Saint Bonaventure at Penn State Baseball Scrimmage: Quick Preview & Questions

Quick Preview

The Nittany Lions prepare to kick off a 3-game home fall scrimmage schedule against Saint Bonaventure on Friday. Penn State fell short, 2-1 in the Big Ten Championship Game last season as they look to right the ship in Mike Gambino’s second year at the helm. We asked Bryan Portney about what to expect for the start of the fall season.

Questions

Who are you most excited about for Friday?

1B/OF Cole Wagner. As a hometown hero at Red Land, Happy Valley is in his backyard. Being an SEC slugger, he’s ready for the Big [Ten] stage after a year of rest.

What is the most contested position player race?

The outfield is the most confusing and contested position player race, in my opinion. Moving players around like Joe Jaconski, Jesse Jaconski, Cole Wagner, Cohl Mercado, Jack Porter, and Paxton Kling would be beneficial to see who plays best out there.

What is the most stable position player role?

The left side of the infield leaves the least questions for me going into Friday. We could see Bryce Molinaro switch roles with Ryan Weingartner, but I like them both at third base and shortstop.

Who would you like to see bat first?

I’d like to see OF Paxton Kling step up to the plate first. As a part of a 2023 national champion in LSU, he has the experience and the skill to be a very entertaining player in the Big Ten in the spring.

Who is your favorite newcomer position player?

For me, I’d have to go with MIF Ryan Weingartner. As a team leader with a balanced skillset, he has the capability to be a key addition to the left side of the infield. He should be fun to watch in the spring.

What is the most contested pitcher race?

The battle for the top rotation spots is now up for grabs after righthanders Travis Luensmann and Jaden Henline graduated. Lefthanders Logan Olson and Ryan DeSanto, as well as righthanders Frankie Sanchez and Mason Horwat each have a shot to impress the coaches and dig into one of the three spots.

What is the most stable pitcher role?

The bullpen retains most of its starpower from last season, and they’ve added on in every way. Many players will continue to battle for spots, and it’s going to be interesting to see the first look on Friday.

Who would you like to see pitch first?

I’d like to see RHP Chase Renner on the mound first. After not playing a full season since 2022 due to injury, he’ll be a player to look for in this first scrimmage.

Who is your favorite newcomer pitcher?

My favorite newcomer pitcher is LHP Logan Olson. After proving that he can be a rotation piece in the JUCO level, he should be tested by the Saint Bonaventure bats on Friday. His power conference experience with Oregon in 2023 makes him a desirable player for the spring.

Which player(s) are under the most pressure?

On the offensive side, I think MIF Derek Cease has a lot of pressure. After being a late-game defensive specialist in the final games of the season, his bad hitting skills could open the door for MIF Patrick Graham to step into the second baseman position.

On the pitching side, I think RHP Frankie Sanchez is under the most pressure. After experiencing a rough transition from Division 2 to the Big Ten in 2024, he’ll either shape up or ship out in the spring.

Which freshman player are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about RHP Harrison Lollin. After an outstanding high school career, it’ll be really interesting to see how that translates into Division 1 success.

What’s a walk-up song you’d like to hear on Friday?

Juke Box Hero by Foreigner. Easily a top five walk-up song I’ve ever heard.