Fairfield University Athletics

2023: All-MAAC Second Team…MAAC All-Academic Team…Batted .314 and posted career-highs in: hits (64), homers (eight), RBI (46), runs scored (48), and walks (37) while appearing in all 55 games…Posted 20 multi-hit games including four-straight where he hit .588 (10-for-17) with 10 runs scored (4/1 – 4/6)…Set the program’s single game record by scoring six times in a 4-for-4 outing which included the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning against Mount St. Mary’s (4/1)…Hit the game-tying two-out, two-strike single in the bottom of the ninth inning to force a winner-take-all Championship Game against Rider (5/27)…Also hit the game-tying three-run homer against the Broncs in the Championship Series…Had back-to-back three hit outings while driving in seven runs in the road series against Marist (5/13 – 5/14)…Launched a home run in two-straight games against Fordham (3/17 – 3/18).

2022: MAAC All-Academic Team…Missed the majority of the season after sustaining an injury after hitting a home run in the season opener against Elon (2/18).

2021: All-MAAC First Team…New England Baseball Journal Second Team…ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team…MAAC Player of the Week (4/26)…MAAC All-Academic Team…Led the MAAC with 60 hits while finishing in the top-5 in runs scored (44), home runs (seven), RBI (34), and stolen bases (nine)…Collected a hit in 14 of first 16 games of the season while hitting .444 with 16 runs scored and 13 RBI (3/20 – 4/14)…Drove in a run in first eight games…Tallied 19 multi-hit games including eight games with three base knocks…Named the MAAC Player of the Week after hitting .526 (10-for-19) with 11 runs scored and nine RBI (4/21 – 4/24)…Launched two homers, scored three runs, and drove in six at Manhattan (4/23)…Hit two homers in the regular season finale at Niagara…Set the tone for the NCAA Regionals after hitting a leadoff homer in the first Regional contest against Arizona State (6/4)…Named to the Austin Regional All-Tournament team after hitting .294 with five runs scored in the Stags’ four contests.

2020: Started all 11 games in the outfield…Tallied eight hits, scored four runs, and drove in a run…Had two hits against UNC Greensboro (2/22) and Ohio State (3/8)…Lined a double against the Spartans.

2019: Appeared in 28 games, mostly as a defensive substitute…Recorded four hits, two RBI, and three runs scored in 33 at-bats…Posted his first collegiate hit, stolen base, and run scored in his debut against Penn State (2/24)…Drove in his first RBI in the finale against the Nittany Lions (2/24)…Lined his first career double at Sacred Heart (4/23).

BEFORE FAIRFIELD: Handal was named Nassau's MVP of the Rawlings Blue Chip Grand Slam Challenge after driving in two runs including the go-ahead RBI in the eighth. In his senior season, he was named a Nassau County All-Conference player and a Northeast Honorable Mention by Perfect Game. In 2017, he helped his team to a 12-2-1 league record and helped capture the school's first Nassau County A-1 Conference Championship since 2011. He was also ranked the best defensive outfielder in Long Island and the 13th-best prospect in Long Island by Blue Chip.

PERSONAL: Father is Paul...Has a sister Meagan...Major is Business.