WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (August 21, 2024) – The Futures Collegiate Baseball League selected Westfield Starfires and Central Connecticut State University outfielder Gianno Merlonghi as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday, August 21.

He is the first Starfire to win the award, and the second Central Connecticut State student-athlete to be recognized with the honor, joining Buddy Dewaine of the Bristol Blues who was selected in 2019.

“It means a lot to to win an award like this,” Merlonghi said, adding “We had an amazing summer as a team and I’m glad I was able to produce as much as I could in center field.”

Manager Paul Bonfiglio said of his star outfielder, “Gianno is a guy who changes the game with his defense. His impact is measured in the minds of opposing hitters who would rather change their approach than send a ball high over the middle of the diamond. It was a pleasure watching him take the field nearly every day.”

Merlonghi was the league’s most consistent defender, racking up the most outfield putouts with 123 and assists with 10 in 50 games between the regular season and playoffs, not including his nine putouts and one assist in the FCBL All-Star Game. Overall, his fielding percentage was a sparkling .993.

His All-Star Game performance was legendary, as he became the first player since the inaugural All-Star Game in 2012 to be part of 10 outs in the contest of the league’s most elite players and the first outfielder to ever do it; he is also the only player to convert 10 or more chances defensively in the All-Star Game and have two hits.

While Merlonghi was brilliant at putting the other side out, his opponents struggled to do the same to him; his .314 batting average ranged fifth in the FCBL among qualifiers, while his 40 runs scored was third in the league and his 33 runs batted in ranked tied for fourth. He even was a threat on the bases, leading the Starfires with 16 stolen bags, eighth in the league.

Merlonghi joins his Central Connecticut State teammate Jackson Haker, who was named one of the league’s Adam Keenan Award winners, in earning a major FCBL player award for this summer.