Fifth-year senior pitcher Sean Sposato is interning for the 2024 spring semester in Rhody's athletic media relations office. As part of his internship, he will be writing articles for GoRhody.com
It's that time of year again, baseball fans. The Rams are set to kick off the 2024 season as they head down to Edinburg, Texas to take on the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros in a four-game series
Rhody has a new look this year, having returned 21 players from last year's team and welcoming in a mix of 18 new freshmen and transfers who are hopeful to make an immediate impact this season. Along with the new faces, there are several returners on both sides of the ball looking to play roles in the team's success this season.
Offense
This year's offense for the Rams will feature some old and new firepower in the middle, as well as some speed and toughness rounding out the ends.
Former Rams
Billy Butler (graduate transfer) and
Mark Coley (Miami Marlins organization) will not be seen on the lineup card for the first time in a while. When head coach
Raphael Cerrato was asked who will step up in their place he mentioned the names of veteran transfers
DJ Perron, an infielder who came over from UMass Dartmouth, and
Michael Borrelli, a fifth-year catcher from Saint Anselm. Cerrato believes that they will make an immediate impact in the middle of the lineup.
The Rams are coming off a season where they slugged a program-record 78 home runs and with some returning players and new sluggers, this year's offense is looking to pick up right where it left off.
Quick Hits
- Junior Anthony DePino will be the centerpiece of this year's lineup coming off a stellar 2023 season where he hit a team-best 14 home runs alongside a .518 slugging percentage.
- Sophomore Michael Anderson will also return to the lineup after a Freshman All-American season that included a .316 batting average and 10 home runs.
- Junior Eric Genther also returns for his junior season and will be seen somewhere at the beginning to middle part of the lineup providing a good mix of contact and power.
- Freshman Reece Moroney and redshirt freshman Will Hindle are two that may find their way as mainstays in the lineup as well.
Pitching
The Rams' pitching staff features an interesting mix of old and new arms. Senior
Trystan Levesque and fifth-year
Sean Sposato return from last year's starting rotation and are expected to find themselves back in the mix this year.
Connor Grotyohann is another name to look out for as he could be one to round out the starting rotation.
Returning to the bullpen this season are veteran right-handers
Zach Fernandez and Brendan Hsu, as well as sophomores
Colin Maloney and
Connor Johnston who are looking to have a strong second season. The bullpen will also feature some new veteran arms with the addition of graduate students
Tommy Hughes and
Kenny Heon. Wake Forest transfer
Evan Maloney joined the team this year and is expected to throw some meaningful innings for the Rams.
When Cerrato was asked about how the new guys can be expected to be used he said that "the three transfers will be making an immediate impact out of the 'pen".
Others to keep an eye out for are
Joe Sabbath and
Zach Morris who are both freshmen looking to find their place in the pitching staff and establish their roles.
Who's on Staff?
- Senior Trystan Levesque was D1Baseball.com's pick to be Atlantic 10 pitcher of the year after coming off a strong junior season that saw him finish with 101 strikeouts and a 4.01 ERA.
- Graduate student Tommy Hughes was fourth in the nation a year ago with 10 saves at Southern Connecticut State (NCAA Division II).
- Junior Kenny Heon was a three-time NECC Conference Champion at Mitchell College (NCAA Division III).
- Graduate student Zach Fernandez will look to regain form after struggling with injuries. He pitched 16.2 consecutive scoreless innings in 2021, the 12th-longest in program history.
The Rams will be put to the test immediately this season with each of their first four weekend series being on the road, one of which features preseason eighth-ranked Texas A&M. Be sure to check out their first game this Friday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
