Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
David Silverman Photography
David Silverman Photography
Posted: Feb 14, 2023

Season Preview: Outfielders

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team opens its 2023 season on Friday, February 17 against High Point. BryantBulldogs.com previews the 2023 team leading up to Opening Day.

Position: Outfielders
Returners: Derek Smith, Matt Smith, James Myler
Newcomers: Gavin Noriega, Brian Schaub, Kaden Hilburger, Kyle Neri

The Breakdown

  • Bryant will have to fill the void in its outfield left by the graduation of Shane Kelly and the loss of Matt Woods to the transfer portal.
  • The Bulldogs will accomplish that with the return of senior Derek Smith and the additions of Gavin Noriega and Brian Schaub in the transfer portal.
  • Smith hit just .268 last season but walked 26 times, posted a .381 OBP, scored 42 runs and stole 15 bases. He's a .293 career hitter that has 50+ hits in each of his two full seasons.
  • Noriega joins the Black and Gold after earning First Team All-MAAC honors last spring at Marist. He started all 46 games, hitting .350 with 51 RBI. Noriega collected 14 doubles, four home runs and three triples while striking out just 18 times in 183 at-bats.
  • Schaub comes back to the Division I level after spending the past two seasons at Division III Trinity (Texas). He was a two-time ABCA All-Region selection at Trinity, helping lead his team to the Division III World Series in 2022.
  • Schaub hit 30 home runs in two seasons at Trinity, including 16 last spring. He added 61 RBI.
  • Schaub started his career at Richmond, appearing in 30 games for the Spiders. He hit .208 with six home runs and 21 RBI as a true freshman in 2019. 
  • Matt Smith and James Myler also return for the Black and Gold after seeing time a season ago. Smith played in 41 games and hit .250 with eight extra-base hits, 23 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
  • Myler made the most of his time at the plate last year, hitting home runs for each of his first two collegiate hits. 
  • Kaden Hilburger and Kyle Neri round out the group as true freshman. Hilburger was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in America East by Perfect Game and will also see time on the mound for the Bulldogs.
  • Neri enjoyed a standout prep career at St. Augustine Prep. In 2021, Neri was hit in the face by a pitch, stayed in the game and later delivered a walk-off hit to win the South Jersey Non-Public A title for St. Augustine Prep.