Albanese (13), Titus (16) among New England Baseball Journal's top 20 MLB prospects
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior outfielder Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) and incoming recruit Jimmy Titus have been named two of New England's top 20 MLB draft prospects by the New England Baseball Journal.
The New England Baseball Journal released its February issue on Monday and slotted Albanese at No. 13 and Titus, a senior at East Catholic High School in Connecticut, at No. 16. Vanderbilt's Ben Bowden and Will Toffey were the top two MLB prospects from New England.
A 2014 Freshman All-American and the 2014 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, Albanese has excelled in his first two seasons in Smithfield. He hit .319 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 35 runs scored as a sophomore despite missing 18 games. Albanese spent the summer of 2015 playing for Cotuit in the Cape Cod Baseball League, hitting .240 with five doubles and 10 RBI in 23 games.
Titus signed to play for the Bulldogs in the fall and is one of the most highly touted recruits in the programs history. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut as a junior after hitting .432 with five home runs. Titus played with the Evoshield Canes this past summer and won a national championship with them.
In addition, NEBJ also unveiled its preseason top 10 and its Division I Players to Watch. Bryant was picked third behind UConn and Boston College in the preseason poll, while senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) and sophomore James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) were tabbed as players to watch.
The Black and Gold open the 2016 season on Friday, Feb. 19 in Cary, N.C., against Army.