CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – On August 22nd of 2016, Harvard College's Class of 2020 reported to campus for the first of what would become an eventful four years in Cambridge. Among that group of 1,657 were five student-athletes and a student-manager who would help Harvard baseball spark its recent era of success under the Joseph O'Donnell '67 Head Coach for Harvard Baseball, Bill Decker.

Since the 2017 season, the Class of 2020 has contributed 68 victories, 33 Ivy League wins and in 2019 helped deliver the program's first Ivy League Championship since 2005. Along with these accomplishments, the Class of 2020 is mentioned numerous times in the program's record book.

"The class of 2020 was an awesome group of competitive, well-respected players who were extremely loyal to the program and to mission of Harvard Athletics," said Decker, "It's unfortunate that their efforts came to an abrupt and premature ending (COVID-19) but that should and will not tarnish their efforts as individuals and as a group."

26 - Grant Stone – RHP – Stamford, Conn. – History & Literature

Stone was a key leader in the Crimson clubhouse despite being sidelined due to injury late in his career. The Connecticut native was a key contributor in his first three seasons, logging nearly 50 innings on the hill over 26 career appearances.

"Being a member of the Harvard Baseball team has changed my life for the better in so many different ways. I've been given the opportunity to attend an amazing university, to compete and push myself in collegiate athletics, and to create incredible friendships that will last a lifetime," said Stone, "The struggles and successes have helped mold me as a person, and I'm grateful for everything this program and this game have taught me throughout the years. I'll always be thankful to Harvard Baseball, and I'll cherish the memories I've made, the lessons I've learned and the family I've found as I move to my next chapter in life."

Stone was also a dedicated volunteer, as he led a number of charitable events in his role with the Harvard Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

"Grant's value to Harvard Baseball should never be underappreciated," said Decker, "He started off strong as a freshman then had a string of injuries and was ready to be cleared for activity prior to the cancellation of the season. His extracurricular activities and success in the classroom are models for future players to follow."

Grant mentions the Ivy League Championship, Spring break trips and bubble season intra-squad contests as some of his favorite memories with the team.

27 - J.T. Bernard – LHP – Douglasville, Ga. - Economics

Bernard has served as an important bullpen arm for the Crimson since 2017, appearing in 24 games and tossing 28.1 innings on the mound.

"Being a member of the Harvard Baseball team has provided me the best four years of my life," said Bernard, "The program has given me some of my best friends and provided opportunities for me to grow as a person and find myself. Though the path was rocky at times, the moments of adversity that I've experienced have resulted in great personal growth and a sincere appreciation for every team success. Through early morning workouts, tarp pulls, and hanging out in the locker room before a big weekend series, a collection of guys from across the country became a family. And I'm profoundly grateful for having the opportunity to be a part of that family."

The lefty has delivered a number of impressive outings in his career, including a scoreless frame in his collegiate debut against Jacksonville. Later in his first-year season, Bernard fanned three batters to tie a career-high in strikeouts against Boston College in the Beanpot at Fenway Park. In his best outing for the Crimson, Bernard threw a career-high three innings and earned his first career save against Dartmouth in 2019. 

"J.T. showed steady improvement throughout his career and was well on his way to becoming a key contributor as a senior," said Decker, "J.T. worked his tail off and was a supporter of all his teammates.  I will miss our early morning coffee chats when we were traveling overnight on team trips."

Bernard's favorite memories with the team include hanging out with Coach Decker in his office before practice every day, winning the 2018 Beanpot Championship, ball-boy'ing Harvard Football games with Jack Mahala '21, pulling all-nighters Freshman year to work on CS50 Psets with Chad Minato '20, Coach Decker's speeches to the team and beating Dartmouth 18-17 to eliminate them from the Ivy League Playoff Series in 2018.

17 - Kieran Shaw – RHP – Los Gatos, Calif. – History & Literature

Since his arrival on campus, opponents dreaded seeing No. 17 run out of the bullpen. Shaw has been one of the most relied on pitchers for Harvard since 2017, transitioning from reliever to closer to starting pitcher. His best season came in 2019, when he etched his name into the record books, becoming the Ivy League's all-time saves leader with 13 on the year. His 21 career saves are good for the top spot in program history.

"Harvard Baseball has been more than a blessing for me. It has made me stronger, more compassionate, more industrious, and more honest. Being a member of that team has also challenged me and pushed me in ways I never thought possible," said Shaw, "The opportunity provided by Coach Decker to be a member of the Harvard Baseball team has been a character and life defining experience. More than I can relate, I am beyond grateful for my relationships with the coaching staff, the friends and teammates which I was fortunate enough to share the locker room with, and all those related, in one way or another, to the program."

Shaw was an integral part of the Ivy Championship run, earning six saves in Ivy play and clinching the regular season Ivy title after striking out the side against Brown. The California native caps off his career with 83 punchouts in 88.2 innings pitched over 51 appearances.

"Shaw had a tremendous work ethic and vision," said Decker. "Kieran's time in our program speaks for itself and I am so glad he was in our dugout. He is really competitive in nature, but in a respectful way to all. His leadership and consistency on and off the field is a signature of his importance and value to this program."

15 - Jake Suddleson – OF – Pacific Palisades, Calif. – History

Despite the premature ending to his career, Suddleson will surely go down as one of the most feared batters in Harvard history. The reigning Ivy League Player of the Year came into the 2019-20 season ranked in the top 30 hitters in the country by D1 Baseball after a monster junior season. He hit .372 with 11 home runs and - a program record - 53 RBI. In only 112 games played, Suddleson recorded 125 hits, 25 doubles and 20 home runs.

"Playing for Harvard Baseball has been the privilege of a lifetime.  I've had the opportunity to make great friends and play for the best coaches, all while representing the best university in the world.  I have also made memories at Harvard, both on the field and off, that will last a lifetime.  Although my time on campus got cut short, I am forever grateful to the coaching staff for giving me this incredible opportunity.  I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Harvard Baseball family."

Jake's favorite memories with the team include winning the Ivy Championship against Brown, and then the Championship series against Columbia to get the chance to play in an NCAA Regional and his contributions to walk-off wins against Yale and Columbia in 2019.

Suddleson's late-game heroics were always on display, as the outfielder came up clutch multiple times during Harvard's Ivy League title run in 2019. His go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning against Penn powered the Crimson to an 8-6 win. Additionally, in one of the best moments of the season, Suddleson hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the 14th inning to give Harvard a crucial Ivy League win over Columbia.

"Jake had steady growth and consistency and he was a really good player," said Decker, "Jake had a chance to play every day throughout his career and his junior year was a tribute to his development as a player and person. Laid back on the surface; Jake was a competitive and feared hitter in the batter's box. His potentially record setting career came to an end too quickly despite getting off to another good start at the beginning of the 2020 season. Going to miss him as a player and person"

6 - Chad Minato – INF – Huntington Beach, Calif. - History

Coming off the best season of his career, Minato was voted by his teammates to serve as captain for the 2020 squad. Since his first days in Cambridge, Minato has been a crucial member of the Crimson locker room, making an immediate impact from the jump. 

"Coming into Harvard, I did not know what to expect in terms of school, but Harvard Baseball has been like a family to me," said Minato. "I've learned from coaches and players alike to become a better ballplayer, but more importantly, a better man. While my time as a player was cut short, I have enough memories to last a lifetime. Being able to be on the ride from where we were my first year to champions by the end was something I will cherish from my time, and it speaks to the ambition, dedication, and excellence that is ingrained in this program."

Some of Chad's favorite memories include winning the Ivy League, the walk off against Yale in 2019, Spring break trips to Florida, winning the beanpot, exploring Oklahoma City prior to the regional and celebrating wins with the team.

In his first season, Minato appeared in 31 games and filled in as needed all over the infield. Things really started to click for the California native in his junior season. Minato earned an Ivy League Honorable Mention after batting .289 and recording a 17-game hit streak in the Crimson's Ivy League Championship season. Minato's seven hits in the Ivy League Playoff Series helped Harvard clinch its first NCAA Regional berth since 2005.

"Chad is just a great, sincere, coachable young person," said Decker of his captain, "Chad was as steady as they come; always well prepared and a model of consistency.  I so much appreciate his overall leadership of this group and will miss being around him as he moves on. Just a class act and a wonderful human being!"

Brendan Connolly – Student Manager – Hanover, MA – Economics

Though his name does not appear on the roster, team assistant and manager Brendan Connolly proved himself to be an invaluable asset to the players and coaches of Harvard baseball. Connolly repeatedly exceeded expectations, taking on and completing a variety of tasks given to him. The Massachusetts native was an integral part of the player development process, by aiding coaches with data collection and video coordination efforts in use with analytics software. 

"Joining the Harvard Baseball team as a Student Assistant was one of the greatest decisions of my life," said Connolly, "Through my four years in the program, I have made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. The program's steady focus on maximizing each individual's potential, both on and off the field, is truly special. Through wins and losses, good times and bad times, championship celebrations and cancelled seasons, the constant feeling of love and support for one another is palpable. This competitive and caring atmosphere is something that I will never forget, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it."

"Brendan's commitment and loyalty to the role as a student-assistant/manager and to the game of baseball, has been a blessing to our staff and invaluable for our players," said Decker. "He has an unwavering work ethic and thirst to learn.  Brendan is very positive, very infectious, very responsible, and a pleasure to be around! We were blessed to have Brendan in our clubhouse, in so many ways on and off the field, he has been our caretaker."

Brendan will remember team road trips, playing the snow game at Cornell in 2018, the 2018 Beanpot Championship, the team's trip to the Dominican Republic, the championship ring ceremony, singing "Red Dirt Road" as a senior class during their last night on campus, and the many relationships he has made through Harvard baseball upon his departure from campus.