A Breakout Season
Jason Amalbert, a senior at DePaul Catholic in New Jersey, has quickly become one of the most talked‑about names in the 2026 MLB Draft conversation, posting a .450 batting average and ten home runs in just nineteen games.
Coach Joe Gambardella shifted him from shortstop to center field, comparing his athleticism to that of George Springer and unlocking a new dimension in his defensive play.
The stat line reads thirty RBIs, thirty‑one runs scored, and a surge in power that saw his home run total climb from seven last year to ten this spring.
A showcase invitation in California last fall gave his draft stock a significant boost, positioning him among the top 150 prospects heading into the July 11‑12 MLB Draft.
DePaul Catholic, a program with a strong Passaic County Tournament pedigree, has reached the final twice in three years but fell to Passaic Tech on both occasions; Amalbert hopes to change that narrative this season.
Gambardella, who has coached three sectional‑title teams and served as an assistant for two state championships, views Amalbert as a cornerstone for the program’s future and a model of athletic development.