Westfield Starfires’ outfielder and Northeastern University athlete Anthony Ruggiero has been selected for the Futures Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game on July 22 at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts, home to the AAA Worcester Red Sox. This addition marks a significant accomplishment for the Starfires, bringing their representation in this year’s All-Star festivities to six players and a total of eight participants over the two-day event.
Ruggiero will compete with Team Smiles, which will be led by Kyle Dembrowski, the manager of the Norwich Sea Unicorns and former Starfires bench coach. His impressive stats this season include a batting average of .282, comprising 33 hits out of 117 at-bats, four home runs, four doubles, and 20 runs batted in, alongside 17 runs scored. He has also demonstrated his speed on the bases with 10 stolen bases.
In terms of defense, Ruggiero has been a solid performer in the outfield, achieving 31 putouts and contributing one outfield assist, yielding a commendable .914 fielding percentage over the course of 161 innings played exclusively in right field. He gained recognition as the FCBL Player of the Week for the week ending July 13, where he showcased a stellar 7-for-15 performance, which included a grand slam while facing the Worcester Bravehearts.
Tickets for the highly anticipated All-Star Game and Home Run Derby can be obtained through polarpark.com/futuresleague, and tickets for home games featuring the Westfield Starfires are available at westfieldstarfires.com.
This event not only highlights individual talent like Ruggiero’s but also emphasizes the growing popularity of collegiate baseball in the region, generating excitement among fans and fostering community spirit.