There is often a stigma about a transfer from a four-year school to another.
From a coaching perspective, surely something went wrong from the player’s end, right? Why was he sure that he wanted to play at that school just two years ago and now he’s looking elsewhere.
That feeling is amplified when the athlete is at his third school in three years.
I’m here to say that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances. Things don’t work out.
Sometimes people change for the better, too. I say this because as a player that transferred myself, that was the sentiment regarding me. In this article, I will highlight five players that are moving to a more suitable situation where they will not just survive, but thrive.
Chris Mott, NYIT
Mott will not just be counted on to be a reliable arm but he might be asked to anchor the rotation for the Bears. Graduating Matt Diaz, Frank Valentino and Ben Wright created a void in the rotation. The Sachem East grad is a bulldog, I’ve watched him pitch and I think he will be up to the task. He was originally committed to Dowling out of high school, but attended Suffolk CC. He was 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA over 50.0 IP and held the opposition to a .149 AVG. Now that conference is not exactly the AL East, but he does have the stuff that will translate to the Div-II level. In my May 19, 2015 scouting report, I noted that he worked in the 84-85 MPH range but was off with his command within the strike zone and Hills East made him pay for his mistakes. Clearly, his command was much sharper last year, I expect him to play a key role for NYIT in 2018.
Anthony Papa, St. Joseph’s
We highlighted him as a player poised for a bounce back player as well, but the fact is that he is the perfect example for both of these topics. I think Papa is in a perfect situation at St. Joseph’s. I think he’s the type of player that enjoys being the anchor of a staff. He wasn’t the type to be a reliever on a Div-I staff like Coastal Carolina. He’s the type to step into a team in need of an ace and he should deliver. He should team up with Joseph Murphy to form a formidable 1-2 punch for the Golden Eagles.
Tommy DiGiorgi, Farmingdale State
DiGiorgi is a graduate of Hills West HS, where he was garnering some interest due to his low 90s velocity. He was rated as the sixth best RHP in the class of 2014 in New York. He also won the Silver Slugger Award presented to the top power bat in Suffolk County. He is a classic RHP that will generate lots of swings-and-misses. He was a reliable pitcher for Nassau CC and now the Rams will be counting on him to step up and be a weekend starter. Best case scenario is that he can eat up the innings that graduated with Matt Seelinger. From what I gather, he seems focused and will take the opportunity given to him and run with it.
John Fogarty, Old Westbury
Fogarty is coming over from Adelphi University, where he had lost some playing time to younger players. He fits in well with the Old Westbury style of baseball which is reliant on aggressive base running and moving runners along. I think he is a perfect top-of-the-order bat to go along with Jesse Russo. They will be counting on his outfield defense as well. He can cover a lot of ground with his plus speed and that is important with a cavernous outfield like they have.
Nick Marino, Nassau
The Bethpage grad has been a hitting machine for the past two years, twice being named to our All-Long Island team. Marino was a finalist for the 2017 Axcess Most Valuable Player Award. He is a tremendous bat–he was second in the nation in hitting last year at .502. The Lions will be counting on him to team up with Angelo Navetta to drive in runs and to provide sound defense in their outfield.
Nick Palmerini, Adelphi
Palmerini played a critical role in Northport’s surprising run in 2016 to the Suffolk Class AA Finals. The RHP pitches from a directly over-the-top release point, which is conducive to a 12-6 curveball that drops off the table. I think he will have an immediate impact in the pen. He’s coming over from SUNY Purchase. He throws in the low-to-mid 80s, but that is sufficient with his command and breaking ball. I think he will be counted on to get some crucial outs in the 7th and 8th inning. Shows no nerves on the mound.
Luke Stampfl, St. John’s
This is an easy one since he’s already an established player. He’s coming over from Fordham as their biggest impact bat. He had a sparkling 2017 season, leading the Rams in batting AVG at .313 and compiling a .513 SLG. This is a rare event that a player of his ilk would be looking to transfer at this stage of the game. He is a middle-of-the-order hitter and a premium defensive SS. It is possible that the Red Storm could have a SS drafted again this year. Comes from a very athletic family–his father played at St. John’s in the early 80s and played professionally with the New York Mets for three seasons. His brother played at LIU Post
