Ben Faigin, a junior at Monroe High School, was crowned the Home News Tribune 2026 Greater Middlesex Conference Player of the Year, capping a season that blended early setbacks with a dramatic resurgence.
A Turnaround Fueled by Film and Focus
The turning point came after a rough outing against Old Bridge, when Faigin watched the film "For Love of the Game" and found the mental reset he needed to finish the year strong.
He then led Monroe to the Jim Muldowney Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title as the No. 9 seed, delivering a 7‑0 shutout in the final against Old Bridge with 12 strikeouts and a one‑hit effort.
Across the tournament he went 3‑0, allowing just one earned run in 21 innings while striking out 38 batters, and finished the year 7‑1 with a 1.01 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings, and a .463 batting average that included two home runs and 17 RBIs.
Coach Sean Field praised Faigin’s work ethic, noting that his dedication was evident from a 0.44 ERA in the first 16 innings to a stretch in which he gave up only two earned runs over nine later starts.
Faigin’s father, Jason Faigin, a former Yankees draft pick, has been a constant presence on the sidelines, while teammates and the bench have repeatedly highlighted his willingness to lift others, a quality that helped the team rally around his leadership.