SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team opens the 2025 season on Friday, February 14 at Davidson. BryantBulldogs.com previews the 2025 team leading up to Opening Day.

Position: Catchers
Returners: Brandyn Durand, Jacob Gaudreau, Ryan Santangelo
Newcomers: Cam Papetti, Sam Burtnick

Quick Pitch:
While the departure of three-year starter Jackson Phinney leaves a void behind the dish, the cupboard is not bare for the Bulldogs as three veterans return. That group is led by Brandyn Durand, who earned Second Team All-America East honors as a DH last season but should see more time behind the plate this year.

Fun Fact:
Bryant has had an all-conference catcher in seven of the past eight full seasons. The Bulldogs have also had five catchers earn ABCA All-Region honors at the Division I level.

Notes and Notables:

• Durand returns as one of the premier power threats in the America East after posting 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 49 games last season.
• Durand also finished a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases and committed just one error in 145 chances.
• He homered in all three games of a weekend series twice, including Bryant's three-game set at ACC foe Pittsburgh.
• Gaudreau returns as the elder statesman behind the dish, having appeared in 30 games over the course of his career. He made the most of his lone start last year at URI, collecting an RBI double and throwing out two baserunners.
• Ryan Santangelo appeared in 12 games and made nine starts in his first year at Bryant. After playing six games behind the plate, however, Santangelo went on to play third base in his final six appearances due to injuries.
• He finished the year 3-for-30 with five walks and four runs scored.
• Cam Papetti is the lone newcomer to the group and brings a strong background to the program. He graduated from Worcester Academy where he caught Kyle Rizy's brother, Maverick, one of the best high school pitchers in the country.
• Burtnick joined the Black and Gold as a walk on in the fall and will provide depth this spring.