Baseball Announces 2016 Captains
Nov 23 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With the season around the corner, Rutgers baseball announced its captains for the 2016 campaign. Fifth-year senior infielder John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) and senior pitcher Howie Brey (Middletown, N.J.) were selected for the second consecutive year, while fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) and junior Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) earned the nod as well.
"The captains were selected from a team vote," head coach Joe Litterio said. "The team did a great job in selecting four quality teammates. All four guys bring a different attribute and I am happy to have them lead this year's team."
The veteran of the program, Jennings returns for his fifth season with the Scarlet Knights. He is capable of playing all over the infield, making 26 starts at shortstop and 11 at second base last season, and was part of 23 double plays defensively. Jennings blasted a home run in the series finale at No. 3 Illinois.
Projected as the Friday starter for the third-straight year, Brey has 12 career victories over 191.0 innings. The left-hander led the staff with 56 strikeouts in 2015 and pitched the most innings in the nation (80.2) without permitting a stolen base. He capped the season with a complete-game win over No. 13 Iowa at Bainton Field.
Suseck started 52 of the 53 games he played for Rutgers last season, his first for the Scarlet Knights after transferring in from Coastal Carolina in the fall of 2013. The infielder led RU with 14 doubles and ranked second with 30 RBIs, while scoring 32 times and stealing 12 bases. In addition, he was part of a team-high 32 double plays from several spots in the field.
Carter is the lone junior captain, who returned to form in fall practice after being limited by injuries in 2015. The centerfielder was named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2014 after hitting .318 on 67 hits with 35 runs and 34 RBIs. He earned Academic All-Big Ten status last spring.
Rutgers opens its season at Miami on Feb. 19.
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