Matt Diaz
NYIT Leaning on Trio of Hard Throwers
Last Season’s Record: 17-26 Key Additions: Ben McNeill (SS), Brendan Dowd (C), Nicholas Vitale (SS/2B), Ryan Kuskowski (C), Nicholas Tedesco (1B) Key Subtractions: Joe Daru (OF), Dixon Marble (RHP) The New York Institute of Technology looks to continue their steady improvement under head coach Bob Malvagna. The NYIT Bears are the last independent school in the NCAA Division I baseball program, therefore, their goal for their season is different than most teams. They’re not looking to make conference tournament at the end of the year, their focus will be growing as a team. As Coach Malvagna said of his expectations, “Every year we improve is a positive.” Strengths: The Bears’ starting pitching will be their biggest strength this season. This class of seniors are the first group that Malvagn...
Which Players From Long Island Could Get Drafted This Year? Part 1
This is a year where there is a higher-than-normal amount of players with professional caliber playing on Long Island. There might not be a first-round pick, but there will be plenty of Day 3 guys. To discuss them all, it will be broken into a multi-part series. Here is the first group. Jesse Berardi (Commack ’14, St. John’s ’18) You won’t find anyone that says a bad word about Berardi. He won the Carl Yastrzemski Award in 2014 and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. His makeup is off the charts and everyone adores how he respects the game and hustles at all times. He was regarded as the best defensive shortstop to come out of Long Island since Shawon Dunston. His bat has come along and all of a sudden he developed power which only enhances his value. Assuming...
Running For His Life: Why Matt Diaz’ Fastball Will Get You Paying Attention to NYIT
“If you don’t lose a lot of weight, you won’t be a part of this team.” This is what Matt Diaz was told by Coach Bob Malvagna when he showed up to school at 250 lbs despite getting rave reviews from his high school coach–Joe Cubas. After all, Cubas had a great reputation within the baseball community as the coach who discovered Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez and vouched for the Miami-native Diaz as a worthy athlete to pitch at NYIT. Upon hearing that, Diaz knew it was time to kick his workout regimen into high gear. Now a senior and in the best shape of his life at 205 lbs, Diaz is finally living up to the potential that he showed while pitching in Miami as a high school prospect. He was getting recruited by many schools; notably Florida Atlant...
