North Brunswick grad Yomar Carreras rakes for Rutgers in Year 2
· Yahoo Sports
He arrived at North Brunswick High School ready to play. And boy, could he play.
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Yomar Carreras started as a freshman and, by his senior year, was voted a Greater Middlesex Conference All-Star by the league’s coaches. He batted .464 with three home runs, 13 doubles and 25 stolen bases.
Four years later, Carreras was again starting as a freshman — this time for the Rutgers University baseball team. Batting .255 with five home runs, six doubles and 23 RBI, he earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors.
Now a sophomore, the shortstop has picked up where he left off. He opened the season at Charleston and Virginia Tech by going 12-for-28, and heading into this weekend’s three-game series at Penn State, he is batting .293 with four home runs, six doubles and 31 RBI.
A switch-hitter, Carreras’ bat is the loudest part of his game.
“He’s pretty quiet, pretty reserved,” Rutgers coach Steve Owens said. “We’ve been trying to get a more vocal presence out of him, but I think he’s humming a little bit compared to last year. Obviously he plays a position that requires leadership.
“You’re kind of the quarterback of the infield. It’s not just fielding the ball and making plays at a high percentage — you need that presence.”
“I think I’m doing pretty well,” said Carreras, who stands 6-foot, 190 pounds. “We all have higher expectations of ourselves, and I guess I could do a lot better, but I contribute to the team in good ways.”
Carreras’ development began early. His father, Ramon, started working with him when he was young. Ramon played baseball at Middlesex College and also had a tryout with the Somerset Patriots.
“Honestly, my life has been in baseball,” Yomar said. “That’s what my family’s always watched and played, even for fun. It’s just been baseball for me.”
Baseball runs deep in the family. Older brother Omar is a junior playing at Wagner College, and four younger brothers are waiting in the wings.
North Brunswick High School coach Jake Rosenberg said Carreras’ success at the college level comes as no surprise.
“Not at all,” Rosenberg said. “The guy eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. It’s a complete baseball family. When they’re not playing games, they’re getting extra work in the batting cage at Community Park or taking extra ground balls afterward.”
Carreras continues that approach in the offseason.
“I push myself in every aspect of the game,” he said. “Over the years I’ve built a profile where I don’t really have too many weak spots.”
Owens said the results are showing.
“He’s hitting for a higher average this year,” Owens said. “He comes ready to play every day. His demeanor is fine, he works, and he’s dependable. He has an accurate throwing arm, very good hands and good length for his reach.
“He’s making the routine plays, and that’s a big part of playing that position well.”
Though Rutgers entered the weekend at 18-19, six losses have come by a single run, with another coming in 14 innings against top-ranked UCLA.
“He gets his work done,” Rosenberg reiterated. “He’s focused and goal-driven. I wasn’t surprised by how smoothly he transitioned to college. He’s mature beyond his years.”
Carreras is majoring in criminal justice and has aspirations of becoming a detective. First, though, he hopes baseball can take him further.
“I love winning,” he said. “I love competing, and I’m always going to push for the best — for myself and for the guys next to me.”
Whether that’s as a Scarlet Knight — or alongside one of his five brothers.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: From North Brunswick to Rutgers, Yomar Carreras delivers again