News

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.

2025 MLB Draft

  • 2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 2010s and 2020s

  • 2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 2000s

  • 2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 1990s

  • 2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 1970s

  • 2025 MLB Draft preview: A look at every N.J. HS player taken in the 1960s

Joe Hofmann

Joe Hofmann

Joe Hofmann is a dedicated news reporter at Morris Sussex Sports. He exclusively covers sports and weather news and has a vast experience of 6 years as a news reporter. In free time, he can be found at local libraries.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *