Rider transfer John Volpe commits to Rutgers

Rutgers baseball landed another addition on Monday as Rider grad transfer John Volpe announced his commitment. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

The final stop is back home @RutgersBaseball pic.twitter.com/CviPzJ93Xx

— john volpe (@johnny_volpe) June 26, 2023

The Wall, New Jersey native was a key contributor for a Rider team that won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in 36 years this past season. Volpe hit leadoff and batted .298 with an on-base percentage of .381 in 56 games for the Broncs. He also had 2 homers, 34 RBI, 47 runs and 19 stolen bases. In three NCAA Tournament games, he led Rider at the plate going 6 of 14. Volpe was 3 of 6 with an RBI, a stolen base and 2 runs scored in Rider’s upset win of No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina.

Volpe is an asset in the field for his versatility and skill. In the 2022 season, he made zero errors while totaling 192 putouts and assists while splitting time between second base, shortstop and centerfield.

He hit .291 in 144 games played, including 135 starts, for Rider over the past four years. Volpe also led the Broncs in hits in each of the past two seasons.

Prior to Rider, Volpe helped lead Wall High School to the B North Championships in both 2017 and 2018. He earned First Team All-Division B North and a First Team All-Group 3 honors.

Rutgers has now added eight transfers through the portal this offseason so far. Last week, the program added a pair of outfielders, two time All-MAAC selection Pete Durocher from Manhattan and Scotty Young from the JUCO ranks. They also added catcher JD Jones, who is transferring in from Miami. The first transfer the program landed this offseason was outfielder Pete Ciuffreda from Lafayette. On the mound, the Scarlet Knights have added starters Jack Eshleman from Division III Hamilton College and St. John’s transfer Sonny Fauci. RU also added Old Dominion reliever Joey DeChiaro.

With at least eleven players having departed from the transfer portal and more gone due to graduation, head coach Steve Owens continues to work hard in rebuilding the Rutgers roster for next season. Stay tuned…

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