at bats. I think it was a case of the game speeding up too quick on him. I believe he will turn it around as a sophomore, because he showed it in high school and he is a physical specimen that works very hard at his craft. Additionally, he will be batting with E.J. Cumbo in scoring position pretty frequently this year.
Julien Arcos, LIU Post
The last time I watched Arcos pitch in a game, he outdueled Kyle Young on March 30, 2016 in a bitter cold at Cantiague Park. There were roughly 15 scouts watching Kyle Young’s every move, but it was Arcos who came out on top that day. I understand his 2017 season was not pretty. In 3.2 IP, he allowed 11 hits and walked 5. He was not a factor down the stretch. As a former pitcher that had lost his confidence, I understand what that is like. I also understand how strong a player can rebound after they’ve been humbled. Coach Gaffney stated that he has looked really good since the conclusion of last season. With Arcos’ past success and that ringing endorsement, I think he’s on track for a big bounce back season.
Nick Attardi, Farmingdale State
The 2016 Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year was unable to duplicate that success as a sophomore for the Rams. His avergae dipped to .250 and his SLG was a poor .295. That was a steep decline from his .420 AVG with a .514 OBP in 2016. The Smithtown West grad is somewhere in between those two distinct seasons. I think he’s a safe bet to have a big improvement in 2018. With his speed and the improved bats in the Farmingdale lineup, he will also score plenty of runs.
Christian Tessitore, Old Westbury
Tessitore was a transfer from Dowling and figured to be a huge part of the solution for Old Westbury in 2017. He got off to an amazing start to the season through 15.1 IP, he had allowed only 2 ER and five walks. He was breezing through Maritime’s difficult lineup before blowing out his elbow which required Tommy John surgery. He is less than one year removed–which is no small detail–but I watched him workout yesterday and he appears to be maniacal about coming back in time for the season. Coach Stephan noted that he will be ready, but it is his responsibility to temper his enthusiasm and not allow him to throw five innings the first time out. I believe the big RHP will have a very successful season. Stephan feels he has what it takes to play at the next level, as well. They will be counting on him and Adam Heidenfelder to anchor the rotation.
Alex Poliwoda, Matthew Paghidas Maritime
Alex Poliwoda (Southold ’15) will be Maritime’s weekend starter. Second on LI with 9 wins in 2015 pic.twitter.com/X8L5WklT1s
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 28, 2017
Opposing batters hit .345 against Poliwoda last year, but that doesn’t correlate to the type of pitcher he is. Coming out of Southold HS in 2015, he won nine games and is talented enough to be a weekend starter in the Skyline Conference. His size and his mound presence indicate to me that he will take a big leap forward in 2018. Maritime has the top of the rotation under control, but they will be counting on another pitcher from their staff to emerge to solidify the back end.
Paghidas caught my eye during a bullpen session last year. A relative unknown coming out of Miller Place HS, he wound up being a valuable piece to their pitching staff that won the Skyline Conference. While his numbers were not pretty, he wound up earning a spot on the LI Road Warriors of the Hamptons Collegiate League and he was named Pitcher of the Week after he fired a CG shutout and he also was named Game One starter of the Championship against West Hampton. He is in line for a much more consistent season, and Coach Barbieri feels he has a big season in him.
