STEPHEN DITOMASO BREAKS FRONTIER LEAGUE SINGLE-SEASON HITS RECORD

AVON, OH -  Down East Bird Dawgs outfielder Stephen DiTomaso made Frontier League history on September 3, recording his 145th hit of the 2026 season to set a new Frontier League single-season record.

DiTomaso surpassed the previous record of 144 hits, set by Jose Rodriguez with the Chillicothe Paints during the 2005 season. Rodriguez’s record had stood for 21 years before DiTomaso broke the mark in 2026.

DiTomaso has been one of the Frontier League’s most consistent hitters throughout the 2026 season. At the time of his record-breaking hit, the Down East hitter has recorded 145 hits while batting .338 with 26 doubles,  39 RBI, 80  runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He also put together one of the longest on-base streaks in the League this season, reaching safely in 53 consecutive games through September 2.

The record comes during DiTomaso’s second season in professional baseball, both spent with the Down East Bird Dawgs. He joined the organization ahead of their inaugural season in 2025 after playing five seasons collegiately at George Washington University. During his collegiate career, DiTomaso appeared in 215 games and recorded 295 hits while batting .326.

DiTomaso immediately became a key piece of the Bird Dawgs lineup during his rookie season in 2025. He appeared in 75 games, leading Down East with a .301 batting average while recording 92 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 36 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He was selected to the 2025 Frontier League All-Star Game and went on to win the Frontier League Home Run Derby, hitting 22 home runs across the three-round competition.

His success continued into 2026, earning his second consecutive Frontier League All-Star selection in July. DiTomaso was also signed to a contract extension by the Bird Dawgs on August 21.

With his 145th hit, DiTomaso now stands alone atop the Frontier League record book for hits in a single season, breaking one of the League’s longest-standing offensive records.