Right-hander pitcher Ryan McAuliffe signed with the New York Mets on Thursday, June 30, 2017.
McAuliffe had a standout career at Northern Essex during 2013-2015. He helped the Knights reach back-to-back NJCAA Division III World Series and earned First Team All-America honors following a sophomore year that saw him go 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA and eight complete games.
McAuliffe quickly made a name for himself with the Saint Johns University Red Storm in 2016 after transferring from Northern Essex Community College, going 5-2 with a 4.32 ERA and leading the team in starts (15) and innings pitched (77). He finished second on the squad with 44 strikeouts and surrendered just 23 walks on the campaign.
Entering the 2017 season with lofty expectations following a standout summer with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, McAuliffe saw his senior campaign shortened due to an injury in his throwing arm, but the North Reading, Mass., native excelled in limited action for the Johnnies. He made his season debut against the defending national champions, leaving the game having surrendered just one run in the Red Storm’s win over No. 9 Coastal Carolina on Feb. 20.
Over his next three starts, McAuliffe did not allow an earned run in 20 frames of work and picked up three wins, lowering his ERA to 1.08 before injury caused him to miss the following two months of action. McAuliffe returned to the mound on May 14, going five-up, five-down against eventual BIG EAST Champion Xavier to pick up the win in relief.
The right-hander then proved crucial in the Red Storm’s run to the conference title game, registering the save in the team’s 3-2 win over Seton Hall before getting the start and exiting a tie game against the Musketeers on championship Sunday.
Ryan McAuliffe signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on Thursday.