From the Tuscarora Little League field to the Major League Baseball draft.

Mason Ligenza’s journey began when he was 10 years old, putting in the work on his hometown field.

Eight years later, that work ethic — paired with his natural talent — has led him down a path few in the Times News coverage area have traveled.

Ligenza was selected 195th overall in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the defending World Series champion Dodgers.

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound outfield prospect began turning heads during his junior season at Tamaqua. As he grew into his frame and worked to add strength in the weight room, the results quickly followed. He batted .493 with 19 RBIs and eight home runs while going 6-2 with a 0.96 ERA and 75 strikeouts on the mound.

“The first winter session we had going into Mason’s junior season, on his first swing, you could hear the difference in the way the bat sounded hitting the ball. It just had a different pop to it,” said Tamaqua manager Jeff Reading. “My coaches and I all kind of stopped what we were doing and looked at each other.

“He has really put the time in to get bigger and stronger. I’m just so happy for Mason. It’s a great achievement — having his name called and being drafted by a team like the Dodgers. It’s what he’s worked so hard for.”

Ligenza built on that momentum with strong performances at showcases and workouts around the country last summer.

He followed it up with a dominant senior season that further solidified his status as a top-tier prospect.

This past spring, he hit .448 with 16 RBIs and 11 home runs. His on-base percentage was .644, his slugging percentage was 1.086, and he posted a staggering 1.730 OPS. On the mound, he went 7-1 with a 0.25 ERA and struck out 100 batters in 55 1/3 innings.

Lehighton manager J.C. Dietz, who has known Ligenza since his Little League days, isn’t surprised by what he’s accomplished.

“I’ve been watching Mason play since Little League, and you could always see how dedicated and focused he was — plus the talent,” said Dietz. “He’s just a really good overall athlete. And on top of that, he’s a great kid.

“He has a really humble demeanor about him. He never showboats, and I’ve seen by coaching against him that he plays the game the right way. Every time he comes to the plate, he instills fear. He can hit one out at any time.

“And Tamaqua having him in the leadoff spot — I thought that was brilliant. Because you don’t want to just walk him, and with his speed, he’ll steal second and already be in scoring position. And what’s even more impressive is that he’s such a good baseball player in the field that he’s not going to pitch at the next level — and yet his pitching numbers are unbelievable.”

In a sport increasingly driven by analytics, Ligenza’s numbers have stood out. ESPN ranked him as the No. 113 overall prospect going into draft weekend on July 13–14.

His 60-yard dash time of 6.43 seconds is considered elite — especially for someone with his size. He’s also shown impressive raw power, with a top exit velocity of 107 mph and a bat speed of 84.3 mph — both well above average for MLB prospects.

“I was able to talk to many scouts during the season, and that’s what they were telling me and my coaches,” said Reading. “That he has a really high ceiling and a lot of potential. We also heard words like ‘unicorn’ and ‘hidden gem’ from scouts who know what they’re talking about.

“I mean, the way he hits the ball — he has such raw natural power. And when you see him in person, you just see how special of a player he is. The way he runs at that size is truly impressive. He’s only going to get stronger, faster, and more confident. I really think he’s just scratching the surface.”

While Ligenza’s numbers and physical tools are impressive, his character might be even more so.

“I’ve said this many times before: As great of a player as he is, he’s an even better person,” said Reading. “He has such a positive attitude, and his work ethic is second to none. He would do anything for his teammates. It was a pleasure to be able to coach him.”