Baseball Season Preview: Outfield has chance to be elite

This is the third of a four-part series previewing the 2019 Bryant University baseball team. BryantBulldogs.com previewed the Bulldog catchers on Monday, the infielders on Tuesday and will preview the pitching staff on Thursday.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Headlined by reigning Northeast Conference Player and Rookie of the Year Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.), the Bryant University baseball team heads into the 2019 season with one of the most talented outfields in all of New England.

In addition to Ward, the Bulldogs also return All-NEC selections Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) and tri-captain James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.), and one of the leagues premier underclassmen Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.). Together, the quartet combined for 50 doubles, 17 home runs, 141 RBI and 163 runs scored in 2018.

"It's really important, both in respect to our defense and the fact that all three of them are very good hitters that can run, to have them back," head coach Steve Owens said. "I am really pleased with our entire group of outfielders and I think it can be a very elite group."

Ward is coming off one of the greatest seasons in Bryant history in 2018 and will open the year in left field after splitting time between left, second base and center last spring. He set DI program records for batting average (.409), hits (101) and total bases (157) on his way to All-American and Freshman All-American honors. Ward became the first player in league history to win both player and rookie of the year honors and he was also recognized as the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Co-National Freshman Player of the Year.

Ward's performance has earned him several preseason recognitions, including a spot among the top 100 outfielders in the country according to D1Baseball.com. He's also been projected as the preseason player of the year in the NEC by D1Baseball.com, Perfect Game and Baseball America.

"He's very humble, very grounded, goes about his business and is fun to be around," Owens said. "Some people that have that kind of individual success can get consumed with it, but he just cares about winning."

Angelini will once again slot into center as one of the best defensive outfielders in the region. After earning All-NEC First Team honors in each of his first two seasons, Angelini's batting average dipped in 2018 but he still hit four home runs, drove in 28 runs, scored 40 times, stole a team-high 15 bases and finished with a .364 OBP. He enters his final season in Smithfield ranked in the top 10 in DI program history in hits (10th, 169), triples (3rd, 9), home runs (9th, 13), runs scored (5th, 133), walks (5th, 85) and stolen bases (4th, 43). Angelini has the chance to become the first player in DI program history to score 40+ runs all four years.

Defensively, Angelini posted a career-high three outfield assists last spring and has recorded over 100 putouts each of the last two years.

"We expect Nick to be a leader and a terror on the base paths," Owens said. "He can track down balls all over the outfield, has gotten way better at the balls in front of him and has made some changes to his swing and approach that I think will pay dividends for him."

In right, Ciliento returns as one of Bryant's most productive hitters over the last two years. Following a slow start to his career, Ciliento has collected 94 hits over his last 64 games (1.46/g).  One of the Bulldogs' toughest players, Ciliento finished second behind Ward in batting average (.377) and hits (72) despite missing seven games with an injury. He clubbed 14 doubles, two triples and three home runs and finished with a .448 OBP on his way to All-NEC First Team and All-New England Third Team honors.

Ciliento is also an elite defender. He tracks balls extremely well and possesses Bryant's strongest outfield arm. He posted three outfield assists and committed just one error on the year.

"James represents the character of our team," Owens said. "He brings it every day, he plays hard, he grinds out at-bats, he gets big hits and he's invested 100 percent and expects the same from his teammates."

Kelly is primed for another big year after being able to go through a full offseason without injury. He started 16 games in left, one in right and 19 at DH but missed 14 games in the middle of the season. Despite that, Kelly still hit .296 with nine doubles, three home runs, 30 RBI, 26 runs scored and a .411 OBP. Kelly collected his first career hit off the eventual No. 1 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and hit two of his three home runs against Maryland and UConn. He also thrived in his first NEC Tournament, driving in five runs in the three games. Defensively, he was able to post three outfield assists despite playing just 17 games there.

"Shane's in way better shape because he's been able to have a full offseason of workout," Owens said. "We are looking for him to drive in a lot of runs and to be a big part of our offense."

Bryant's outfield will also include freshman Vincenzo Castronovo (Utica, N.Y.). The left-handed hitting outfielder comes to Smithfield after a decorated career at Thomas R. Proctor High School. Playing at the highest level of high school baseball in the state of New York, Castronovo was a three-time All-State selection and was a three-time All-Mohawk Valley All-Star.

"Vincenzo is exactly what we knew we were getting, powerful, athletic and good speed," Owens said. "He's in the mix, has a great deal of confidence and has also been working at first base."

Bryant opens the 2019 season with a three-game series at Abilene Christian beginning on Friday, Feb. 15.

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