Hambly Thrilled To Have Opportunity At Siena College

Cole Hambly 1B / 3B / Worcester Academy, RI / 2025

CRANSTON, R.I. - Cole Hambly is excited about the opportunity ahead at Siena College.

“I know I can go there and see reps and at-bats right away,” the Worcester Academy junior related. “That’s important to me.”

There was more that made the university located in Loudonville, N.Y. right for the ninth-rated 2025 first baseman in New England.

“The love I received from them was what I asked for,” Hambly said. “It’s been a dream and goal of mine.”

Until this year, the 17-year-old had never been to the school located less than three hours from home.

“Before that I’d never seen Siena,” Hambly said in reference to his visit in January. “I think the campus is gorgeous. I have a friend there that showed me around and it felt like home. The coaching staff is top-tier, they’re guys willing to go to battle.”

A connection with Siena and the 80th-ranked 2025 in New England did not happen overnight.

“My recruiting process started my freshman year,” Hambly reflected. “The three main schools were Duke, South Florida and Houston. From there I went to two PBRs to help get me out there. Sophomore year I went to the Top Prospect Games and the Future Games. After the Future Games my recruitment exploded. That’s when schools up here became interested along with my dream school, Florida State.

“Junior year I went to the ProCase and my recruiting picked up with Siena. Schools like Northeastern, Central Connecticut State, Siena and Boston College were able to see me. I was talking with those schools and Bryant, plus schools like Coast (Carolina) and UCF.

“My first conversation with coach (Nolan) Driscoll came in October,” Hambly continued in talking about the recruiting coordinator at Siena. “He wanted me to come to a camp but I couldn’t make it. After Christmas I was able to do a camp and I also visited Boston College and it all went well. The coaches at Siena called and had me come to campus Jan. 28 and they offered. My final two were BC and Siena, but Siena gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Staying in the vicinity of home was important in the long run.

“That was a huge factor,” the fourth-rated junior first baseman in New England explained. “I would have loved to go to Florida State, but with my Italian background I’m very family-oriented. It’s only two hours and 45 minutes from home and that was a key plus.”

The hit tool of Hambly was a big selling point with Siena.

“The main thing they liked was that my bat will play at the next level,” the left-handed hitting junior noted. “They also like my ability to play first and third. I have a strong arm and for my size I’m quick for a first baseman. But the main focus was my bat.”

The thought of playing college baseball developed during eighth-grade year for Hambly.

“I remember during quarantine looking at guys and comparing myself,” Hambly related. “They were committing to colleges and I wanted to be that guy. But being a first baseman in the Northeast, that didn’t happen until later. So I put a lot of work in to become bigger, faster, stronger.”

It was, admittedly, a stressful recruiting process.

“There were nights I broke down thinking I’m not where I’m supposed to be,” Hambly noted. “God helped out and also my family and Mike Abraham, my coach at Worcester Academy. Cody Ortega, my summer coach, was also big. He’s been with my recruitment since eighth grade and is like family to me.”

Improvement in his game also proved vital for the top-rated 2025 first baseman in Rhode Island, who “had a late growth spurt” going from 5-3 in ninth grade to now being 6-2 and 205 pounds.

“Weight lifting especially helped,” Hambly explained. “As a freshman I ran an 8.9. Three years later my 60 time is down to 7.1. My velo and bat have always been there but I improved with other things while getting bigger and older. My arm was 69 across the diamond freshman year but once I got to high school and hit the weights, now I’m up to 93 across the diamond.”

It has Hambly excited about what he can bring to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference program.

“I set high goals for myself,” the fourth-ranked junior in Rhode Island related. “I want to try and bring a MAAC championship to Siena and prove everyone that didn’t want to take a chance on me wrong. I just want to ball out.”

Sport management and law are majors being considered by Hambly, who admits a commitment was a big relief.

“A huge weight was taken off me,” Hambly said. “But it doesn’t mean I’m going to be complacent. I’ve got to keep working, get bigger and faster. You look at the college game and everyone’s a transfer. Those guys are 23-years-old, that’s who I’m going to be competing against.”

There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to college.

“Meeting all the new kids, grinding in the weight room and practicing,” Hambly said in listing off what he’s ready for in his future. “Becoming the best person I can be on and off the field. Having fun and having a social life, that’s important, but also playing Division I college baseball.”