Matt Wessinger, a former All-American at St. John's who also played professionally for five years, completed his fourth year as an assistant coach on the Hofstra Baseball staff in 2021. Wessinger joined the Pride in September 2017. During his tenure working with the Pride batters, Hofstra has had five players sign professional contracts including MLB Draft picks Teddy Cillis, Vito Friscia, and Parker Quinn.
During his first season with the Pride, Wessinger helped Hofstra to a 23-23 record and a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship. In 2019 Hofstra missed out on postseason play by one game. During Hofstra's shortened 2020 campaign, the Pride was well on their way to a stellar offensive campaign with a team batting average over .300 and an average of 7.14 runs per game. Hofstra once again narrowly missed out on a CAA Championship berth in 2021 after winning 17 games.
A four-year letterwinner from 2009-12 and a two-year captain, Wessinger enjoyed one of the finest careers in the long history of the Red Storm baseball program. St. John’s made three NCAA Tournament appearances (2010, 2011, 2012), won two Big East Championships (2010 and 2012) and advanced to the Super Regionals during his senior campaign.
Wessinger, who was a third team All-America selection by the NCBWA and Baseball America in 2012, holds several St. John’s baseball records as he is the all-time leader in games played (229), at bats (874), runs scored (194) and hits (278). He also ranks third in RBIs (173), third in doubles (60), second in total bases (406) and 10th in home runs (20). He was an All-Big East Second Team selection as a senior as well as a three-time All-East Region pick. He also earned All-Big East Tournament accolades in 2012.
After his stellar collegiate career, Wessinger enjoyed a five-year tenure in the professional ranks. A two-time draft selection, Wessinger was first selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round (1,116th overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft. Wessinger chose to return to St. John’s for his senior year and was then taken in the fifth round (168th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in the 2012 MLB Draft.
He impressed in 63 games with the rookie ball Grand Junction Rockies in 2012, hitting .274 with four home runs, eight doubles, three triples and 27 RBIs. Wessinger split 2013 between Class A and Class A-Advanced, hitting .275 with six homers, 28 doubles and 42 RBIs in 106 games with the Asheville Tourists before being promoted to the Modesto Nuts for the remainder of the season and the entirety of the 2014 campaign.
Wessinger had a brief stint in 2015 with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League before spending a majority of his 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Bridgeport Bluefish and the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.
Wessinger, a Liverpool, New York, native, graduated from St. John’s in 2013 with a degree in sports management.
