Melville's Matt Hogan, a former Yastrzemski Award winner, back on Long Island with Ducks

Batting practice was in full swing for the Long Island Ducks in the cage at home plate behind Matt Hogan on this gray day in Central Islip. He looked up in the stands at Fairfield Properties Ballpark and he could see himself there, a kid from Melville watching the Ducks down below.

“Kind of like a little bit of a full-circle moment coming back here,” the now 26-year-old Ducks newcomer said last weekend before their spring training finale. “I grew up coming to these games. I remember I sat up in that box up there with my aunt and uncle.”

Hogan was so good as a senior centerfielder/pitcher for Half Hollow Hills East in 2018 that he earned the coveted Yastrzemski Award as Suffolk’s best player. He went on to three college stops, then played the past three seasons as a pro, the past two in the Chicago White Sox organization, reaching Triple-A last August. But he was released on March 17.

And so this 6-foot, 200-pound lefty hitter with an easy smile came back home to Long Island, signing on April 9 with the Ducks to play in the Atlantic League.

After being away so much for almost a decade, he could stay back in Melville with his parents and could see his girlfriend in New Jersey regularly. And he could continue to play baseball for a living and try to reestablish himself and be rediscovered by a big-league organization.

It was a setback being released. But for now, he’s feeling like lucky No. 13 in a Ducks uniform.

“Coming here and being able to enjoy the time here and have family come to games — I mean, it’s my first time playing on Long Island in about eight years — it’s humbling,” Hogan said. “It feels good. I’m excited to be here and really play with this team.”

Manager Lew Ford started Hogan in center in Tuesday night’s opening loss at home to Hagerstown, saying the “opportunity” was there for him. Hogan went 0-for-3 with a walk. The Ducks then split the final two games of the series with Hogan continuing to start, going a combined 1-for-5 with two more walks and a steal.

“We’re happy to have him,” Ford said. “A lot of speed and defense that he’s bringing to centerfield.”

Born in Plainview, Hogan brought his developing skills to his high school varsity when he was a mere eighth-grader and ultimately proved himself as “probably the hardest worker I’ve ever seen,” according to Tim Belz, now in his 19th year as the Hills East coach.

“His physical tools pretty much warranted him as an eighth-grader to come up,” Belz said. “But his mental tools and his ability to be a really good leader and do the right thing all the time — he was ready for it not just physically but mentally and socially. Nothing distracted Matt.”

His junior year was difficult for him, playing despite a back issue. But Hogan batted .401 and went 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA as a senior, leading Hills East to the postseason.

“He was a phenomenal baseball player, but everybody just knew the type of person he was,” said Belz, who has remained in touch with Hogan. “I remember hearing from other coaches, ‘The Yaz Award is meant for people like him.’

“. . . He could be in the dreariest place and he could brighten it up. Matt is that type of person.”

After receiving only 89 plate appearances across three years at Vanderbilt and one at South Carolina, Hogan had an impact season with Oral Roberts in 2023, batting .320 with 19 homers, 72 RBIs and an 1.123 OPS.

Rocky Mountain of the independent Pioneer League signed him afterward. Hogan hit .289 across 45 games. The White Sox signed him in March of 2024. But he batted .188 in 91 games at two levels that season. Then he hit .213 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 56 games at four levels last year.

There were some extenuating circumstances, a torn oblique that led to sporadic playing time. Then he was let go during spring training.

“Sometimes, it’s literally just a numbers thing when it comes to that stuff,” Hogan said. “That’s what they told me when it happened . . . But life has a ton of opportunities. One door closes, another one opens.”

Besides being exceptionally personable, Hogan is good at talking. A future broadcaster?

“I have thought about it in the past,” Hogan said. "I love this game. I love talking about it, too. I could talk about it all day, like the small things no one sees.”

A big thing he would like to see is another shot with a major-league organization. But he isn’t dwelling on it now.

“I would definitely love to get back to affiliated [ball] at some point, but I live by the code of ‘Be where your feet are,’ ” Hogan said. “Right now, I’m not trying to be anywhere else but here. Try to enjoy the game here, help this team win as much as I possibly can and honestly just enjoy it while I’m here.”