Duke Checks All The Boxes For McCafferty

BEVERLY, Ma. - Even as a freshman at just 16 years of age, Bradley McCafferty is certain his college decision was the right one to make.

“Duke is where I wanted to be, and my interest was matched by theirs,” explained the top-rated 2026 in Massachusetts. “Given that Duke was at the very top of my list, waiting seemed unnecessary.”

Approximately 10 schools were under consideration, most from the ACC, SEC and Big 10, with offers extended, however “Duke really checked all the boxes for me,” according to McCafferty.

“Duke has always been on the top of my list,” the Austin Prep freshman related. “It has the best of both worlds with its academics and athletics. The Duke staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and really tried to connect with me. The school is beautiful and Duke student-athletes have access to all the help and resources they need. Duke and their blue-collar culture make it a great fit for me.”

McCafferty gave credit to Steve Lomasney, the program director for travel team Show New England Baseball, with initiating the process.

“Through coach Lamasney, I began regular conversations with Duke assistant coach (Ty) Blankmeyer as my recruiting process developed,” McCafferty reflected. “The regular calls created an opportunity to get to know each other and resulted in me attending a prospect camp this fall.  I was able to showcase my skills and got to know more of the Duke staff.  Duke head coach (Chris) Pollard and I connected shortly after, and I had no hesitation in committing.”

Duke was enamored with the 18th-ranked 2026 catcher in the nation.

“I received positive feedback on my hitting, arm strength and ability to command the game from behind the plate,” McCafferty related. “One play at the camp that really got their attention was when I hit a 99 exit velo for an opposite-field base-clearing triple.  Also, my energy and demeanor in the dugout and on the field was what they were looking for.”

The 6-1 186-pounder pointed to an improved game with helping the cause in becoming a commit to the Atlantic Coast Conference university.

“I am continually working on all dimensions of my game and have come a long way in the last year,” the top-ranked junior catcher in New England noted. “I have worked closely with coach Lomasney on improving my receiving and blocking skills, while hitting as often as I can. I have also increased my weightlifting and have gained strength and weight. I always find a way to fit baseball into my daily schedule and I’m constantly searching for ways to improve my game.”

Still, the 194th-ranked 2026 in the country understands improvement is vital in the quest to make an impact at the next level.

“Right now, I feel that my swing is in a good place, so I am really focused on getting stronger,” McCafferty explained. “I also feel that I need to get faster, and I’m constantly working on my catching.”

The desire to play college baseball has been around for some time. 

“I have always known that I wanted to play baseball at the highest level,” McCafferty said. “I think my dream became more realistic over the last year. As a freshman, I was able to make an impact on varsity (at Beverly High School before reclassifying) and had a standout year during travel tournament play. I grew bigger and stronger, and all my hard work really started to show on the field. I realize that I still have a long way to go and my desire to get better is only getting stronger.”

Help along the journey has proven beneficial in getting to this point.

“My development has been largely influenced by travel baseball, high school baseball and the relationships I have built along the way,” McCafferty explained. “Early on coach Mike Constantino and Legends helped me develop my baseball fundamentals, introducing me to high-level play. Coach Lomasney is now helping me improve my catching and hitting skills. Also, Beverly coach (Jon) Cahill gave me the opportunity to play varsity as a freshman, helping to build my confidence. This year, Austin Prep coach Jonathan Pollard is helping me develop my overall baseball skills, as a person and as a student-athlete.

“Ryan Leahy at REB has always helped me with my hitting any time of the day or week,” McCafferty added. “I have so many people that have influenced me, but the biggest influence has been from my mom and dad. My parents have always given me every opportunity to make my dreams come true. They are great teammates and have helped me become the person and player I am today.”

A 3.9 student currently uncertain about a college major, McCafferty is happy to have his recruitment come to an end.

“The recruiting process was stressful,” McCafferty admitted. “We had lots of travel, many regular conversations, and a bunch of learning along the way. The experience from coach Lomasney and Peter Delani, from the Show, helped me navigate the very complicated process. I quickly found out that going to camps was the best way to see the schools, showcase my skills and connect with the coaches.

“For exposure, I attended PBR showcases and was highlighted several times which absolutely contributed to my overall recruiting process,” McCafferty concluded. “PBR gave me the opportunity to compete amongst my peers, gather meaningful metrics and has fueled me to continuously improve my game.”