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Former Freedom Standout Readies for LVBL Debut

A Division 1 college pitcher who played his high school ball in Bethlehem is joining the Lehigh Valley Baseball League for the 2020 season.

Long Island University Shark and former Freedom High School Patriot Alec Huertas will join the Lehigh Valley Angels in the AA Division. The 6’2” righthander registered three appearances for LIU this spring before the lockdown ended his second season with the college team.

First-year Angels Manager Thomas Bonilla acknowledged that Huertas is likely to turn some heads and knows what will happen when word gets out about his ace.

“I'm ok with teams bringing all they have each week,” Bonilla said. "My team is ready to compete.”

It’s the second consecutive season that the LVBL will welcome a pitcher with bonafide professional aspirations. Former Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptor Ian Scheidemann signed with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League after spending his 2019 season with the LVBL’s Freemansburg Blue Barons.

Huertas is putting together a promising prospect profile at LIU.

The 6’2”, 180-pound righthander had allowed only one earned run to go along with 13 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched in three starts in 2020 before the lockdown ended the season. His top outing was a complete-game three-hitter.

As a freshman in 2019, Huertas was the Sharks’ third-most used pitcher, led the team in wins, and was second in strikeouts.

Huertas was named high school Baseball Player of the Year by lehighvalleylive after leading the Patriots to the 2018 District 11 championship. The award from lehighvalleylive dates to 1994, when future Major Leaguer Brian Schneider of Northampton Area High School took the honors.

Huertas's LIU player profile has more details on his college career so far.