'People want to come and play for the Worcester Bravehearts': Plenty of future stars find success with local team

WORCESTER —– The Worcester Bravehearts have been perennial playoff participants since they made their diamond debut in 2014.

The Futures League summer baseball entry qualified for postseason play in nine of its first 10 seasons and is once again in contention for a playoff berth this summer. Chalk it up to a roster that is annually brimming with collegiate talent.

That again was on full display earlier this week as five former Bravehearts were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. The quintet was headlined by the Central Mass. duo of Jonathan Santucci of Leominster and John West of Shrewsbury .

“I don’t work on the player personnel side,” longtime general manager Dave Peterson said Wednesday, “but I do know the reason why this organization continues to bring in top-tier talent that is noticed by (pro) scouts is because our coaching staff has done an incredible job at getting scouting reports from their relationships with college coaches.”

That staff is currently comprised of seventh-year manager Alex Dion and assistant coaches Matt Geoffrion and Greg Stagani.

All told, 29 players who suited up for the Bravehearts have been drafted, including five this week. In addition to Santucci and West, Dennis Colleran (2021, 2023) was picked in the seventh round by Kansas City, Randy Flores (2021) was picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth round, and Tanner Smith (2021, 2022) was grabbed by San Diego in the 15th round.

More: These Central Mass. stars were the first locals picked in the last 15 Major League Baseball Drafts

Twelve have been taken in the three most recent drafts, including Jack Choate of North Grafton in the ninth round by the San Francisco Giants in 2022, and Matt Shaw of Brimfield in the first round by the Chicago Cubs and Coleman Picard of Auburn in the sixth by the Kansas City Royals last July.

“I think we treat these players the right way because of our wonderful host families, the food we feed them, the gear that they get, the fact that we pack the ballpark so there are fans there to watch them,” Peterson said.

“So when somebody like John West comes and plays for the Bravehearts, he tells his teammates the kind of organization we are and the way we treat people and the fact we give these guys the right experience so they can learn how to be a professional ballplayer somebody. I feel like we’re on the radar now because people want to come and play for the Worcester Bravehearts.”

Speaking of professionals, Ben Rice has made quite an impression since being called up by the New York Yankees in mid-June.

Rice, a Dartmouth graduate from Cohasset, spent two seasons with the Bravehearts and was named league MVP in 2020 before being drafted in the 12 ^th round by the Yankees in 2021.

“He just loved playing baseball,” Dion said. “He’s the single player that looked like he had the most fun playing the game that we’ve ever had. And he’s obviously making his most out of his time in the big leagues right now.”

Santucci, a left-handed pitcher and rising senior at Duke University, was taken in the second round (46 ^th overall) by the New York Mets on Monday.

Santucci, who was 18 at the time, only played in 10 games for the Bravehearts at the start of the 2021 season before heading to North Carolina to prepare for that year’s draft and his freshman year of college.

But he made a lasting impression on Dion during his brief stint in Worcester.

“One of the most professional kids I’ve ever met, and I had him when he was young,” Dion said.

Santucci has focused on pitching the past two seasons, but at the time, he also played in the outfield and was an outstanding hitter.

“I think Jonathan’s ceiling on the mound as a left-handed pitcher is through the roof,” Dion said, “but he was a pretty good offensive player, too. He got to swing it a little bit in the Cape League, and that’s the best of the best, and he held his own down there.”

Santucci was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday evening prior to the Bravehearts’ game at Fitton Field.

The 6-foot-8, 265-pound West, a righty pitcher who just completed his senior season at Boston College, went to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 12 ^th round (374 ^th ) on Tuesday.

West, a two-time T&G Super Team selection in both baseball and basketball, was deployed as a reliever for the Bravehearts during the 2020 season when they played at Doyle Field in Leominster due to the pandemic.

“He was awesome,” Dion said. “Obviously, he’s like a larger-than-life individual, but (getting drafted) just kind of solidifies he has pro stuff on the mound.

“But a fantastic human being. One of the best teammates we’ve ever had here, and that’s just the way he was everywhere he went.”

One notable former Braveheart who was not drafted — although he reportedly drew serious interest from three teams — was Mavrick Rizy of Fiskdale. The 6-10, 248-pound righty was considered one of top 250 prospects, but also a tough sign due to his commitment to Louisiana State University.

Rizy made two starts for the Bravehearts this season before heading off to the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix, where he was joined by Santucci.

The Worcester Academy graduate is 19, meaning he’ll be eligible for the draft again in 2026. If he remains on his current trajectory, there is little doubt he’ll get selected then.

“He’s got really good stuff, and he’s got the body,” Dion said. “He was an awesome kid for the short amount of time he was here. ...  He’s got all the ability in the world.”

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'People want to come and play for the Worcester Bravehearts': Plenty of future stars find success with local team