Cimillo & Santa Maria Join Baseball Roster
Jul 22 | Baseball
Transfers immediately eligible in 2022 for Scarlet Knights
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball and head coach Steve Owens welcome Nick Cimillo and Tony Santa Maria to the program. The transfers will join the Scarlet Knights this fall in preparation for the 2022 season with immediate eligibility.
Photo Credits
Cimillo: Manhattan Athletics
Santa Maria: Stocktonphoto,inc.
Nick Cimillo
C/OF | 6-3 | 210 | R/R
Suffern, N.Y./Suffern High School/Manhattan College
Why Rutgers? "Rutgers is a great academic school where I can advance my career in the classroom. In addition, the Rutgers baseball program is great, and I want to be a part of it."
Owens Quote: "Nick is an accomplished player who will show up ready to go. He has excelled on offense throughout his collegiate career hitting for high averages as well as putting up great power numbers."
Career: Started all 103 games played … holds a .319/.404/.487 slash line … totaled 123 hits, 70 runs, 21 doubles, 14 homers, 68 RBIs, 40 walks and 17 times hit by pitch … accumulated a .980 fielding percentage with 14 runners caught stealing … twice named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year … earned Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-America, MAAC Rookie of The Year and All-MAAC First Team in 2019.
2021 (Junior at Manhattan): Started all 30 games … a Johnny Bench Award nominee … named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year … hit .284/.395/.523 with 31 hits, 29 runs (10th MAAC), six doubles, six home runs (t-9th MAAC), 19 RBIs and 15 walks … notched eight multi-hit and six multi-RBI games … caught five runners stealing … collected a double, homer, three runs and two RBIs in doubleheader sweep versus Saint Peter's (5/16) … went 2-for-5 with a double, home run, three runs, two RBIs and a walk in doubleheader at Marist (5/9) … picked up five hits, five runs and two RBIs in three games against Niagara (5/1-2) … registered a hit in all four games against Fairfield (4/23-24), batting .462 (6-of-13) with two doubles, two home runs, four runs, five RBIs and four walks … went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks in game two, before crushing a three-run homer in game three ... named MAAC Player of the Week after hitting .500 (7-of-14) with a triple, two home runs, four RBIs and six runs with a .588 on-base percentage and a 1.071 slugging clip in series victory at Siena (4/17-18) … singled and scored a run in the opener, before going 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and two RBIs in game-two victory … homered, scored three runs and drove in two in game three win, before going 2-for-3 with a run and a walk in the series-clinching finale ... hit safely in both ends of a doubleheader sweep of Iona (4/7) while scoring a pair of runs … also hit safely in both games against Rider (4/3).
2020 (Sophomore at Manhattan): Started all 14 games … named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year ... hit .259 (14-of-54) with five runs, three doubles, one home run, 13 RBIs, one stolen base and five walks … registered three multi-hit and four multi-RBI performances … posted a .365 on-base percentage … finished as the toughest player to strike out in the MAAC (one every 13.5 bats) … went 3-for-4 with a double and a run at CCSU (3/10) … crushed a solo home run in game two against UAlbany (3/7) … in win at Texas A&M CC (2/29), finished up 4-for-5 with four run-scoring singles and a walk … followed that up by going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and run against the Islanders (3/1) … in season-opening southern swing, drove in five runs while hitting safely in all three games against Air Force (2/14-2/15) and Stetson (2/14).
2019 (Freshman at Manhattan): Started all 59 games … named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American … selected as First Team All-MAAC as an outfielder, MAAC Rookie of The Year and to the MAAC All-Rookie Team … ranked third in the MAAC with a .350 average (78-of-223) with 78 hits (third MAAC), 12 doubles, seven home runs (ninth MAAC), 36 RBIs, 36 runs and 20 walks … posted a .498 slugging percentage and a .417 OBP (fifth MAAC) with 111 total bases (fourth MAAC) … registered a team-leading 28 multi-hit and nine multi-RBI games … had a team-best 15 game hitting streak … caught 6-of-11 attempted base stealers … during league play, hit a MAAC-best .404 and placed second with 36 hits ... hit safely in 23-of-28 games against league opposition … batted a blistering .412 (7-of-17) with a home run, double, six RBIs and four runs over four games at the MAAC Tournament … began the tournament by going 2-for-4 with a home run and a career-high four RBIs in win over Marist (5/22) … followed that up with the eventual game-winning two-run single in upset of top-seeded Canisius (5/22) … went 3-for-4 with two runs against Quinnipiac (5/25), before concluding rookie year with a double and a run versus Fairfield (5/25) … notched a pair of hits at Wagner (4/24), in win at Rider (5/3), victory against Saint Peter's (5/11) and at Quinnipiac (5/17) … batted .636 (7-for-11) in series victory at Monmouth (4/27-4/28), finishing up with six RBIs, three multi-hit performances and two runs … fueled by a pair of three-hit performances, batted .500 (7-of-14) with three runs and three RBIs against Marist (4/19-4/20) … registered two hits in all three games of series sweep of Siena (4/13-4/14), going 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate, with a double, home run, four runs and two RBIs … had three hits in series sweep of Iona (4/6-4/7) and in doubleheader at Army West Point (4/10) … hit .455 (5-of-11) over three games at Canisius (3/31-4/1) with two home runs, a double, three runs and two RBIs … reached base safely in all four games at NCAA College World Series participant Michigan (3/14-3/17), while homering en route to registering five hits … named MAAC Player and Rookie of the Week after hitting a scorching .636 (7-of-11) over three games at George Washington (3/2-3/3), with a double, home run, four runs and three RBIs … reached base safely in five trips to the plate in game one against the Colonials, finishing 4-for-4 with a walk … followed that up with a solo homer in game two, before going 2-for-4 with two runs and two walks in the finale … went 5-for-9 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs in doubleheader split at Appalachian State (2/24) … opened career with a back-to-back multi-hit performances against Sam Houston State (2/15) and Virginia Tech (2/16).
Prior to College: Played prep ball at Suffern High School under the direction of Chris Mitchie … earned three letters for the Mounties … named 1C League Player of the Year in each of final two years … named Suffern Athlete and the Rockland County Athlete of the Spring in 2018 … also earned All-Section honors as a junior and a senior … a three-time All-League selection … played travel ball for the Rockland Royals under the tutelage of Jared and Vinny Randazzo.
Personal: Son of Kelly and William Cimillo … father went to St. John's, played football and was named to the Hall of Fame in 2020 ... has two older sisters, Samantha and Taylor … plans to study economics.
Tony Santa Maria
INF | 5-11 | 185 | R/R
Absecon, N.J./Atlantic County Institute of Technology/Iona College
Why Rutgers? "I chose Rutgers because of the opportunity to play close to home in a good conference with a team and coaching staff that are prepared to win."
Owens Quote: "Tony will come to Rutgers with three years of playing eligibility remaining having only completed one COVID-shortened season thus far. He is very well-rounded defensive player with a strong arm, advanced glove skills and range. Offensively, he is a right-handed hitter with a high on-base percentage and excellent bat control. He currently is having a tremendous summer in the PGCBL hitting .372, which is third in the league. We are excited about how he plays the game and the energy and confidence he displays."
2021 (Freshman at Iona): Started all 14 games … named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team … slashed .286/.383/.367 with 14 hits, 10 runs and seven walks … homered and walked at Manhattan (4/7) … earned MAAC Rookie of the Week (3/29) … went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and one RBI versus Canisius (3/28) … went 4-for-7 with one run scored and one walk against Canisius (3/27).
Prior to College: Played at Atlantic County Institute of Technology … named First Team All-CAL and First Team All-State … earned a spot on the 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams … also played hockey in high school … an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year.
Personal: Son of Penny and Phil Santa Maria … has two brothers, Phil and Nick … plans to study biology.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.
Photo Credits
Cimillo: Manhattan Athletics
Santa Maria: Stocktonphoto,inc.
Nick Cimillo
C/OF | 6-3 | 210 | R/R
Suffern, N.Y./Suffern High School/Manhattan College
Why Rutgers? "Rutgers is a great academic school where I can advance my career in the classroom. In addition, the Rutgers baseball program is great, and I want to be a part of it."
Owens Quote: "Nick is an accomplished player who will show up ready to go. He has excelled on offense throughout his collegiate career hitting for high averages as well as putting up great power numbers."
Career: Started all 103 games played … holds a .319/.404/.487 slash line … totaled 123 hits, 70 runs, 21 doubles, 14 homers, 68 RBIs, 40 walks and 17 times hit by pitch … accumulated a .980 fielding percentage with 14 runners caught stealing … twice named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year … earned Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-America, MAAC Rookie of The Year and All-MAAC First Team in 2019.
2021 (Junior at Manhattan): Started all 30 games … a Johnny Bench Award nominee … named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year … hit .284/.395/.523 with 31 hits, 29 runs (10th MAAC), six doubles, six home runs (t-9th MAAC), 19 RBIs and 15 walks … notched eight multi-hit and six multi-RBI games … caught five runners stealing … collected a double, homer, three runs and two RBIs in doubleheader sweep versus Saint Peter's (5/16) … went 2-for-5 with a double, home run, three runs, two RBIs and a walk in doubleheader at Marist (5/9) … picked up five hits, five runs and two RBIs in three games against Niagara (5/1-2) … registered a hit in all four games against Fairfield (4/23-24), batting .462 (6-of-13) with two doubles, two home runs, four runs, five RBIs and four walks … went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks in game two, before crushing a three-run homer in game three ... named MAAC Player of the Week after hitting .500 (7-of-14) with a triple, two home runs, four RBIs and six runs with a .588 on-base percentage and a 1.071 slugging clip in series victory at Siena (4/17-18) … singled and scored a run in the opener, before going 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and two RBIs in game-two victory … homered, scored three runs and drove in two in game three win, before going 2-for-3 with a run and a walk in the series-clinching finale ... hit safely in both ends of a doubleheader sweep of Iona (4/7) while scoring a pair of runs … also hit safely in both games against Rider (4/3).
2020 (Sophomore at Manhattan): Started all 14 games … named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year ... hit .259 (14-of-54) with five runs, three doubles, one home run, 13 RBIs, one stolen base and five walks … registered three multi-hit and four multi-RBI performances … posted a .365 on-base percentage … finished as the toughest player to strike out in the MAAC (one every 13.5 bats) … went 3-for-4 with a double and a run at CCSU (3/10) … crushed a solo home run in game two against UAlbany (3/7) … in win at Texas A&M CC (2/29), finished up 4-for-5 with four run-scoring singles and a walk … followed that up by going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and run against the Islanders (3/1) … in season-opening southern swing, drove in five runs while hitting safely in all three games against Air Force (2/14-2/15) and Stetson (2/14).
2019 (Freshman at Manhattan): Started all 59 games … named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American … selected as First Team All-MAAC as an outfielder, MAAC Rookie of The Year and to the MAAC All-Rookie Team … ranked third in the MAAC with a .350 average (78-of-223) with 78 hits (third MAAC), 12 doubles, seven home runs (ninth MAAC), 36 RBIs, 36 runs and 20 walks … posted a .498 slugging percentage and a .417 OBP (fifth MAAC) with 111 total bases (fourth MAAC) … registered a team-leading 28 multi-hit and nine multi-RBI games … had a team-best 15 game hitting streak … caught 6-of-11 attempted base stealers … during league play, hit a MAAC-best .404 and placed second with 36 hits ... hit safely in 23-of-28 games against league opposition … batted a blistering .412 (7-of-17) with a home run, double, six RBIs and four runs over four games at the MAAC Tournament … began the tournament by going 2-for-4 with a home run and a career-high four RBIs in win over Marist (5/22) … followed that up with the eventual game-winning two-run single in upset of top-seeded Canisius (5/22) … went 3-for-4 with two runs against Quinnipiac (5/25), before concluding rookie year with a double and a run versus Fairfield (5/25) … notched a pair of hits at Wagner (4/24), in win at Rider (5/3), victory against Saint Peter's (5/11) and at Quinnipiac (5/17) … batted .636 (7-for-11) in series victory at Monmouth (4/27-4/28), finishing up with six RBIs, three multi-hit performances and two runs … fueled by a pair of three-hit performances, batted .500 (7-of-14) with three runs and three RBIs against Marist (4/19-4/20) … registered two hits in all three games of series sweep of Siena (4/13-4/14), going 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate, with a double, home run, four runs and two RBIs … had three hits in series sweep of Iona (4/6-4/7) and in doubleheader at Army West Point (4/10) … hit .455 (5-of-11) over three games at Canisius (3/31-4/1) with two home runs, a double, three runs and two RBIs … reached base safely in all four games at NCAA College World Series participant Michigan (3/14-3/17), while homering en route to registering five hits … named MAAC Player and Rookie of the Week after hitting a scorching .636 (7-of-11) over three games at George Washington (3/2-3/3), with a double, home run, four runs and three RBIs … reached base safely in five trips to the plate in game one against the Colonials, finishing 4-for-4 with a walk … followed that up with a solo homer in game two, before going 2-for-4 with two runs and two walks in the finale … went 5-for-9 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs in doubleheader split at Appalachian State (2/24) … opened career with a back-to-back multi-hit performances against Sam Houston State (2/15) and Virginia Tech (2/16).
Prior to College: Played prep ball at Suffern High School under the direction of Chris Mitchie … earned three letters for the Mounties … named 1C League Player of the Year in each of final two years … named Suffern Athlete and the Rockland County Athlete of the Spring in 2018 … also earned All-Section honors as a junior and a senior … a three-time All-League selection … played travel ball for the Rockland Royals under the tutelage of Jared and Vinny Randazzo.
Personal: Son of Kelly and William Cimillo … father went to St. John's, played football and was named to the Hall of Fame in 2020 ... has two older sisters, Samantha and Taylor … plans to study economics.
Tony Santa Maria
INF | 5-11 | 185 | R/R
Absecon, N.J./Atlantic County Institute of Technology/Iona College
Why Rutgers? "I chose Rutgers because of the opportunity to play close to home in a good conference with a team and coaching staff that are prepared to win."
Owens Quote: "Tony will come to Rutgers with three years of playing eligibility remaining having only completed one COVID-shortened season thus far. He is very well-rounded defensive player with a strong arm, advanced glove skills and range. Offensively, he is a right-handed hitter with a high on-base percentage and excellent bat control. He currently is having a tremendous summer in the PGCBL hitting .372, which is third in the league. We are excited about how he plays the game and the energy and confidence he displays."
2021 (Freshman at Iona): Started all 14 games … named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team … slashed .286/.383/.367 with 14 hits, 10 runs and seven walks … homered and walked at Manhattan (4/7) … earned MAAC Rookie of the Week (3/29) … went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and one RBI versus Canisius (3/28) … went 4-for-7 with one run scored and one walk against Canisius (3/27).
Prior to College: Played at Atlantic County Institute of Technology … named First Team All-CAL and First Team All-State … earned a spot on the 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams … also played hockey in high school … an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year.
Personal: Son of Penny and Phil Santa Maria … has two brothers, Phil and Nick … plans to study biology.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.
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