University of Rhode Island Men's Baseball

Cerrato at Rhode Island 25 - Atlantic 10 All-Conference Selections 23 - Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Selections 18 - NEIBA All-New England Selections 14 - Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week Selections 13 - ABCA All-Region Selections 13 - Atlantic 10 All-Championship Selections 12 - MLB Draft Picks/Free Agent Signees 11 - Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Selections 10 - Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team Selections 8 - Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team Selections 7 - Wins Over Nationally-Ranked Teams 7 - All-America Team Selections 5 - Freshman All-Americans 5 - ECAC First Team Selections 4 - National Player of the Week Selections 3 - Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Awards 2 - Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player 2 - NCAA All-Regional Team Selections 2 - Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year Selections 1 - NCBWA District I Player of the Year 1 - NEIBA Player of the Year Selection 1 - NEIBA Pitcher of the Year Selection 1 - NEIBA Rookie of the Year Selection 1 - Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Selection 1 - ECAC Rookie of the Year Selection 1 - TD Ameritrade Fan’s Choice Award Winner 1 - Senior CLASS Award Finalist Coaching History Head Coach, Rhode Island (2016-present) Interim Head Coach, Rhode Island (2015) Assistant Coach, Rhode Island (2012-14) Head Coach, New Haven (2007-11) Associate Head Coach, New Haven (2006) Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Brown (2001-05)        Assistant Coach, Massachusetts (1998-2000) Head Coach, Rhode Island Gulls (1999) Volunteer Assistant Coach, Rhode Island (1997) Assistant Coach, New York Knickerbockers (1996) Playing History Rhode Island, 1989-93 Team Captain Atlantic 10 All-Conference Selection Raphael Cerrato completed his 11th season as Rhode Island's head coach in 2025. He was named interim head coach of the program on July 17, 2014 and - following a successful first season with the Rams - officially became the program's permanent head coach on June 23, 2015. Cerrato's approach of playing a difficult non-conference slate against the best programs in the country has led to a tradition of success in Atlantic 10 play. In addition to seven victories over Top 25 programs over the last 11 years, Cerrato has a 149-89 mark in conference play. The Rams have had a winning conference record in all but season since the skipper took over.  The skipper is coming off a historic 2025 season that saw the team set records in wins (38), runs scored (539), hits (637), runs batted in (492), home runs (88), stolen bases (125), walks (354), hit-by-pitch (113), total bases (1,060), slugging percentage (.511) and fielding percentage (.973). Cerrato led the Rams to both the Atlantic 10 Regular Season and Tournament titles, earning him the third A-10 Coach of the Year honors of his career. After winning the league title, URI advanced to the NCAA Championship and was hosted by eventual national champion LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional. Under Cerrato's guidance, third baseman Anthony DePino was named an All-American by three different outlets before hearing his name called in the seventh round of the MLB Draft (196th overall pick; Chicago White Sox). DePino was one of two players to earn professional opportunities following the record-breaking campaign, as classmate Eric Genther was signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent.  With the interim tag lifted and a core group of players returning in 2016, Cerrato's Rams won seven of their eight conference series - including three weekend sweeps - en route to an 18-6 mark in league play as well as the Atlantic 10 regular-season title. It was Rhody’s first outright Atlantic 10 regular-season title since 2006.  At the conference championship, the Rams defeated host Fordham (10-1) on Thursday before easing past Davidson 13-4 on Friday and 15-2 in Saturday's title game. Overall, Rhody outscored its opponents 38-7 to finish with a +21 run differential over the course of its three-game sweep to the conference crown.  Making the program's second-ever appearance in an NCAA regional, the fourth-seeded Rams were sent to the Columbia Regional, where they opened the tournament with a 5-4 win over top-seeded South Carolina. The win over the Gamecocks - who were ranked sixth in the nation at the time - marked Rhode Island's first NCAA postseason victory. Highlighting the historical season for the Rams was a wide array of recognition, including Cerrato's second consecutive A-10 Coach of the Year award. Sophomore Tyler Wilson also collected a pair of First Team All-America nods - in addition to NEIBA and Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year honors - while junior Martin Figueroa, redshirt sophomore Chris Hess and sophomore Jordan Powell all earned All-New England accolades. Additionally, two graduating seniors moved on to the minors as Chase Livingston was drafted by the Kansas City Royals and Steve Moyers signed with the Seattle Mariners. Despite an injury-plagued 2017, where the Rams were without Wilson and fellow weekend starter Ben Wessel, the Rams still managed to finish second in the Atlantic 10 with a 17-6 conference record. The Rhody offense exploded for 51 home runs, second most in a single season in program history. Redshirt senior Mike Corin shattered URI's home runs record with 19 round-trippers on the season. Classmate Matt O'Neil belted 13 of his own to match Rhode Island's previous single-season record. Redshirt junior Chris Hess was just as potent for the Rams, adding NCBWA District I Player of the Year honors to an already extensive collection of accolades. Hess and Corin also earned Third-Team All-America honors while rookie Vitaly Jangols was named to the Freshman All-America team after going 7-1 with two saves and a 2.23 ERA. Hess and senior Martin Figueroa were later drafted by the Yankees (17th round) and Astros (32nd round), respectively, while redshirt senior Blaise Whitman continued his playing career with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. The following year, in 2018, Rhody got off to an incredibly slow start, winning just eight of their first 33 games. The Rams ended on a tear however, going 16-2 down the stretch to finish the year at 24-27. All four senior pitchers were given opportunities to continue their respective playing careers, led by Nick Johnson, who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox (21st round). Tyler Barss (Traverse City Beach Bums), Matt Murphy (Traverse City Beach Bums) and Taso Stathopoulos (Gateway Grizzlies) all went on to play in the Frontier League. Since Johnson's signing in 2018, a total of four Rams have signed with MLB organizations. On the heels of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Jackson Coutts was picked up by the Washington Nationals following a five-round draft. In 13 games, Coutts worked his way into the nation's top 20 in slugging percentage (0.824, ninth), hits per game (1.77, 11th), doubles per game (0.54, 12th) and batting average (.451, 14th). Addison Kopack (2023; San Diego Padres) and Eric Genther (2025' New York Yankees) have since signed with MLB organizations as undrafted free agents.  During his interim season (2015), Cerrato led URI to a 26-25-1 overall record (15-9 Atlantic 10) after the team had gone 13-40 (7-18) and failed to qualify for the conference tournament the year before. Rhody's first victory under Cerrato's direction was a 6-3 upset over 11th-ranked North Carolina.  The Rams went on to open their 2015 Atlantic 10 schedule with a series loss at Saint Louis, but bounced back with six consecutive conference series wins - including a three-game sweep of Saint Joseph's and a pair of 2-1 road weekends at both Richmond and 2015 NCAA Super Regional participant VCU. Overall, Rhode Island finished just one game behind regular season champion Saint Louis and - with a strong core of veteran players and a talented class of newcomers - played its way into the finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. Despite falling to VCU, 5-3, it was clear that the team had taken a huge step forward in advancing to its first A-10 final since 2009.  The impressive turnaround quickly earned Cerrato the respect of his peers, who voted him the Atlantic 10's Coach of the Year - just a few months after picking URI to finish 11th of 13 in the league's preseason coaches poll. The postseason recognition did not end there, however. Freshman Tyler Wilson became the Atlantic 10's first freshman ever to earn both Pitcher and Rookie of the Year accolades. He and fellow freshman Chris Hess both were first-team All-Conference selections as well as Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-Americans. It marked the first time in the history of the Rhody baseball program that multiple freshmen earned All-America honors in the same season. Wilson also collected ECAC and NEIBA Rookie of the Year honors, in addition to landing a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Northeast Region Team. Cerrato - who served as URI's top assistant and recruiting coordinator from 2012-14 - was responsible for bringing in nearly all of the players on Rhode Island's 2015 squad, including San Diego Padres draft pick Lou Distasio. Cerrato further proved his ability to recruit top-notch student-athletes with the signing of Seamus Curran, who became Rhode Island's highest-ever MLB Draft pick as an incoming freshman when he was selected in the eighth round of the 2015 Draft, by the Baltimore Oriels. As an assistant, Cerrato worked specifically with the team's infielders and hitters and guided the Rams to a new single-season record for fielding percentage (.970) in 2013. Additionally, All-American and MLB draftee Jeff Roy recorded the program's second-best single-season performance in both hits (84) and runs scored (59) in 2012.  A volunteer assistant for the Rams during the 1997 season, Cerrato returned to Kingston in 2012, after spending the previous five years as the head coach at New Haven. There, he led the Chargers to a 131-97 (.575) from 2007-11 and guided the club to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.  In his time at New Haven, Cerrato saw All-American closer Mitch Rossi become the program's all-time leader in saves while catcher Michael Moras was selected in the 2008 MLB Draft. Cerrato was just the second head coach in the history of the New Haven's baseball program, replacing 44-year skipper Frank "Porky" Vieira, on July 1, 2006. He had joined Vieira's staff as the associate head coach in June of 2005, following a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Brown University. There, he served as the Bears' hitting, outfield and infield instructor and coordinated student-athlete recruitment. Before his time at Brown, Cerrato spent three years as the top assistant at Massachusetts.  An Enfield, Conn. native, Cerrato was a member of the Rhody baseball team from 1989-93. He captained the Rams in 1993 and was an Atlantic 10 All-Conference pick in 1992. He currently resides in South Kingstown with his wife Kerri and her son Tyler. YR       SCHOOL.       OVERALL    CONFERENCE 2007    New Haven      28-18-0        18-8  2008    New Haven      24-25-0         17-10    2009    New Haven      22-21-0         16-14    2010    New Haven      31-15-0         18-8 2011    New Haven      26-18-0         14-12 2015    Rhode Island    26-25-1        15-9 2016    Rhode Island    31-27-0        18-6 2017    Rhode Island    31-22-0        17-6 2018    Rhode Island    24-27-0        13-9 2019    Rhode Island    24-29-0        14-9 2020    Rhode Island    8-5-0            0-0 2021    Rhode Island    28-26-1        14-6 2022    Rhode Island    20-35-0        14-10 2023    Rhode Island    23-29-0        13-11 2024    Rhode Island    19-28-0        11-13 2025    Rhode Island    38-22-0        22-8 Career                         403-372-2    232-141  New Haven                 131-97-0       83-52 Rhode Island             272-275-2     149-89

O'Brien enters his third season at Rhode Island in 2016-17. He joined head coach Raphael Cerrato's staff after spending the previous two years at Endicott College (Division III). In his time with the Gulls, O'Brien's defensive responsibilities included working with the team's catchers, outfielders and corner infielders. Offensively, he was in charge of hitting, bunting and baserunning while also assisting with scouting and recruiting.  In his two years at Endicott, he helped lead the team to back-to-back Commonwealth Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles as well as an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Northeast Regionals. That year Endicott received the program's first-ever national ranking, checking in at No. 19 in the D3Baseball.com Poll. The following season, the Gulls led the CCC in a number of offensive categories including batting average, runs, home runs, slugging percentage and stolen bases. Endicott also boasted the 2014 D3Baseball.com National Player of the year in All-American outfielder Tad Gold - who was later taken in the MLB Draft - as well as two-time ABCA Gold Glove winner, first baseman Brett Holmgren. Prior to his stint with the Gulls, O'Brien spent two years as an assistant at his alma matter Franklin Pierce. There, he was responsible for working with the varsity catchers and hitters, while also serving as head coach of the JV squad.  With O'Brien on the Ravens' staff, the team appeared in back-to-back NCAA tournaments. O'Brien also mentored All-American/Gold Glove catcher Mike Dowd, who was selected by Seattle in the 12th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Before his return to Franklin Pierce, O'Brien served as a volunteer assistant at UMass Lowell and head coach of the New England Lightning (AAU). Since 2011, he has spent his summers in the Cape Cod League, working as an assistant on the Brewster Whitecaps' staff.  As a collegiate player, O'Brien spent four years behind the plate for Franklin Pierce, helping lead the Ravens to a pair of NCAA Northeast Regional titles. His freshman and senior seasons, the team finished in the semifinals of the Division II College World Series. His 2003 team was inducted into the Franklin Pierce Athletics Hall of Fame. O'Brien graduated from Franklin Pierce in 2006, with a degree in Sports & Recreation Management. He also obtained an MBA in Sports Management from Franklin Pierce in 2012. updated: 9/13/16

Daniel Palka enters his first season with Rhode Island Baseball, having joined the program in the summer of 2025 as an assistant coach. He works primarily with the hitters, outfielders and first basemen.  A former third-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Palka made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Chicago White Sox. In his first season, the outfielder finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting while belting out a team-best 27 home runs, the third-most by a first-year player in White Sox history.  After wrapping up his time in the MLB, which also included stints with the Minnesota Twins, the Washington Nationals, the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox, Palka went on to play professionally in both Korea and Mexico.  One of the top sluggers in Georgia Tech history, Palka was inducted into the athletic department’s Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. In three years with the Yellow Jackets (2011-13), Palka played on as many NCAA Regional teams and helped the 2012 team win the ACC Championship. A First Team All-American as a junior, Palka was a two-time All-ACC pick and was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy in 2013. Over three seasons, Palka batted .314 with 41 home runs and 165 RBI. In his final two years at Tech, he doubled as a pitcher and made 13 appearances.  Upon retiring from baseball, Palka re-joined the Yellow Jackets to complete his bachelor’s degree. He assisted with the baseball team for the 2024 season, coaching the outfielders and corner infielders while working with the program’s hitters.   

David Fischer was named Rhode Island's pitching coach in July of 2021. He joined Raphael Cerrato's staff as a volunteer assistant in September of 2017 and was promoted to director of operations before his current post. He completed his eighth season with the program in 2024-25. During his time in Kingston, Fischer has guided four Rams to All-Atlantic 10 honors in Mike Webb (2021; Second Team), Ryan Andrade (2023; Second Team), Trystan Levesque (2025; Second Team) and Joe Sabbath (2025; Second Team). Additionally, both Braeden Perry (2023) and Evan Maloney (2024) have earned All-Rookie honors.  Fischer spent the 2017 season coaching with the Springvale Lions baseball club in Melbourne, Australia. Before that, he worked with the Farm AAU program in Waltham, Mass. An 18th-round draft pick out of UConn in 2012, Fischer pitched in the Washington Nationals' system from 2012-14. He also spent time in the Minnesota Twins' system and pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League as well as the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League. In 2012, Fischer earned a bachelor's degree in geography from UConn, where he played alongside former Rhody pitching coach Kevin Vance. While in Storrs, Fischer helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 Clemson Regional title. He also played summer ball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.