There’s quite a buzz surrounding Patchogue-Medford High School’s baseball program this spring, with the addition of pitching phenom Jayden Stroman.

Stroman, a senior committed to Duke University, is one of the country’s top prospects. The younger brother of Yankees pitcher and former Raiders ace Marcus Stroman returned to Pat-Med after playing last year at IMG Academy in Florida.

Jayden’s fastball has been clocked as high as 97 miles per hour and he’s developed a changeup to go with it, coach Anthony Frascogna said. Primarily a closer throughout his high school career, Stroman will start the finale of each of the Raiders’ three-game series, but isn’t expected to work deep into games.

“It feels great to come back with my friends and finish where I started,” Stroman said after making his Raiders debut last Friday, striking out seven in three innings of an 11-1 victory over Riverhead at Medford Athletic Complex, with more than a dozen MLB scouts in attendance.

“He played fall ball here, so we had a pretty good idea he’d be with us this season,” said Frascogna, in his 25th year at the helm. “He’s the greatest athlete I’ve ever seen on a field. He’s not going to be a seven-inning guy, but he’s going to help us a lot, not only on the mound but at shortstop and somewhere at the top of the lineup.”

Last season, the Raiders won six of their last seven league games to finish 10-8 and qualify for the Suffolk Class AA playoffs, where they defeated North Babylon but lost to Longwood and William Floyd in the double-elimination tournament. The goal this spring is to get back to the postseason and do damage.

“We’re hoping for a fast start and to make a run at the league title,” Frascogna said.

Junior Connor Lockwood is projected to pitch the first game of each series and he’ll rely more on location than speed to get the job done. “He’s a dependable pitcher who throws strikes,” Frascogna said.

Seniors James Minitalo and Brayden Vander will form a tandem in the middle game of each league series. Both were contributors a year ago and stepping into larger roles. “We’re counting on them to be effective and fill that whole second game every week,” explained Frascogna. “The fun part about the staff this season is we have 10 guys who can pitch, so we’ll be mixing and matching as we go.”

The Raiders’ lone returning award winner from 2024 is senior third-baseman Frank Kentoffio, a fourth-year member of the varsity team. Big things are expected from the all-league selection, who’ll serve as Stroman’s protection in the lineup and counted on to drive in runs. “Frank hits to all fields with power, has a strong arm at third, and will give us some innings on the mound,” Frascogna said.

Senior Chase Desantis returns at second base and is a solid contact hitter with a reliable glove. At first, the Raiders have power-hitting junior lefty Ashton Klugewicz atop the depth chart, with Lockwood another option. Behind the plate, junior Brayden Davis takes over after serving as the JV starter last spring.

How the lineup ultimately takes shape depends on if senior centerfielder Jacob Oakley or Stroman fit in the leadoff spot. The other will likely bat second. Versatile senior Alberto Menniti will start in left or right, and Frascogna is excited about talented youngers Tyler Schelmety, a freshman, and Evan Picciaro, an eighth grader.

Patchogue-Medford (2-1) faces William Floyd in a three-game set starting Monday, April 14 at home at 4 p.m.