GREAT BARRINGTON, Ma. - The thought of playing baseball at the next level is a recent development for Jayder Raifstanger.

“Last year I met Kevin and started hitting at his facility,” the Monument Mountain High School sophomore reflected about Kevin Donati, who along with Alex Carusotto are coaches at Rip City Academy that have been a major factor in the recruitment of Raifstanger. “They said next year get some video, go to some PBR events and reach out to some colleges.”

The top-rated 2023 shortstop in New England has done just that and interest is beginning to heat up.

“The past two months I’ve been talking to Boston College and St. John’s,” Raifstanger related. “They saw me on PBR and Kevin set up a call for them with me. I had a call with an assistant coach at Boston College, that’s when it all started, then with the hitting coach at St. John’s.

“They like that I’m a good infielder and the way I move with a left-handed hitting tool. There aren’t many left-handed hitting shortstops and that got their attention.”

The fourth-ranked sophomore in Massachusetts has enjoyed interacting with college coaches during his early stages of recruitment.

“Both have been fun to talk to,” Raifstanger said. “We talk about things like football and just try to get to know each other better. We’ve also talked about my schedule for the summer.”

That includes playing for Rip City, a new travel team that will be playing in tournaments such as the PBR 17U National Championship July 14-20. This past year, Raifstanger participated in the Summer Classic Showcase, New England Underclass Games and Ma/NH Fall Top Prospect Games.

“I really like how they do it,” Raifstanger said about the PBR events. “You stretch and run, then you hit and field. It’s really organized. I like talking to all the other kids there. You see all these great players and it’s cool to compete with all of them.”

Dennis Healy, PBR Massachusetts Director of Scouting, sees a lot of promise in Raifstanger.

“Jayder is a very good player,” Healy noted. “He’s a left-handed hitting middle infielder, the bat plays and he has a good feel for his body. He is a high-level recruit.”

The 15-year-old is just happy to be back on the ballfield after covid put a quick finish to his first year of high school baseball.

“I’ve struggled with the virus and coaches not being able to come watch,” Raifstanger pointed out about his recruiting struggles until recently. “It’s been difficult so I’ve had to get a lot of videos out to them. I hit in the cage a lot and send them my best hitting rounds. I also go to the indoor soccer field and get videos hitting and fielding and send them out.”

Improvement has been huge in helping amp up the recruiting process for Raifstanger.

“I played up with 17-year-olds with the Berkshire Aces and then had tournaments I played in the fall with 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds,” explained Raifstanger. “Everyone is faster and the pitching is faster and I like to see that. Playing against better teams and better competition made me a better player.”

Raifstanger sees that carrying over when it comes to his future as a ballplayer.

“Wherever I go I’ll bring them some great hitting,” Raifstanger said. “I can hit good pitching and I’m a really good fielder. I’ll also bring a great personality to the team.”

The sophomore from Great Barrington, who carries a 3.5 GPA, is undecided on a college major as he gets ready for a big season ahead.

“I plan to make a lot more videos, send them out to colleges along with my summer schedule and see who replies back,” the ninth-rated 2023 in New England related. “I’d really like to go to a college in the south where it’s warm and I can play baseball year ’round.”