2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 1980s

As the 2025 MLB Draft approaches, let’s take a moment to review the history of high school baseball in New Jersey.

We’ve dug deep into the MLB Draft’s history in relation to high school baseball in New Jersey as part of NJ Advance Media’s coverage of the 2025 draft. See all of the players who were recruited straight out of high school between 1980 and 1989 below.

This is a look back at the vibrant history of high school baseball in New Jersey before the two-day 2025 MLB Draft gets underway on Sunday, July 13. Some of the names will be familiar to you, while others will undoubtedly evoke wonderful recollections.

1980

Round two

• 
  Charles Reese, Pequannock, SS, Detroit Tigers
  

Round four

• 
  Bob Sebra, Gloucester Catholic, RHP, Detroit Tigers
  

Round six

• 
  Jeff Remo, Mahwah, C, Chicago Cubs
  
• 
  Joe Orsulak, Parsippany Hills, 1B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

The seventh round

• 
  Jeff Bitterer, Secaucus, RHP, New York Mets
  

The ninth round

• 
  John Farrell, Shore, RHP, Oakland Athletics
  

Round ten

• 
  Scott Parsons, Livingston, OF, Oakland Athletics
  

Round 12

• 
  Robert Shannon, Paul VI, SS, Oakland Athletics
  
• 
  Dion Lowe, Lakewood, OF, Texas Rangers
  

Round 16

• 
  John Kolacki, Middletown South, LHP, Houston Astros
  

The twentieth round

• 
  Mark Ridgik, Cherry Hill East, RHP, Chicago White Sox
  

23rd round

• 
  Willie Ward, Barringer, 1B, Detroit Tigers
  

Round 36

• 
  Kenny Kohler, North Plainfield, C, Minnesota Twins
  

42nd round

• 
  Martin Writt, Livingston, C, Cleveland Indians
  

1981

Initial round

• 
  George Alpert, Livingston, OF, Cleveland Indians (13th overall)
  

Round three

• 
  Brendan Hennessy, Bogota, 3B, Texas Rangers
  

Round four

• 
  Jerry Holtz, Atlantic City, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
  

The eleventh round

• 
  Peter Mancini, Memorial (WNY), 2B, Boston Red Sox
  

Round 12

• 
  Chuck Faucette, Willingboro, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
  

13th round

• 
  Steve Gelmine, New Providence, LHP, Cleveland Indians
  
• 
  Lex Bleckley, Pennsville, SS, Kansas City Royals
  

The fourteenth round

• 
  Gary Kanwisher, Pascack Valley, RHP, New York Mets
  

Round 16

• 
  Stan Yagiello, New Providence, SS, Cleveland Indians
  

round twenty-four

• 
  Robert Yeager, Piscataway, 3B, Detroit Tigers
  

Round 28

• 
  Ray Krieger, Sayreville, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

The 31st round

• 
  Michael Scarcella, Roxbury, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
  
• 
  Tom Cannon, Sayreville, RHP/3B, San Diego Padres
  

32nd round

• 
  Tim Barker, St. John Vianney, 2B, Texas Rangers
  

1982

Round six

• 
  Kyle Hartshorn, Allentown, RHP, New York Mets
  
• 
  Rob Walton, Rutherford, RHP, Texas Rangers
  

The seventh round

• 
  Carlos Diaz, St. Mary (Eliz.), C, Cleveland Indians
  
• 
  Kevin Sheary, Roxbury, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
  

The ninth round

• 
  Tom Bryant, Caldwell, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

13th round

• 
  David Jacas, Ramapo, OF, New York Mets
  

Round 15

• 
  Greg Burlingame, Kingsway, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers
  

22nd round

• 
  Randy Byers, Cumberland, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
  

The 25th round

• 
  Chris Courtright, Highland, OF, Baltimore Orioles
  
• 
  Greg Bartek, Roxbury, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
  

The 29th round

• 
  Jose DeLeon, Perth Amboy, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

33rd round

• 
  Scott DeMarrais, Emerson, C, Seattle Mariners
  

Round 38

• 
  Craig Jobes, Lakeland, 3B, New York Yankees
  
• 
  Rodney Carter, Elizabeth, OF, Texas Rangers
  

1983

The seventh round

• 
  Erik Hanson, Peddie, RHP, Montreal Expos
  

Round ten

• 
  Kenny Grant, Paterson Eastside, SS/3B, California Angels
  

19th round

• 
  David Cross, Perth Amboy, 1B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

23rd round

• 
  Michael Cutola, Secaucus, LHP, California Angels
  
• 
  Don Enoch, Delran, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
  

The 27th round

• 
  Doug Torborg, Dayton, LHP, New York Yankees
  

Round 28

• 
  Tom Ard, Seton Hall Prep, OF, Chicago White Sox
  

Round 30

• 
  Todd Azar, Cherry Hill East, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
  

1984

Round two

• 
  Al Leiter, Central Regional, LHP, New York Yankees
  

The seventh round

• 
  Al Ashmont, Union Catholic, RHP, Chicago Cubs
  

Round 30

• 
  Jeff Livesey, Lakeland, C, New York Yankees
  

34th round

• 
  Michael McHugh, Boonton, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

Round 35

• 
  Greg Kuzma, Indian Hills, LHP, New York Yankees
  

1985

Round four

• 
  Anthony Candelino, Elizabeth, OF, Montreal Expos
  

Round 12

• 
  Manny Mercado, St. Mary s (Jersey City), LHP, Cleveland Indians
  

Round 26

• 
  John McClain, Clifton, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
  

The 27th round

• 
  Steve Muh, Long Branch, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
  

The 31st round

• 
  John Albertson, Mainland, C, Baltimore Orioles
  

1986

Round four

• 
  Mike Bell, Newton, 1B, Atlanta Braves
  

The ninth round

• 
  Rob Fitzpatrick, Midland Park, C, New York Mets
  
• 
  Mike King, Middletown South, C, San Diego Padres
  

Round 16

• 
  Troy Giles, Passaic, OF, California Angels
  

The twentieth round

• 
  Mike Mahady, Manasquan, RHP, Chicago Cubs
  

21st round

• 
  Brian Fleury, Morristown, C, Houston Astros
  

The 27th round

• 
  Dave Briggs, Rumson-Fair Haven, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
  

Round 30

• 
  Greg Torborg, Springfield, OF, New York Yankees
  

Round 37

• 
  Rob Lukachyk, Henry Hudson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
  

The 39th round

• 
  Darren Villani, West Windsor, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
  

Round 48

• 
  David Arendas, West Windsor, SS, Baltimore Orioles
  

1987

Initial round

• 
  Willie Banks, St. Anthony (Jersey City), RHP, Minnesota Twins (third overall)
  

Round four

• 
  Chuck Ricci, Shawnee, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
  

Round five

• 
  Dennis Burlingame, Kingsway, RHP, Atlanta Braves
  
• 
  Bob Wellington, Elizabeth, RHP, Kansas City Royals
  

The seventh round

• 
  Ed Smith, Pemberton, 3B, Chicago White Sox
  

13th round

• 
  Peter Estrada, Irvington, RHP, Boston Red Sox
  

Round 28

• 
  Greg Randazza, Elizabeth, RHP, Atlanta Braves
  

Round 36

• 
  Joseph Frias, Elizabeth, SS, Detroit Tigers
  

Round 45

• 
  Dan Donovan, Freehold Township, RHP, Houston Astros
  

1988

Round two

• 
  John Kupsey, Gloucester Catholic, 3B, Atlanta Braves (supplemental pick, 57th overall)
  

Round 12

• 
  Scott Egan, Glen Ridge, C, Chicago White Sox
  

Round eighteen

• 
  Joe Redman, Paulsboro, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
  

The twentieth round

• 
  Larry Gilligan, Lakeland, INF, Pittsburgh Pirates
  

The 27th round

• 
  Michael Pfeifer, JP Stevens, RHP, Detroit Tigers
  

Round 37

• 
  Steve Worrell, Lower Cape May, LHP, Boston Red Sox
  

The 39th round

• 
  Tom Crowley, Deptford, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
  

The 50th round

• 
  Allen Popowritz, Saddle River Country Day, RHP, New York Yankees
  

Round 60

• 
  Matthew Morgan, Cresskill, OF, Houston Astros
  

The 61st round

• 
  Mike Carlsen, St. Anthony (Jersey City), SS, Chicago White Sox
  

1989

Round four

• 
  George Virgilio, Elizabeth, 2B, Atlanta Braves
  

The ninth round

• 
  Jeffrey Hammonds, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
  

The fourteenth round

• 
  Gus Santiago, Buena, 3B, Montreal Expos
  

Round 16

• 
  J.J. Picollo, Cherry Hill West, C, Cincinnati Reds
  

32nd round

• 
  Joe Borowski, Bayonne, RHP, Chicago White Sox
  

33rd round

• 
  T.J. O Donnell, Hazlet, 2B, Chicago White Sox
  

52nd round

• 
  Eric Snell, Hamilton West, OF, Cleveland Indians
  

jadvancemedia.com/ppotter.

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