St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Earns BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, Seven All-BIG EAST Selections
5/19/2026 10:30:00 AM | Baseball
Head Coach Mike Hampton secures program’s 12th BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year honor
NEW YORK – After claiming the program's league-record 10th BIG EAST Regular Season Championship, St. John's Head Baseball Coach Mike Hampton and his staff have been named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition, seven St. John's student-athletes secured postseason recognition from the BIG EAST after winning all seven conferences series during the regular season, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.
Jon LeGrande, Liam O'Leary and Adam Agresti earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors while Jayder Raifstanger, Lewis Rodriguez, Shaun McMillan and Evan Hoeckele were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. O'Leary was one of three league players to be selected unanimously. The Red Storm's seven All-BIG EAST selections were tied for the highest total in the league are the most for the program since nine Johnnies earned all-conference accolades in 2018.
For the second time in in a three-year span, Hampton and his staff were named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. Hampton also garnered the recognition seven times as a member of Ed Blankmeyer's coaching staff from 2005-18. Overall, this is the 12th time since 1985 that a St. John's skipper has received the league's top coaching honor.
Hampton, Associate Head Coach George Brown and Assistant Coaches John Valente and Garrett Scavelli helped guide the Johnnies to a share of the 2026 BIG EAST Regular Season title, the program's first since 2018 and its league-record 10th overall. The Johnnies enter the postseason with a record of 30-24 after winning 29 of their last 43 regular season contests, including a 15-6 mark in BIG EAST play. The Red Storm won all seven of their league series.
In his first year with the program, O'Leary emerged as the ace of the St. John's pitching staff in 2026, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.03 ERA across 14 starts while tossing a team-high 92.0 innings. The unanimous first-team selection recorded three complete games and one shutout, striking out 62 batters and allowing just 21 walks while limiting opponents to a .235 batting average. The Souderton, Pa., product anchored the Red Storm weekend rotation throughout BIG EAST play, posting a 6-1 record in league play. Against BIG EAST foes,
O'Leary struck out 37 batters while surrendering just eight walks and held opponents to a .220 batting average.
Agresti powered the middle of the St. John's lineup with one of the top offensive campaigns in the BIG EAST. The catcher slashed .295/.432/.632 while launching a team-high 17 home runs and driving in 47 RBIs across 54 starts. His 17 round trippers, which rank second in the BIG EAST, are the second-highest single-season total in program history, trailing only Jeremy Baltz's 24 homers in 2010. Agresti also led the team with 40 walks and 122 total bases while handling the bulk of the work behind the plate defensively.
LeGrande turned in a standout season atop the Red Storm lineup, batting .317 with 42 RBIs and 43 runs scored over 51 games. The senior outfielder added 13 doubles, six home runs and a team-best 22 stolen bases while posting a .405 on-base percentage. In conference play, the Bronx, N.Y., native hit .304 in league play and was tied for the team lead with 24 hits in 21 BIG EAST matchups.
Raifstanger provided steady production in the heart of the lineup, hitting .318 with a team high 70 hits, 14 doubles, 41 RBIs and 40 runs scored while starting all 54 contests. The Great Barrington, Mass., reached base at a .410 clip, good for second on the team. In the field, the third baseman posted .981 fielding percentage at the hot corner and was charged with just one error throughout the 21-game conference slate.
Rodriguez delivered a strong all-around campaign for the Johnnies, batting .305 with 18 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 50 appearances. The outfielder ranked second on the team with 16 stolen bases on just 18 attempts.
McMillan paced the St. John's offense with a team-best .323 batting average while starting all 54 games at first base and DH. The sophomore recorded 70 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBIs while slugging .507. He is currently riding a 17-game hitting streak into the BIG EAST Tournament. The Freeport, N.Y., native also contributed defensively with a .994 fielding percentage.
Hoeckele emerged as one of the most dependable arms out of the bullpen for St. John's in 2026. The right-hander compiled a 2-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and a team-high six saves over 16 appearances. In 30.0 innings, the Bernardsville, N.J., product struck out 37 batters while holding opponents to a .224 batting average. Against league foes, Hoeckele struck out 24 batters in 15.1 innings of work.
Top-seeded Red Storm will make its return to the 2026 BIG EAST Baseball Championship, presented by JEEP, on Wednesday, facing fourth-seeded Creighton. First pitch from Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio is slated for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
2026 BIG EAST Regular Season Awards
Player of the Year
Jackson Marshall, UConn, So., 1B *
Pitcher of the Year
Cayden Suchy, UConn, So., LHP
Freshman of the Year
Cam Righi, UConn, Fr., OF
Coaching Staff of the Year
St. John's, Mike Hampton
All-BIG EAST First Team
Peyton Jemison, UConn, RSo., 2B
Jackson Marshall, UConn, So., 1B *
Cayden Suchy, UConn, So., SP *
Charlie West, UConn, Jr., SP
Nate McHugh, Creighton, Sr., DH
Ben North, Creighton, Gr., SS
Isaac Wachsmann, Creighton, Jr., CF
Adam Agresti, St. John's, R-So., C
Jon LeGrande, St. John's, Sr., CF
Liam O'Leary, St. John's, Jr., SP *
Clay Burdette, Xavier, RSo., OF
Luke Hammond, Xavier, Gr., 3B
Garrett Helsel, Xavier, Sr., RP
Ryan Piech, Xavier, RSo., SP
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Brock Buckley, Butler, Sr., SP
Anthony Belisario, UConn, So., OF
Rob Rispoli, UConn, RSo., SS
Nater Wachter, UConn, Jr., OF
Connor Capece, Creighton, Jr., C
Connor Peek, Georgetown, Gr., SS/INF
Evan Hoeckele, St. John's, So., RP
Shaun McMillan, St. John's, So., 1B
Jayder Raifstanger, St. John's, Jr., 3B
Lewis Rodriguez, St. John's, Jr., LF
Brayden Leonard, Villanova, So., 2B
JoJo Montgomery, Villanova, So., OF
Collin Quintano, Villanova, Sr., UTIL
Ashton Chronister, Xavier, Jr., SP
*Unanimous Selection
Jon LeGrande, Liam O'Leary and Adam Agresti earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors while Jayder Raifstanger, Lewis Rodriguez, Shaun McMillan and Evan Hoeckele were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. O'Leary was one of three league players to be selected unanimously. The Red Storm's seven All-BIG EAST selections were tied for the highest total in the league are the most for the program since nine Johnnies earned all-conference accolades in 2018.
For the second time in in a three-year span, Hampton and his staff were named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. Hampton also garnered the recognition seven times as a member of Ed Blankmeyer's coaching staff from 2005-18. Overall, this is the 12th time since 1985 that a St. John's skipper has received the league's top coaching honor.
Hampton, Associate Head Coach George Brown and Assistant Coaches John Valente and Garrett Scavelli helped guide the Johnnies to a share of the 2026 BIG EAST Regular Season title, the program's first since 2018 and its league-record 10th overall. The Johnnies enter the postseason with a record of 30-24 after winning 29 of their last 43 regular season contests, including a 15-6 mark in BIG EAST play. The Red Storm won all seven of their league series.
In his first year with the program, O'Leary emerged as the ace of the St. John's pitching staff in 2026, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.03 ERA across 14 starts while tossing a team-high 92.0 innings. The unanimous first-team selection recorded three complete games and one shutout, striking out 62 batters and allowing just 21 walks while limiting opponents to a .235 batting average. The Souderton, Pa., product anchored the Red Storm weekend rotation throughout BIG EAST play, posting a 6-1 record in league play. Against BIG EAST foes,
O'Leary struck out 37 batters while surrendering just eight walks and held opponents to a .220 batting average.
Agresti powered the middle of the St. John's lineup with one of the top offensive campaigns in the BIG EAST. The catcher slashed .295/.432/.632 while launching a team-high 17 home runs and driving in 47 RBIs across 54 starts. His 17 round trippers, which rank second in the BIG EAST, are the second-highest single-season total in program history, trailing only Jeremy Baltz's 24 homers in 2010. Agresti also led the team with 40 walks and 122 total bases while handling the bulk of the work behind the plate defensively.
LeGrande turned in a standout season atop the Red Storm lineup, batting .317 with 42 RBIs and 43 runs scored over 51 games. The senior outfielder added 13 doubles, six home runs and a team-best 22 stolen bases while posting a .405 on-base percentage. In conference play, the Bronx, N.Y., native hit .304 in league play and was tied for the team lead with 24 hits in 21 BIG EAST matchups.
Raifstanger provided steady production in the heart of the lineup, hitting .318 with a team high 70 hits, 14 doubles, 41 RBIs and 40 runs scored while starting all 54 contests. The Great Barrington, Mass., reached base at a .410 clip, good for second on the team. In the field, the third baseman posted .981 fielding percentage at the hot corner and was charged with just one error throughout the 21-game conference slate.
Rodriguez delivered a strong all-around campaign for the Johnnies, batting .305 with 18 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 50 appearances. The outfielder ranked second on the team with 16 stolen bases on just 18 attempts.
McMillan paced the St. John's offense with a team-best .323 batting average while starting all 54 games at first base and DH. The sophomore recorded 70 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBIs while slugging .507. He is currently riding a 17-game hitting streak into the BIG EAST Tournament. The Freeport, N.Y., native also contributed defensively with a .994 fielding percentage.
Hoeckele emerged as one of the most dependable arms out of the bullpen for St. John's in 2026. The right-hander compiled a 2-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and a team-high six saves over 16 appearances. In 30.0 innings, the Bernardsville, N.J., product struck out 37 batters while holding opponents to a .224 batting average. Against league foes, Hoeckele struck out 24 batters in 15.1 innings of work.
Top-seeded Red Storm will make its return to the 2026 BIG EAST Baseball Championship, presented by JEEP, on Wednesday, facing fourth-seeded Creighton. First pitch from Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio is slated for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
2026 BIG EAST Regular Season Awards
Player of the Year
Jackson Marshall, UConn, So., 1B *
Pitcher of the Year
Cayden Suchy, UConn, So., LHP
Freshman of the Year
Cam Righi, UConn, Fr., OF
Coaching Staff of the Year
St. John's, Mike Hampton
All-BIG EAST First Team
Peyton Jemison, UConn, RSo., 2B
Jackson Marshall, UConn, So., 1B *
Cayden Suchy, UConn, So., SP *
Charlie West, UConn, Jr., SP
Nate McHugh, Creighton, Sr., DH
Ben North, Creighton, Gr., SS
Isaac Wachsmann, Creighton, Jr., CF
Adam Agresti, St. John's, R-So., C
Jon LeGrande, St. John's, Sr., CF
Liam O'Leary, St. John's, Jr., SP *
Clay Burdette, Xavier, RSo., OF
Luke Hammond, Xavier, Gr., 3B
Garrett Helsel, Xavier, Sr., RP
Ryan Piech, Xavier, RSo., SP
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Brock Buckley, Butler, Sr., SP
Anthony Belisario, UConn, So., OF
Rob Rispoli, UConn, RSo., SS
Nater Wachter, UConn, Jr., OF
Connor Capece, Creighton, Jr., C
Connor Peek, Georgetown, Gr., SS/INF
Evan Hoeckele, St. John's, So., RP
Shaun McMillan, St. John's, So., 1B
Jayder Raifstanger, St. John's, Jr., 3B
Lewis Rodriguez, St. John's, Jr., LF
Brayden Leonard, Villanova, So., 2B
JoJo Montgomery, Villanova, So., OF
Collin Quintano, Villanova, Sr., UTIL
Ashton Chronister, Xavier, Jr., SP
*Unanimous Selection
Players Mentioned
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