Carey's Jayden Gigante wins Don Lang Diamond Award for Nassau's best position player
Jayden Gigante of Carey poses with the Don Lang Diamond Award, recognizing Nassau County's top position player. Credit: Derrick Dingle
Senior Jayden Gigante put it all together this season for the Carey baseball team. The fleet-footed centerfielder patrolled gap to gap in the Seahawks’ outfield and showed off a plus-arm for professional scouts.
Gigante batted .515 with 35 hits, 32 runs, four home runs and was successful on 24 of 25 stolen-base attempts. He played so well that the Diamondbacks flew him out to Arizona for a private draft workout last week.
The 5-10, 170-pound Gigante earned the 39th Don Lang Diamond Award for Nassau’s best position player at the Nassau County Baseball Coaches Association dinner at the Marriott in Uniondale on Wednesday night.
“He’s a special kid,” Carey coach Doug Robins said. “A real five-tool player, in phenomenal shape who is a tireless worker and always looking to improve.”
Gigante will play college baseball at St. John’s. Robins said he turned down offers to play at schools such as Coastal Carolina and Miami to stay close to home.
Gigante, who earned All-Nassau honors three years in a row and was a five-year starter for the Seahawks, is scheduled to travel to Baltimore this week for another pre-draft workout.
“He’s had the Dodgers and other organizations interested,” Robins said. “The kid is put together like a rock. He really takes care of himself. And as fast as he is, he’s always looking to improve.”
Gigante is the all-time hits and runs leader at Carey. He totaled 151 hits and scored 133 runs in his high-school career.
“Jayden is the best I’ve seen in a long time,” said Robins, who has coached Carey since 2018. “He’s a throwback player.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
