East Tennessee State University

Awards & Honors

• 2025 All-SoCon First Team 
• 2025 Preseason All-SoCon Second Team 
• 2024 All-SoCon Freshman Team

2025 Season (Sophomore) - In his second season with the Bucs, Palmese played and started every game in centerfield for the Bucs...Palmese and Cody Miller (shortstop) were the only two Bucs to start every game at the same position for ETSU in 2025...The sophomore from Berlin, Connecticut began the season by landing a spot on the Preseason All-SoCon Second Team...Palmese then delivered with a great season hitting .297 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI...Palmese also swiped 15 bases on 16 attempts and scored 58 runs...Was fifth in the SoCon with those 17 long balls and added 13 doubles and a pair of triples as well...Compiled a 1.078 OPS against SoCon foes as well and led ETSU with eight home runs in conference play...Drove in multiple runs on 14 times...Had two or more hits in 20 of the 58 games...Hit a three-run home run against Wright State in the NCAA Tournament...Earned All-SoCon First Team honors as a sophomore. 

2024 Season (Freshman) - Palmese made an immediate impact for ETSU in 2024...As a freshman, Palmese played in 50 games and started 43 of those...Serving as ETSU's primary center fielder, Palmese hit .301 with three home runs and 28 RBI...He also scored 28 runs, totaled seven doubles and added two triples...Palmese worked 24 walks as well to go against 29 strikeouts to finish his freshman campaign with an on-base percentage of .398...Went a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts...Paced the Bucs with six sacrifice bunts...Hit home runs against Rider (February 23), Western Carolina (March 24) and Miami (OH) (May 16)...His long ball against Miami (OH) was a grand slam...Finished the season with just one error in 105 chances (.990 fielding percentage)...Following the regular season, Palmese was rewarded for his play all season long by landing a spot on the SoCon's All-Freshman Team...Palmese continued to play well for the Bucs in the SoCon Tournament collecting six hits in 13 at-bats (.462 average) with four RBI.

Prior to ETSU - Hit .392 with 14 stolen bases to go with a 1.084 OPS in post grad year...Played football and baseball in high school...A first team All-State selection on the gridiron...Multiple time All-Conference pick in both sports.

Personal - Son of Jamie and Dina Palmese...James played baseball at Central Connecticut State, while Dina competed on the UCONN track & field team...Intends on majoring in management at ETSU.