LSU is known as “Wide Receiver University,” the University of Iowa as “Tight End University,” and the University of Oklahoma as “Quarterback University.” Now, it’s time to add a new name to the mix: Haverford College, soon to be known as “Major League Baseball University.” Haverford has consistently produced alums who make their mark in the MLB—not only as players but also as coaches, scouts, general managers, and league executives. A 2015 article in The New York Times highlighted Haverford’s deep connection to the MLB—a bond that has only grown stronger since.
Most recently, Jeremy Zoll, a 2012 Haverford graduate and All-Centennial Conference catcher for the Fords, was named General Manager of the Minnesota Twins in November. Zoll replaced Thad Levine ’94, a fellow Haverford alumnus.
Haverford’s alum network in baseball extends well beyond their recent success stories. Josh Byrnes ’92 is in his 10th year as the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Byrnes played a key role in building the Dodgers into perennial contenders, leveraging his extensive experience as a former General Manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. His strategic vision and player development expertise have been instrumental in the Dodgers’ consistent success, including their 2020 and 2024 World Series championship runs. Another key figure in the Dodgers organization is Patrick O’Shea ’14, who has served as a Game Planning Analyst and Advance Scout since 2018. In addition, he joined USA Baseball as a Game Planning and Analytics Coach in August 2024.
Tony Petitti ’83 has significantly impacted the business side of the game. Before becoming Big Ten Commissioner, Petitti served as MLB’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing various responsibilities, from scheduling and broadcasting to player relations. During his tenure, he led MLB’s efforts to bring youth into the game through programs nationwide and expanded the league’s international development initiatives.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Haverford’s baseball tradition is its ability to produce professional players despite being a Division III school. Tommy Bergjans ’15, selected in the eighth round of the MLB Draft by Byrnes and the Dodgers, and Stephen Ridings ’16, drafted by the Cubs in 2016 with a 2021 MLB debut with the Yankees, are prime examples of Haverford’s ability to develop talent that reaches the highest levels of baseball. Both players were coached by Dave Beccaria, Haverford’s head baseball coach, who has been instrumental in fostering the program’s success for over two decades.
Beccaria’s teams have won three Centennial Conference championships and finished as runners-up eight times. He credits Haverford’s strong alumni network for the program’s continued success: “We’ve been incredibly fortunate,” Beccaria said. “The relationships formed at Haverford last a lot longer than the four years of college…The alumni have helped with advice and information related to player development—something we deeply appreciate since they have access to cutting-edge resources and far more data than we do.”
“They’ve also looked out for our professional players in numerous ways,” he said, highlighting former Haverford pitcher Bergjans, represented by fellow Haverford alumni Jon Fetterolf ’93 and Tim McLean ’06, who ensured his draft process was as smooth as possible and helped him land in Los Angeles with the help of Brynes.
For Beccaria, the ultimate hope is that his players draw inspiration from those who have already achieved success at the highest level. “Hopefully, current and future student-athletes recognize that Haverford can play a role in helping them to learn, grow, and excel in the pursuit of their passions,” he said.
Beccaria’s hopes are already becoming a reality for some of his current players. This past weekend, seniors Harry Genth, the Centennial Conference Player of the Year, Colin Lewandowski, and Dali Pomfret attended the MLB’s annual Winter Meetings in Dallas.
Reflecting on the experience, Lewandowski shared, “I definitely felt the presence of the Haverford pipeline while in Dallas. The alumni were extremely engaging and are more than willing to grow the Haveford-MLB Pipeline as much as possible.”
Beccaria’s hopes for his players are further realized through seniors like Dali Pomfret, who is already charting his own path in professional baseball. Set to graduate in 2025, Pomfret has secured a position as a Baseball Operations Analyst with the Philadelphia Phillies for this coming summer. His story was recently highlighted in the Fall 2024 edition of Haverford Magazine by Charles Curtis ’04, the Deputy Managing Editor for USA Today’s For the Win.
In addition to these rising stars, a few other Haverford players are also set to advance their baseball careers at the Division I level. Catcher and outfielder Anthony Runfola ’25 announced via Instagram last week that he has committed to play at Duke University for his graduate year. Meanwhile, Mike Raybayda ’24, the 2024 Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year, is currently pitching for Division I Fordham University in New York.
Beccaria expressed his pride in these players and their accomplishments. “I’m just very happy for these guys and their ability to realize successful and important steps towards their dreams,” he said. “And I hope that they want to be a part of a program that is meaningful to many people and yet bigger than any one of us.”
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