Aces and more: 16 MetroWest and Milford-area baseball players to watch this spring in 2024
The smell of the fresh grass. The sound of rawhide popping against leather. The metallic ping of a sharp single.
Spring is here, and opening day of the high school baseball season is just around the corner.
Last season saw Franklin play for its second consecutive Division 1 championship, falling to league rival Taunton for the second year in a row. Ashland and Hopedale both reached the quarterfinals out of the 18 area programs that qualified for the state tournament.
Our list of players to keep an eye on this spring includes all-stars, Division 1 commits, aces and some of the state's most dangerous hitters. Here are 16 MetroWest and Milford-area baseball players to watch this spring in 2024:
Peter Abair, Sr., Lincoln-Sudbury
He's a Dual-County League All-Star in two sports already after a sterling baseball season last spring and dominant football year in the fall. The three-sport athlete also led L-S to the boys basketball state tournament.
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Will Adamski, Sr., Hopedale
He helped lead the Blue Raiders to the Division 5 quarterfinals in 2023. Adamski struck out 31 batters in 20 innings pitched. He notched a 4-0 record and allowed just seven walks and a 1.05 ERA.
Jack Byrne, Sr., Natick
The Fairfield commit led the Redhawks to the Division 1 state tournament a year ago. He has a compact swing and also competes for the MWS Devils.
Austin Campbell, Sr., Franklin
The Hockomock All-Star didn't lose a decision in 2023. He went 9-0 and picked up a save, as the Panthers returned to the Division 1 state final. Campbell, who will pitch at UMass next season struck out 91 batters and walked just 28 in 59.2 innings. The lefty registered a 1.05 earned run average.
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Ian Carter, Jr., Milford
The junior led the Scarlet Hawks with a 2.4 ERA a season ago as a sophomore. He added a home run and three RBIs for Milford. Carter committed to Bryant in October.
Damien Carter, Sr., Milford
He both pitched and played as a utility infielder for the Scarlet Hawks. Carter hit .379 with 25 hits and a .529 on-base percentage. That included six triples, two homers and 25 runs. The Franklin Pierce commit struck out 51 with 21 walks in 43⅓ innings and registered a 5-3 record with a 2.62 ERA. Milford reached the Division 1 Sweet 16.
Henry DiGiorgio, Sr., Franklin
A four-year varsity player for the Panthers, the Northeastern commit also stood out during Franklin's run to the Division 1 basketball state final. He's an excellent defender and a line drive hitter.
Jake Haarde, Sr., Lincoln-Sudbury
He blistered pitching last season with a .420 average and 34 hits. The Penn State commit scored a DCL Thorpe lead-leading 24 runs and drove in 15 of his own. He also stole a league-high 18 bases. Haarde has started every game the past two years and was a Dual County League All-League player in 2023, as the Warriors got to the Division 1 Sweet 16.
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Hunter Harris, Sr., Wayland
The DCL All-Star hit .294 with four RBIs and a double a year ago. He walked 13 times and only struck out eight times.
Corey Magill, Sr., Blackstone Valley Tech
The Johnson & Wales commit was named an honorable mention Central Mass Division 4 All-Star last season. He ranked 11th in Central Mass. with a .477 average and drove in 18 runs. The Beavers reached the Division 4 Round of 16.
Brian Olson, Sr., Dover-Sherborn
The TVL All-Star hit three home runs a season ago. Olson is committed to Middlebury. The Raiders reached the Division 3 state tournament last year and won a game.
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Teddy Peters, Sr., Holliston
The right-handed pitcher was a TVL All-Star a season ago, as the Panthers powered to the Division 2 Round of 16. He'll continue his career at Brandeis next season.
David Rosengard, Sr., Hudson
One of Central Mass.' most dangerous bullpen arms, he struck out 11 with just four walks in 11⅓ innings pitched. He notched a 0.6 ERA and won two games in relief. Rosengard also notched five hits and two RBIs, as the Hawks reached the Division 3 state tournament.
Anthony Ruggiero, Sr., Nipmuc
The Dual Valley Conference All-Star notched a .361 average a year ago an smashed five home runs with 20 RBIs. The Northeastern commit led the Warriors to the Division 3 state tournament a year ago.
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Jake Schoenberg, Sr., Holliston
Part of a 1-2 punch at the top of the Panthers rotation, he'll pitch at Saint Anselm next season. The righty was named a TVL All-Star last year.
Cooper Tarantino, Jr., Lincoln-Sudbury
The catcher committed to Northeastern this fall. He was a Dual County All-Star and All-League player a season ago. Tarantino is the state's No. 27 prospect in the Class of 2025, according to Prep Baseball Report.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: 16 MetroWest and Milford baseball players to watch in spring 2024
