In 2009, Rutgers-Newark hit a crisp .316 with seven everyday players hitting above .300 under first-year assistant coach Joel Burgos. The former Scarlet Raider also assisted the outfielders with their defense to help the squad post 22 wins and make the ECAC Metro Championship playoff field.
Burgos, a 2004 graduate of Rutgers-Newark, started 69 games in the outfield for the Scarlet Raiders and was one of the top power hitters in the NJAC. In his two-year stint, he amassed 10 home runs, 62 RBI and owned a .496 slugging percentage. His best season came his senior year when he finished third in the NJAC in home runs (7) and fifth in RBIs (38) while leading the Scarlet Raiders in seven offensive categories. Burgos was the recipient of the program’s Coaches Award.
Before Rutgers-Newark, Burgos played two seasons at County College of Morris where he was named an All-Region outfielder in 2002. He hit .312 and was second in RBI with 23.
In 2006, Burgos signed a professional contract with the Alexandria (La.) Aces of the Independent United League. The 2000 Roxbury High School graduate is currently a private hitting instructor and has given over 5,000 lessons over the past two years. Burgos currently resides in Landing, NJ.
