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College  | Recruiting | 12/8/2025

The State of Recruiting in the Northeast

Ryan Miller
Photo: Chris Pollard (UVA Athletics)
Cold weather states face unique obstacles when producing baseball talent and none persevere better than those in the Northeast. States such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, among others have annually funneled high-level recruits throughout the country to college baseball’s premier destinations. New England has specifically made a name for themselves, in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and occasionally Vermont or New Hampshire. Below, we look at the programs who annually land top talent from the East Coast, showcasing the vast spectrum of area competitors.  




Top ACC Bidders Maintain Grasp on the Northeast 
 

Duke and Virginia will be tied to the hip for the foreseeable future after Chris Pollard and staff made the jump to Charlottesville following the 2025 season. Both programs remain players in the Northeast, landing top ranked recruits such as Sean Loggie (’26, NJ/UVA), Cole Kuhn (’27, PA/Duke), and Brady Guzzie (’27, PA/UVA). The Blue Devils have added a plethora of high-quality and projectable arms outside of Kuhn, including Carson Moser (’26, NY) and Hunter West (’27, PA) who have seen the low-to-mid 90s. Virginia has placed an emphasis on highly athletic infielders, starting with Sal Garcia (’26, NJ) to go with a pair of Virginian shortstops in Will Yow and Bryant James. Nicholas Machusko (’27, PA) hails from the Pittsburgh area and has impact plus projection. Enmanuel Acevedo (’27, NY) is a high-level right-hander heading to the Cavaliers, working his fastball into the mid-90s along with a tight slider. 

Miami has long been a staple in the Northeast recruiting landscape, recently landing a plethora of arms from New York and New Jersey such as Tate DeRias, Erick Peralta, and Jake Lodgek. Their current East Coast recruits include a pair of intriguing position players in catcher Devin Diaz (’26, NY) and infielder Chris Grasso (’27, PA). Diaz features athletic actions behind the dish, registering sub-2.00 second pop times, while switch-hitting. The Hurricanes remain heavily focused on the mound, signing projectable right-hander Ty Van Valkenburg (’26, NY) who has worked his heater into the mid-90s and garnered draft attention.  

Pitt and Boston College add the unique aspect of being within the region, generating appeal to recruits who may wish to remain closer to home. The Panthers have put an emphasis on Northeast right-handers, committing to nine across both classes, including projectable righties Elijah Barr (’26, PA) and Tyler Bunnell (’26, NJ). Pitt experienced a major recruiting win after getting in-state outfielder Mason Ligenza to campus and hope for more of the same in Jackson Staples (’27, PA) and consistent performer Owen Rozzi (’26, PA). Boston College has put together a strong 2026 class built on Northeast pitchers, starting with southpaw Asher DeLue (’26, NJ) who has seen the mid-90s from the left side. Other names include Matthew DeFilippo (’26, CT), JJ Drennan (’26, NJ), and 6-foot-6 lefty Luke Hillegass (’26, PA). They added right-hander Steven Pannullo (’27, NJ) to lead off their 2027 class, also pledging to shortstop Joey Dimeo (’27, NJ). 
 

Wake Forest is another notable program in the area; who’s former pitching coach Corey Muscara is now the head man at Duke. The Deamon Deacons have long recruited the region and will plan to enroll 59th ranked catcher Andrew Costello (’26, PA) this spring, forgoing the MLB Draft. This is a big win for the Deacs, landing Costello who features both raw power and upside behind the dish. Their top ranked right-hander for 2026 is 6-foot-5 Daniel Kellis (’26, PA), who took an up-arrow trajectory after jumping his fastball up to 96 at a winter showcase. New Jersey left-hander Ryan Auten (’26, NJ) features projection in his 6-foot-6 frame with an advanced three-pitch mix (FB, SL, CH). Outfielder Brady Abate (’26, PA) offers an intriguing hit/power blend from the left side, along with a strong arm from the grass. 


The Big Ten’s Consistent Presence 
 

Penn State head coach Mike Gambino is no stranger to the Northeast recruiting, having been the leader of the Boston College program from 2011-2023. The Nittany Lions’ entire 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes hail from Pennsylvania and New Jersey aside from southpaw Ben Sclafani (’27, MD). Gambino and his staff have built a deep stable of upcoming arms, starting with two-way outfielder Alex Weingartner (’26, NJ), who leads his class by ranking. The quartet of Hunter Brown (’26, NJ), Jerek Turlij (’26, PA), Nolan Stefaniak (’26, PA), and Ryan Fuller (’26, PA) brings a boatload of projection and upside to the mound in State College. Righty Trent Lutz (’27, PA) and outfielder Curt Friedrich (’27, NJ) headline their 2027 crop, with Friedrich also offering present ability on the mound.  

Rutgers has done as good a job as any at keeping their in-state talent home and their upcoming recruiting classes are no different. Their 2026 class is lead off by NYC lefty Anaiscio Ortiz (’26, NY), who works with a strong three-pitch mix, along with advanced backstop Mickey Gilligan (’26, NJ). A trio of right-handers provide the Scarlet Knights with depth on the mound, starting with Garden State products Patrick Cassels (’26, NJ) and Cole Marchetti (’26, NJ). Their ’26 class is stabilized by infielders Tyler Garbooshian (’26, NJ) and Albert Maldonado (’26, NJ). Rutgers has signed up a pair of New Jersey outfielders in Benjamin Faigin (’27, NJ) and JJ Watkins (’27, NJ), both with dynamic skillsets.   
 

Maryland has long been of note in the region, recruiting heavily from their home state as well as the Northeast. The Terps have built both classes around right-handed pitching depth, also adding catchers Chase Bagley (’26, NJ) and Jimmy Dobbs (’26, CT) to do the receiving. Delaware native Osiah Kelley (’26, DE) has long been pledged to the Terps, working his heater into the low-90s with feel for a devastating change-up. Infielders Jack Swanson (’27, CT) and Julian Guzman (’26, NY), along with outfielder Jackson Fournier (’27, MA), provides Maryland with a quality crop of position player talent. Their ’27 class includes righties Ted Masino (’27, NJ) and Liam McGinness (’27, NY), once again emphasizing upside on the mound.  


Appalachian Appeal  
 

Tennessee has been the talk of the college baseball world the past few months, appointing recruiting coordinator Josh Elander as head coach after Tony Vitello’s departure for MLB. The defending National Champions have as much recruiting pull as any, bringing talent from coast to coast to Knoxville. While their 2026 class has a lack of Northeast representation, the Vols made a splash in the ’27 class, landing tooled up infielder Leo Nockley (’27, PA) and power righty Kaiden McCarthy (’27, VT). Nockley packs strength and athleticism into a 5-foot-8 frame, routinely producing exit velocities north of 100 from the left side. McCarthy is a medium-framed right-hander with feel for a three-pitch mix, including a heater that has seen the mid-90s.  

West Virginia has an established pipeline of area talent heading to Morgantown, including the likes of first round selection and Pittsburgh area native JJ Wetherholt. In recent years, the Mountaineers have targeted the Northeast pitching demographic, recruiting nine from 2023-2025. In 2026, however, their class is headlined by an advanced trio of position players, including outfielder Henkel Acevedo (’26, MA), as well as first basemen CJ Alfano (’26, NY) and Jordan Burwell (’26, NJ). All three possess intriguing hit/power blends from the left side, also offering a good amount of projection. Their top ranked arm is Pittsburgh area righty Blake Krushinski (’26, PA), who owns a run/ride fastball into the mid-90s along with a tight horizontal slider. West Virginia has landed a pair of recruits within their 2027 class, infielder Josh Burkholder (’27, PA) and southpaw Nolan Wilson (’27, PA).  

Virginia Tech have long been customers in the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania recruiting market, developing the likes of fifth rounder Cade Hunter and outfielder Jack Hurley through this pipeline. Their 2026 crop starts with righty Ethan Lee (’26, NY), who works off a riding fastball that has seen the mid-90s, along with a pair of distinct breaking balls. Catcher Justin Munoz (’26, NJ) provides the Hokies with an advanced backstop whose produced pop times below 1.9 along with a plus arm behind the dish. Munoz operates from a strong right-handed frame and has produced exit velocities nearing 100. Their 2027 class includes Garden State righty Michael Fekete (’27, NJ), featuring strength in his 6-foot-2 frame, with a run/ride heater that has touched 92.  

 
The Southeast’s Regional Ties 
Auburn has occasionally dipped their toes into the Northeast stronghold, pledging to Pennsylvania product and top MLB prospect Kevin McGonigle, among others. They’ve bought stock into a pair of arms, righty Nicholas Bradley (’26, PA) and two-way southpaw Owen Burnes (’27, MA), who offer advanced mixes and projection from their respective sides. The Tigers also signed infielder/outfielder Guy Lynam (’26, NJ), an intriguing left-handed bat. Alabama hired former Maryland skipper Rob Vaughn prior to the 2024 season, bringing a wealth of area talent to Tuscaloosa. They experienced a big recruiting win recently, landing top ten outfielder Finnian O’Loughlin (’27, NJ), who possesses big power from the right side among other tools.  
 

Vanderbilt may be the sport’s most recognizable brand and has always done well in the Northeast, producing the likes of Ian Anderson, Jack Leiter, and countless more. The Commodores’ 2026 class starts with defensive wizard Aiden Ruiz (’26, NY) and dynamic infielder Luke Williams (’26, PA), both of whom would be big wins to get to campus. Electric right-hander David Hinojosa (’26, NY) is an up-arrow arm out of NYC, reaching the high-90s. Building out the depth of the class are a trio of Pennsylvania natives in shortstop Jackson Melconian (’26, PA), 6-foot-6 Keller Bradley (’26, PA), and righty AJ Calio (’26, PA). Strong-bodied two-way Graham Keen (’27, PA) recently announced his intentions for Nashville, producing exit velocities over 100 while working in the low-90s on the mound. The Yormack brothers gave Vanderbilt their commitment, starting with right-hander Derek (’27, NY) who has flirted with the mid-90s while recording exit velocities in the upper-90s. Ryan (’27, NY) offers his own right-handed power, profiling on the corner infield defensively.  

Mississippi State made a splash when they hired Virginia coach Brian O’Connor to head their program, bringing with him a wealth of Northeast connections. They’ve recruited and developed numerous high draft picks at Virginia including the Gelof brothers, Kyle Teel, and Mike Vasil. The Bulldogs landed a trio of right-handed hitters for 2026 in catcher Hunter Strohm (’26, PA), along with New Jersey infielders Noah Danza (’26, NJ) and Zach Geertsma (’26, NJ). Mississippi State will continue to be an intriguing destination for area talent looking for an SEC home.  
 

Coastal Carolina and East Carolina have a deep-rooted influence in the Tri-State area, giving recruits the opportunity to play for championships in warm weather, competitive mid-major conferences. First year head coach and Northeast native Kevin Schnall led the Chanticleers to the CWS Final behind the likes of Garden State products Caden Bodine and Cameron Flukey, while ECU once recruited future Hall of Famer Mike Trout. Coastal’s 2026 class starts with 6-foot-3 righty Ryder Olson (’26, PA), featuring a mid-90s fastball and deep bag of secondaries (CB, SL, CH). The Pirates boast a pair of up the middle defenders in catcher Braeden Lipoff (’26, NJ) and shortstop Shane Monaghan (’26, PA). Lipoff has a bazooka arm behind the plate while consistently performing and flashing right-handed power.  


Mid-Major Strongholds 
Northeastern and UConn have long been the premier mid-majors in New England, competing annually while producing local talent. Northeastern’s entire ’26 class hails from the region, including pitchers Alex Boone (’26, VT) and Danny DiTullio (’26, NJ). DiTullio fills up the zone from the left side, utilizing a dynamic three-pitch mix (cut FB/SL/CH), while Boone has worked his heater up to 92. UConn’s 2027 crop starts with a trio of high upside righties that include Mason Ellison (’27, NH), Damian Budhai (’27, PA), and Dorian Fortes (’27, MA). Their 2026 class features depth on both sides of the ball, including a large group of arms that start with left-hander Walker Carroll (’26, PA). Catcher Alex Cantwell (’26, MA) works from a projectable frame behind the dish, showcasing an intriguing hit/power blend from the left-handed box.  
 

Seton Hall and St. John’s have established themselves as mid-major powers in the metro-NYC area. Seton Hall’s 2026 class begins with nine New Jersey natives, starting with intriguing two-way talent Nathan Bryce Bolognini (’26, NJ) who features an intriguing southpaw mix and left-handed impact upside. Logan Chi (’26, NJ) garnered attention throughout the summer, reaching 92 from the right side, mixing in a tighter slider and late fading change-up. The Johnnies also invite in a deep crop of pitchers, including righties Anthony Burt (’26, RI), Andrew Caramico (’26, NY), and Brighton Fontaine (’26, PA). Fontaine works with a low-90s fastball along with a two-plane slider and promising change-up.  
 
Delaware is emerging as a mid-major force in the greater Philadelphia area, turning in three straight winning seasons and will be transitioning to Conference USA. The Blue Hens’ 2026 class is talent-rich on the mound, headlined by southpaw Tim Dougherty (’26, NJ), as well as righties Zach Bond (’26, NY) and Nate Bott (’26, NJ). Dougherty works from a medium left-handed frame, mixing in a FB/SL/CH trio that produces whiffs. Other notable names include Daniel Passalacqua (’26, NJ), lefty AJ Saccento (’26, NJ), and Logan Kriner (’26, PA), who have seen the low-90s. Their 2027 class starts with athletic infielder Ethan Dubois (’27, NJ). 
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