Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

The improvement is downright startling and bordering on the unbelievable. Most baseball experts can’t comprehend how someone can improve their batting average by almost 200 percentage points in a single year. 

But that’s exactly what has taken place with Rutgers-Newark senior catcher Gerard Russomanno, who has watched his batting average skyrocket to the very top of the Scarlet Raiders’ team leaders in just a single season. 

Even Russomanno, one of the Scarlet Raiders’ team captains, is floored by the immense improvement. 

“Yeah, it really is unbelievable,” Russomanno said. 

“I don’t know what has happened over the course of the year,” Rutgers-Newark head coach Mark Rizzi said. “But it’s safe to say he’s hitting the ball well.” 

It’s an understatement. Russomanno, who batted .250 as a sophomore and .245 as a junior, currently leads the Scarlet Raiders after 18 games with a .436 batting average. He has already doubled his run production from a year ago, knocking in 12 runs -- and the season is less than half over. 

“He’s in a good spot in the lineup and he’s seeing some good pitches to hit,” Rizzi said. “It’s no fluke. I know he’s been working hard in the cage and getting instruction in hitting.” 

Russomanno said that after last season, he went back to taking hitting lessons at the Pro Academy in Hawthorne with hitting coach Bob Frasa. 

“I decided to change my approach at the plate and I think that put me in the right direction,” Russomanno said. “I worked on my bat speed a lot. I also changed my whole attitude and instead of taking a lot of pitches and going deep in the count, perhaps looking for a walk, I have decided to swing the bat and try to make contact, just to see what happens.” 

Not only did Russomanno continue his hitting lessons, but he also got a job at a baseball facility in Union called Frozen Ropes, where he worked with teammate Joe Furnaguera. 

“Joe and I started hitting non-stop together, whenever we had a chance,” Russomanno said. “We were working on doing some of the little things.” 

Finally, Russomanno also worked with former Scarlet Raider player and coach Joel Burgos, who taught him not to over-swing at the plate. 

“We worked with a nifty contraption called the bat wings that helped me work on my bat speed,” Russomanno said. “Now, instead of swinging a weighted bat in the on-deck circle, I swing a fungo stick. I never thought that a weighted bat was bad, but the other way made my bat faster.” 

No sense arguing with the results. 

“So far so good,” Russomanno said. 

Russomanno’s defensive skills have never wavered. He has always been an excellent defensive backstop and has continued that success this season, having not made a single error in 77 chances and 68 putouts this season. 

“He’s very good back there,” Rizzi said. “He has a great knowledge of the pitchers and has the right demeanor. He’s also improved tremendously behind the plate and is throwing the ball well. He’s made an improvement in a lot of areas in his game. The pitchers are very comfortable throwing to Gerard. They are relaxed and confident.” 

“The pitchers have been successful so far and they’re doing what they’re expected to do,” Russomanno said. “It’s a totally different attitude this year. We know we’re going to do well as a team. It’s not like we’re playing with our backs to the wall. We’re confident and now people are gunning to come after us.” 

Needless to say, Russomanno is having the time of his life. It’s well deserved, because he’s a well beloved member of the team. 

“Gerard is a captain on the team for a second straight year and there’s a good reason why,” Rizzi said. “He’s very well respected among his teammates and has the right demeanor for a catcher and a leader. He knows to lighten things up, but he also knows to get hard on them when he has to. It means a lot to have a leader like that. If you’re going to be a successful team, you need a leader like Gerard and what he does.” 

Rizzi is overjoyed at the success Russomanno has achieved this season. 

“Any coach who wins always looks to the reasons why,” Rizzi said. “To see Gerard perform like this is a pleasant surprise and it’s really a huge addition to our lineup. It’s almost been like getting an entirely new player. I know I didn’t expect this at all. I would be happy just to have the catching position do well defensively, but the way he’s swinging the bat, it’s a huge plus. He makes us a much deeper lineup. He also deserves this, because he’s worked so hard.” 

Russomanno will graduate in May with a degree in criminal justice, but the West Paterson native isn’t sure that he wants to pursue a career in law enforcement in the future. 

“I met someone from Major League Baseball involved with merchandising and licensing and there’s a chance that I might do an internship with them this summer,” Russomanno said. “Who knows where that might lead? I would definitely love a career in baseball.” 

For now, Russomanno is enjoying the season of his life. The Scarlet Raiders are winning and he’s a main reason why. 

“Numbers are numbers,” Russomanno said. “The batting average is nice and all, but as long as we keep winning, I really don’t care what I hit. I’m just happy to be a part of it all.” 

And for now, leading the way atop the Scarlet Raiders’ batting leaders.