Five newcomers expected to make an impact with UConn baseball in 2023

The Huskies will have plenty of new faces in the lineup and rotation in the upcoming season

In the new world of the transfer portal in college athletics, UConn baseball has put their own spin on recruiting reinforcements to fill gaps in their squad. Long before the transfer portal and the immediate eligibility rule, pitching coach Josh MacDonald developed a pipeline from California junior colleges, netting important pieces like Zach Bushling, Jeffrey Kersten and Michael Woodworth. The Huskies have also snatched stars from lower levels of the sport in areas closer to home, like Ben Huber from Division II Limestone College and Matt Donlan, who arrived from Stonehill College.

The Huskies have a long tradition of turning over every stone to find quality pieces, and their important additions for the 2023 season have arrived from a variety of locations, from four-year stars in the Big South, to Division III players who have outgrown their leagues, to a returner to the program after four years down the street in Willimantic.

Here’s a look at the program newcomers expected to make an impact with the Huskies in 2023:

Dominic Freeberger, UTIL, UNC Asheville

UConn’s marquee addition to the lineup will also feature as a useful tool on the defensive side of the ball. Dominic Freeberger comes to the program from UNC Asheville as a true swiss army knife on defense, featuring both on the infield and the outfield, even touching 94 mph on the mound in fall workouts.

Named to the All-Big South team two years in a row with the Bulldogs, Freeberger hit .338 with 28 RBI in 2022, leading the team with 68 hits and walking as many times as he struck out. Freeberger is a true veteran of the college game, starting 50 games as a freshman in 2019 and making 166 total appearances over four years with UNC Asheville.

Freeberger could make an appearance in a number of areas for the Huskies. With the departure of Zach Bushling, he could fill in at third base or feature in right field, replacing the departing Casey Dana.

Andrew Sears, SP, Rhode Island College/Stephen Quigley, SP, Wheaton College

UConn baseball’s starting staff revamp will be led by newcomers Andrew Sears and Stephen Quigley, a pair of Division III transfers who impressed in fall workouts.

Sears arrives at UConn after an impressive sophomore season at Rhode Island College, where he went 8-1 with a 2.29 ERA, throwing three complete games and two complete game shutouts. Sears owns a fastball that sits at 93-94 mph and a big, sweeping curveball as his wipeout pitch.

Quigley spent the first two years of his career at Wheaton on the infield, but found his calling as a starting pitcher. At UConn, Quigley is tabbed as an important member of the weekend pitching staff after a stellar 2022 with the Lyons, earning a 2.22 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and holding opposing batters to a .215 batting average against. Quigley pitches to contact with a fastball in the low 90s, a slider and a changeup.

Jake Studley, OF, Wheaton College

Studley is another Wheaton transfer who could make a positive impact on UConn baseball’s success in 2023. The outfielder was a two-time NEWMAC player of the year, slashing .412/.490/.718 and leading the team in hits (73) and home runs (11).

Studley was a great hitter at the Division III level and brought it against more talented opposition in summer leagues, hitting .304 in 2021 in the FCBL with Brockton and .309 in 2022 in the NECBL with Ocean State. He can play all three positions across the outfield and has the opportunity to stake his claim to the position alongside Korey Morton and T.C. Simmons.

Luke Broadhurst, IF/DH, Eastern Connecticut State

Broadhurst isn’t technically a newcomer to the Storrs program, starting his college career with UConn baseball in 2018, but transferred to Eastern Connecticut State after redshirting. He would go on to make his mark on the Willimantic program as one of its best players for four years with a career .377 batting average, 1.187 OPS and more walks than strikeouts. He’s a tall, athletic player listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds and can be utilized anywhere on the infield. UConn has a hole at third with the departure of Zach Bushling, so if Broadhurst is going to feature in the field for the Huskies, that would be a natural fit.