Jack Spitaleri of Glen Rock is the N.J. Baseball Newcomer of the Year, 2025
Jack Spitaleri (24) of Glen Rock celebrates with Evan Lagemann (15) after scoring a run against Sparta during the North 1, Group 2 first round baseball game at Glen Rock High School in Glen Rock, NJ on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media
Five years ago, Jack Spitaleri and his older brother, Sean would play Wiffle Ball in the backyard of their Glen Rock house.
They were heated games, but no one could remember who came out victorious. Sean was the better hitter, and Jack the better pitcher. The other results remain a blur.
What really mattered to both of them was that they were doing something together, all while getting better at baseball.
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Spitaleri brothers had nothing else to do but play a best-of-50 series against one another. Little did Jack know at the time, but he was blossoming into one of the state’s best baseball players.
Sean, who is two years older, is one of the best power hitters in North Jersey, and has already made his mark with the Glen Rock baseball team.
But this year, Sean and his father, Steve – who is the head coach at Glen Rock – welcomed Jack to high school ball. A freshman, Jack was immediately thrust into varsity – but it was more than justified. He played up a few age groups in the travel circuit for several years, and he always faced older players. It expedited his readiness for varsity baseball in a rigid county, and he was prepared to contribute to one of the best offenses in New Jersey in 2025.
Jack Spitaleri, in one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in recent memory, clocked 36 hits, 33 RBIs, 41 runs scored, 18 stolen bases, and 13 extra-base hits. He batted .419 with a 1.179 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage).
Helping the Glen Rock Panthers to their first sectional championship as a Group 2 program, Jack Spitaleri is the NJ.com Newcomer of the Year for the 2025 season.
“It means the world to be recognized like this. It just shows that the hard work of everyone is paying off,” Spitaleri said.
“My dad, my brother, my mother. They all helped get me here. It truly is an honor.
Spitaleri led the NJIC in RBIs, and was second in runs scored, falling only to his senior teammate and All-State star, Evan Lagemann.Spitaleri was also within the Top 20 in the entire state in RBIs, and was tied for seventh in runs scored.
“Jack was just tremendous this year. He never second-guessed himself out there,” Steve Spitaleri said. “I’m all about trying to get our guys to score as many runs as possible. Jack was a natural.”
Although he flexed eight doubles, three triples, and two home runs, Spitaleri was a smart hitter, too. In the N1G2 quarterfinals on the round against a well-pitched Ramsey, his Panthers were stuck in a scoreless tie.
With Lagemann on base, Spitaleri flicked a single up the middle to complete a successful hit-and-run, moving his teammate to third base. It led to a Glen Rock rally, and a run scored moments later. The Panthers never lost the lead in that game.
“He listens in on every conversation about baseball. He is around a coach and a father 24 hours a day. He lives for baseball,” Steve Spitaleri said. “Jack takes a tremendous mental approach in those types of situations.”
He did come up clutch with his power, too. Facing state-ranked Passaic Tech in extra innings in late April, Spitaleri dug into the batter’s box from the left side at Weehawken Stadium.
With a runner on in the ninth inning, Spitaleri swatted a walk-off two-run home run to right field, giving Glen Rock one of their biggest wins of the spring.
“That was one of the greatest feelings ever,” Jack Spitaleri said.
In the sectional finals against the reigning champs at Pascack Valley on June 5, Jack Spitaleri scored the game-tying run in the seventh inning after reaching on a hit by pitch. Who drove him in?
It had to be Sean.
Glen Rock hung on for the win to secure the championship trophy, 6-3. It was a Spitaleri party, with three of them hugging it out with an emotional sigh of relief and joy.
“We finally got rewarded at the perfect time for our hard work,” Sean Spitaleri said.
“Our family has soaked in that championship win. You couldn’t have written it any better. We all were so focused on winning it together.”
Playing Big Against Top Teams
Jack Spitaleri never shied away from the tougher opponents, either. This past season, Glen Rock played in seven games against a team that was ranked at least once in the Top 20 this year.
Spitaleri batted 8-for-22 (.364) in those contests with eight runs scored, five RBIs, four doubles, one home run, three stolen bases, two walks, and two hit by pitches.
His older brother was in awe, but not surprised.
“I’m his number one fan always,” Sean Spitaleri said.“I have seen him time and time again come up big since he started playing baseball about nine years ago. He is more than capable of being the guy to get it done.”
As if Jack Spitaleri didn’t already impress in a monumental freshman campaign, he is still building. Looking to perfect his overall craft, we can expect him to add another tool to his box.
He’ll become a switch-hitter, and he plans to be even more ready to put Glen Rock in position for another potential championship.
PJ Potter covers North Jersey and Central Jersey baseball. He can be reached at ppotter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @PJ_Potter
