Rutgers’ steady freshman infielder with pop and polish
In the 2026 season, Joey Erace hit .188 with a .524 OPS, 13 hits, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI for Rutgers, but the stat line only tells part of the story: he’s a compact, right-handed INF from Ocean City, N.J., who has already flashed game-changing instincts, including a memorable heads-up defensive play that drew attention online. The appeal here is upside plus baseball IQ—he’s a home-state competitor with toughness, versatility, and enough bat speed/pop to project as a useful fit for a staff that values energy, awareness, and development.
