2023 Bonnies Baseball Preview: Position Players

The St. Bonaventure University baseball team will kick off the 2023 season on Friday, Feb. 24 with a four-game series at Middle Tennessee.

The Bonnies will be under the first-year leadership of head coach Jason Rathbun, who has brought a new-found energy and excitement to the program after a highly successful 17 years at Herkimer Community College. During that time, he posted a sparkling 556-180 career record.

“Our hitters have gotten to the point where they are comfortable with their approaches," Rathbun said. "Now, it’s just about going out and playing. Guys have to go out and show that they can put up numbers at this level. There are a lot of unknowns, but I believe at the core positions we are very strong.”

Senior Jack Putney will man the hot corner after posting eye-popping numbers in fall ball, leading the team in average, home runs, and doubles. In 23 starts last season, Putney hit .284 with a .372 on base-percentage. In the lineup he will serve as the three-hole hitter.

“I view the corner infield and outfield positions as the staple of our lineup with power bats at third base, left field, first base, and right field,” Rathbun stated.

A pair of fifth-year players in Christian Szablewski and Danny Manion will hold down first base. Manion primarily served as the designated hitter a season ago, posting a .261 average with four home runs and 22 runs batted in. He has started 50 of 55 career games with the program. Szablewski bravely battled back to the field at the end of last season after facing a cancer diagnosis at the start of the year and is looking forward to be ready to go for the full 2023 season.

In left field, redshirt junior Adam Rankie comes to the Bonnies after being named a 2022 NJCAA All-American from his time at Erie Community College. As a sophomore, Rankie led all NJCAA Division III players in both hits (99) and runs (90) in 2022 and was also second in the country in doubles (25) and fourth in batting average. He has shown a great ability to barrel every pitch and will serve as the two-hole hitter.

Senior Thomas Grilli will also see time in left field and DH, after spending last season as the primary second baseman for the Bonnies. Grilli started 28 games last year and recorded the second highest batting average on the team (.290).

On the other side of the outfield, Northeastern transfer Mark Darakjy will serve as the starting right fielder with the ability to play first base. He will give the Bonnies a ton of power as the cleanup hitter in the lineup.

Freshman Evan Dieter will be a left-handed bat off the bench that showed some pop in the fall and be a backup outfielder.

According to Coach Razz, freshman centerfielder Jayce Tharnish is “without a doubt our best prospect moving forward.” Tharnish’s electric speed and great ability to get on base have afforded him the opportunity to be the leadoff hitter in the lineup. He is also set to showcase his talents this summer in the Cape Cod League, which is viewed as one of the nation's top summer collegiate league.

Fellow freshman Conner Vercollone joins the Brown and White this spring after spending the fall at Combine Academy in North Carolina. Vercollone is described as a “fast twitch” player who provides great defense in center field and has the ability to hit for a high average at the Division I level.

Coach Razz referred to the middle infield as an exciting aspect of the team. Shortstop Artin Biageyian comes to the Bonnies after playing at Glendale Community College for two years, which was a nationally ranked program a season ago. He provides a strong glove and quick hands up the middle.

Biageyian is joined up the middle by fellow junior college transfer, second baseman Kyle Caccamise. Caccamise follows Rathbun to St. Bonaventure after spending two seasons with him at Herkimer Community College. He is known for his glove and proved it by being named the 2022 NJCAA DIII National Defensive Player of the Year and helping Herkimer to a national championship a season ago.

Freshman Chris Hoalcraft can play multiple positions on the field but will serve as the primary backup at shortstop, while sophomore Aaron Herbst added a lot of strength over the offseason and will provide a bat off the bench behind Caccasmise.

Senior Pierce Hendershot, who has played 66 career games with the program, will see some time at third base when there is a tough left-hander on the mound and can move around the infield with experience at multiple spots.

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