Baseball Season Preview: Pitchers/Catchers
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team opens its 2022 season on Friday, February 18 in Greenville, North Carolina. BryantBulldogs.com previews the 2022 team leading up to Opening Day.
Position: Pitchers
Returners: Christian Allegretti, Ryan Bradley, Logan Frasier, Jack Halbruner, Mike Randazzo, John Carney, Jackson Harrigan, Liam LeVangie, John MacDonald, Mark Scamardella, Matthew Stansky, Austin Wainer, Brett Wichrowski
Newcomers: Collin Lowe, Jared Burrows, M.T. Morrissey, Coleman Picard, Kevin Sylvestri, Ken Turner, Jackson Vanesko, Kyle Rizy, Bradley Lewis
Position: Catchers
Returners: Damaurys Rodriguez, Alex Lane, Sam Sinisgalli
Newcomers: John Tuccillo, Jackson Phinney, Jacob Gaudreau
The Breakdown
The Black and Gold pitching staff will look quite different this year with the loss of weekend starters Tyler Mattison, Tyler Schoff and Vito Morgese. Add in the loss of Kevin Gould and Jack Ipsen and Bryant returns just 27 percent of its innings (100 of 371) from a season ago.
Leading the way in terms of innings will be Austin Wainer, Christian Allegretti, Liam LeVangie and John MacDonald. Wainer was solid as a true freshman, posting a 2.38 ERA, 27 strikeouts and just eight walks in 22.2 innings. Allegretti struck out 24 and walked just six over 17.1 innings, while LeVanige tossed 17.2 innings in 11 appearances, two starts. MacDonald was lights out in the pen, posting a 0.61 ERA, 11 strikeouts and just three walks in 14.2 innings.
Bryant will look to Jack Halbruner, Jackson Harrigan, Logan Frasier, Brett Wichrowski and Mike Randazzo to provide valuable innings. Halbruner was a lefty specialist, posting a 1.29 ERA in five appearances, while Harrigan looks to regain his freshman form that saw him post a 2.08 ERA in 17.2 innings. Meanwhile, Frasier is penciled in as the Sunday starter, marking what would be his first collegiate start. Wichrowski on the other hand, struck out eight over 4.2 innings and will look to build off a summer season that saw him pitch in the Cape Cod League.
The Black and Gold also hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in veteran arms to bolster the staff. Collin Lowe (Richmond), Jared Burrows (Hartford), Coleman Picard (Hartford), Ken Turner (Hartford), M.T. Morrissey (Georgetown) and Kevin Sylvestri (George Washington) all join the Bulldogs this spring. Lowe will step in as the Friday night starter, having made 29 appearances and 11 starts in his career at Richmond. Burrows will serve as the Saturday starter to open the season. He made seven appearances as a true freshman with Hartford last spring. Morrissey made two appearances for the Hoyas, Picard pitched in eight games for the Hawks and Turner is coming off a stellar summer with Bourne on the Cape. Sylvestri made 33 relief appearances in four seasons at GWU.
Behind the plate, Damaurys Rodriguez was an All-NEC Second Team selection last spring as a true freshman. He hit .338 with four home runs, 33 RBI and 21 runs scored. He struck out just 13 times in 130 at-bats. Alex Lane returns to the lineup after missing all of 2021 with an injury. The 6-foot-5 Lane has had a strong winter. Sam Sinisgalli also returns behind the dish for the Black and Gold.
Bryant welcomes transfers John Tuccillo and Jackson Phinney, and true freshman Jacob Gaudreau. Tuccillo was a First Team All-America East selection as a senior at Stony Brook last spring, hitting .261 with six home runs and 34 RBI. Tuccillo appeared in 148 career games at Stony Brook. Phinney comes to Smithfield after spending his freshman season at Pittsburgh. He appeared in 24 games and made 14 starts, going 3-for-35 with a double and a home run. Gaudreau was a standout at La Salle Academy in Providence, helping LSA finish second in the state.