Each year, the Albany Dutchmen attempt to add a local flavor to the roster, showcasing players that are familiar to local fans. These players help introduce incoming players to the Albany area, and provide a base for the organization. The Dutchmen are pleased to announce the signing of three local collegiate players and a local prep product to the 2016 roster.
The first infield signing for the 2016 roster is Bray Curreri, a sophomore from The College of Saint Rose. Curreri started in over half of Saint Rose’s 35 games, driving in 12 runs in his freshman campaign. The majority of Curreri’s starts came in the back half of the season, earning the starting job at third base for the Golden Knights. Curreri, a Glen Spey, New York native, was a two-time All-State selection at Eldred High School and a four-year captain. Curreri is expected to be a major contributor on the left side of the infield for the Dutchmen in 2016 at his home park of Bellizzi Field
For the third season in a row, the Dutchmen have an outfielder that hails from the University at Albany. Connor Powers, a redshirt sophomore from Rockville Centre, New York, will patrol the spacious outfield grass at Bellizzi Field for the Dutchmen. Powers comes to the Great Danes after a season at Nassau Community College, where he hit nearly .500 with 21 extra-base hits, including five home runs. Powers helped Nassau CC to a berth in the NJCAA Division III World Series, and will join current teammates and former Dutchmen Will Miller and Eric Mueller as outfielders from UAlbany to stay in the Capital City for the summer.
The Dutchmen will also bolster their pitching staff with local talent, beginning with Siena freshman righthander Dylan D’Anna. D’Anna is a 6'6" hurler from Wappingers Falls, New York. The righty continues the tradition of Saints pitchers such as Chris Amorosi and Ed Lewicki in wearing a Dutchmen uniform. As a junior, D’Anna helped take Ketcham High School to the state Final Four in New York, and struck out 54 hitters in 48 innings as a senior. After playing his true freshman season with the Saints, D’Anna is expected to be a solid arm out of the bullpen for the Dutchmen.
Finally, the Dutchmen add a local pitcher to the roster in Bucknell freshman lefthander Jack Grabek. Grabek played his high school baseball at Guilderland High School, where he was a second team All-Capital District pitcher and a first team All-Suburban Council pitcher. While at Guilderland, Grabek struck out 51 hitters in 32.2 innings, and helped the Flying Dutchmen to a Section 2 South Division title. Grabek was listed as the “best pitcher no one knows about” in New York by Prep Baseball Report, and is going to be a difficult matchup for opposing hitters.
The Dutchmen are pleased to welcome Bray, Connor, Dylan, and Jack to the 2016 roster as local standouts, and are excited that these hometown players will be able to stay at home or on campus for the summer.
