Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Anthony DiCocco
The Detroit Tigers select catcher Michael Oliveto (Hauppauge 2025) with the 34th pick in the MLB Draft pic.twitter.com/3t8VIRmnim
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 14, 2025
Despite graduating a first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Hauppauge Eagles will attempt to recapture the magic they had two seasons ago with a talented roster.
In 2024, head coach Josh Gutes helmed Hauppauge to both Suffolk County and Long Island Championship wins. Last year, the team was successful once again but to a lesser extent, as the Eagles went 12-11 and won a postseason game before being eliminated.
Coming into this season, Gutes is dealing with three key departures in terms of quantity, but the quality will be difficult to replace. Hauppauge’s biggest loss comes in the form of League MVP C Michael Oliveto, who was selected 34th overall by the Detroit Tigers this past summer and concluded the 2025 season as their No. 17 prospect.
Oliveto, who forewent his Yale commit to join the Tigers’ minor league system, slashed .435 with a 1.617 OPS, nine homers, 25 runs batted in and 32 runs scored last year. Because of his potent bat, Oliveto was feared at the plate and other teams showed it, as he was walked 30 times.
“To have anyone drafted is incredible, but a first-rounder is historic,” Gutes said in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “What Michael can do on the baseball field is second to none, but his leadership, character, competitiveness and toughness is stuff you miss tremendously as a coach even more than the home runs or on-base percentage. You can’t replicate a person like Michael Oliveto.”
Along with Oliveto, the Eagles graduated their No. 1 pitcher in Ian Rivera, as well as starting center fielder Cole Wood. Rivera won seven games in 2025 and is now playing club baseball at the University of Florida, while Wood is a member of Ithaca’s basketball team. Wood was an inspiration for Hauppauge, as he recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and hamstring tear in just five months to get back on the field.
“[Wood] came back from a gruesome football injury last fall and there was a chance he wasn’t going to be able to walk normally again,” Gutes said. “Then five months later, he’s back playing baseball.”
Coming into the 2026 season, the Eagles will primarily rely on two seniors — Tucker Brown and Roman Dixon.
Brown, who is a four-year starter at shortstop and an Adelphi commit, scored 23 runs and drove in 10 while batting .380 with a 1.046 OPS in 2025. Gutes praised Brown for his ability to deliver in the clutch and cool demeanor, saying he “is so unfazed by any situation and the kind of guy you want up in a big spot.”
Tucker Brown (Hauppauge 2026) showing good form and accurate throws during SS drills. Throw speed sat in the mid-70s pic.twitter.com/5rZBzjRZy0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 31, 2025
Dixon — who missed a majority of his sophomore season with an injury — will take over for Oliveto behind the plate after serving as a designated hitter in his first full varsity season last year. At the plate, he hit .333 and posted an .854 OPS with seven doubles, 20 RBIs and 13 runs. Like Brown, Dixon delivered in the clutch by going 3-for-3 in a postseason game last spring.
Dixon is also committed to playing collegiate baseball and Gutes fully believes he will take off before heading to LeMoyne in the fall.
“I expect [Dixon] to explode this season as a senior,” Gutes said. “Roman’s incredibly strong. His combination of power and speed and his arm strength is very impressive. I think he showed what he can do by coming through in the playoffs, and if he puts it together, he can be one of the top hitters in the county.”
Roman Dixon (Hauppauge 2026) is a switch hitting catcher with great pop from both sides of the plate. With a solid 6’1 195 pound frame, Dixon produces plenty of line drives with a consistent swing pic.twitter.com/BkZT1Sn3QD
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 19, 2025
Rounding out the infield will be a trio of underclassmen that have already gained valuable starting experience. Michael’s younger brother — Matthew Oliveto — will man first base as a junior, while sophomores Nick Lombardi and James Migliore will occupy second and third base, respectively.
In addition to displaying a promising glove in the infield, Gutes described Lombardi, who will hit in the middle of the order, as being “incredibly advanced as a hitter” after he batted .293 with 18 RBIs during his freshman campaign. Migliore earned the everyday job at the hot corner by season’s end and recorded a .222 average.
Matthew Oliveto is a three-year starter at the varsity level and is looking to improve on a season during which he batted .216 and drove in nine runs. According to Gutes, Oliveto bulked up to get stronger this offseason and he envisions him taking the next step with the bat because of it.
To replace Wood in center, Gutes will call upon Kyle Magill after he patrolled left field last year. The junior batted .239 last season and drove in 10 runs. In addition to being a fixture in the outfield, Magill is also Hauppauge’s top option on the mound after posting a 4.30 earned run average and 35 strikeouts across 27 ⅔ innings pitched last spring.
“[Magill]’s our best outfielder and he has the best stuff on our staff by far,” Gutes said. “He’s got three pitches he can throw for strikes and he was up to 87 [miles per hour] in the summer. He’s our best kid and should be our No. 1. I think he’s ready for a monster, breakout year on the mound.”
Fellow RHPs Kevin Hoeler, Michael Crafa and Nick Poulos will see time on the hill, whether it be as starters or relievers. Crafa is a senior, while Hoeler and Poulos are juniors.
Migliore is slated to pitch as well after “wowing” Gutes with his “stuff and poise” as a freshman. Across 9 ⅓ frames, he produced a stellar 1.50 ERA and punched out 11 batters.
In Hoeler and Migliore’s cases, they will also be in the mix to join Magill in the outfield. Hoeler saw time in left field last season, while Migliore played some left and spelled Brown at short when needed.
Senior Ryan DeLuca is vying for a starting spot in one of the corners, as are some players looking to take the leap up to the varsity level.
With a young yet experienced group of players at his disposal, Gutes has faith in his team’s ability to make a run at both a Suffolk County and Long Island Championship this spring.
“You can’t really replicate the varsity experience unless you’re in it,” Gutes said. “With a year of big game experience under their belts, there’s no doubt that’s going to be very helpful for these guys and our team this year. Hopefully we get hot at the right time and have some things fall our way. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to make a run because we certainly have the pieces to do so.”
The Eagles will soar into the 2026 season with an opening day matchup against East Hampton on Friday, March 27.
