Heratch Ekmekjian

LYNN, Mass. -- Another one of the Boston area’s Division 1 programs will provide the North Shore Navigators with two players for their upcoming 2020 summer season in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

The two newest additions to the Navigators are pitcher Thomas Balboni and outfielder Ryan Cervone from Northeastern University. President and General Manager Derek January made their signings official on Thursday, meaning that North Shore will welcome members of the Huskies to its roster for the third straight year.

A 6-foot-4, 170-pound native of Naples, Fla., Balboni captained Barron G. Collier High School to a district championship and Naples Daily News All-Area honors in 2019. He struck out 57 batters in 49.1 innings, posted a 1.90 ERA and held opponents to a .220 batting average during a senior season that included victories against two nationally-ranked programs. Balboni also pitched and played first base at Saint John Neumann High School for three years.

Scouting Report: tall, lean pitcher who throws very well … sits 88-90 … will compete for innings right away … should be a high-level draft pick in a couple of years … MLB comp: Rick Porcello.

Cervone hails from Lexington, Mass., and starts his college career after playing center field at Milton Academy for the last three years and spending part of last summer in the Futures League with the Pittsfield Suns. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder was named to the All-Independent School League First Team and earned MVP honors for the Mustangs last spring. Cervone also played two seasons at Lexington High School alongside Sal Frelick, the former FCBL All-Star and Top Pro Prospect who played for North Shore in 2018.

Scouting Report: quick-twitch athlete who can play anywhere in the outfield … good arm … above-average speed … MLB comp: Shane Victorino.

Balboni and Cervone are classmates at Northeastern with Sebastian Keane and Jake Gigliotti who both pitched for the Navigators last summer. Keane joined North Shore and now the Huskies after being drafted in the 11th round by the Boston Red Sox last June and was recently rated as the No. 43 rookie in all of college baseball by Perfect Game.

First baseman/outfielder Corey DiLoreto and pitcher Danny Ryan are the two other Navs currently donning Northeastern uniforms. Both of them played for North Shore in 2018.

The Navs are now preparing for the 13th season of collegiate ball at Fraser Field and their ninth in the Futures League. The 2020 opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27. Until then, stay up to date on the latest Navs news by visiting nsnavs.com and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.