Boston College Athletics
Baseball Adds Matt Antonelli and Nick Burdi to Coaching Staff
September 28, 2026 | Baseball
BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Boston College Baseball team has announced the addition of two assistant coaches, Matt Antonelli and Nick Burdi.
A native of Peabody, Mass., Antonelli was drafted in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres after playing collegiate ball at Wake Forest University. He would eventually reach the major leagues in 2008 before having stints with the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and the then Cleveland Indians minor league systems.
"I'm incredibly grateful to Coach [Todd] Interdonato for the opportunity to join the Boston College baseball program and for the trust he has placed in me," said Antonelli. "Having spent so much of my baseball life in New England, the chance to coach in the ACC at a place like Boston College is incredibly meaningful to me.
BC has everything you look for in a college baseball program. I'm excited to join a staff that is so committed to helping our players reach their full potential. I'm looking forward to building relationships with them, investing in their development and helping them continue to grow both on and off the field.
My family and I are thrilled to join the Boston College community. I can't wait to get to work and do everything I can to help this program compete at the highest level."
After his playing days, Antonelli has excelled as a coach, developing the next generation of talent. Along with his Antonelli Baseball coaching staff, he puts on clinics and teams for young players.
His website states, "It is our mission to provide each player with the optimal opportunity to reach his full potential and advance to the next level."
Before joining the BC coaching staff, Antonelli has served as a coach for his alma mater, Wake Forest, and was the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach for Holy Cross.
"We are excited to welcome Matt, Laura, and their two children to the Birdball family," said head coach Todd Interdonato. "As we searched for an addition to our coaching staff this summer, we were looking for an individual who could improve our individual offensive instruction – but more importantly, understood all that embodies Boston College and what we are building.
Matt's individual success, his coaching acumen, and deep understanding for BC and Birdball made him the perfect fit for our players and our coaching staff. His humility, knowledge of the game, connections to Birdball, and residence here in the Northeast make him an incredible advantage for us.
We are thrilled to have him in the dugout with us as we continue to build Birdball into the '27 season!"
Burdi, born in Hinsdale, Ill., comes to Boston College after a 10-plus-year professional career. Burdi was drafted in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins after pitching for the University of Louisville. He would remain a part of the Twins organization until 2017, when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pittsburgh Pirates then traded for him, and he made his MLB debut in 2018.
"I couldn't be more excited to join Todd [Interdonato] and his staff here at BC," said Burdi. "This program has cemented itself as an ACC contender year after year, and I can't wait to get to work with this already proven pitching staff and compete at the highest level. My professional playing career and my time at Louisville helped shape me into the coach I am today, and I'm excited to bring that same energy and commitment to Chestnut Hill. Go Eagles!"
Burdi then spent time in the San Diego Padres minor league system before being signed, this time by the Chicago Cubs. In 2023, he was called up to the Cubs' active roster. Burdi then joined the New York Yankees and made the 2024 Opening Day roster. In 2025, he spent time with the Boston Red Sox and its Triple-A affiliate, the Worcester Red Sox.
"When we celebrated with Ryan and Kim on their new assignment to Princeton, we were looking for a coach who could continue to build on what Ryan had created on our pitching staff," said Interdonato. "Our search was extensive, but Nick's passion for teaching and his belief in Birdball separated him to the rest of our coaching staff.
His playing career, both at Louisville and professional baseball, speaks for itself, but his ability to connect with our players and his vision for each of them individually is why he is part of Birdball. The more we got to know him and hear his plan for our staff, it became clear this was the perfect individual to take the baton and continue to push our program forward.
We are ecstatic to welcome Nick and Becca, along with their two children to Birdball!"
Boston College is pleased to have both Matt Antonelli and Nick Burdi as part of the Birdball family.
