Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Baseball

Mike Gambino was hired on July 3, 2023 as the 15th head coach in Penn State baseball program history. Gambino took over the Penn State Baseball program after 13 years at the helm of his alma mater Boston College. At Penn State, Gambino has led Penn State to significant Big Ten Tournament runs in 2024 (championship game) and 2025 (semifinals). In three seasons, Gambino has coached eight All-Big Ten selections and a first-team All-American. Penn State tied a program record with five draft selections in 2025 and added a fifth-round selection in 2026. Over the last three seasons, nine Nittany Lions have hit 10+ home runs in a season: Bryce Molinaro (2024, 2025, 2026), Adam Cecere (2024), Grant Norris (2024), Jesse Jaconski (2025), Paxton Kling (2025), Jack Porter (2025), Ryan Weingartner (2025), Michael Anderson (2026) and Spencer Barnett (2026). Penn State has slugged 224 home runs since 2024 (71 in 2024, 81 in 2025 and 72 in 2026), while setting team records for doubles (111; 2025) and stolen bases (108; 2025). Anderson set the PSU season home run record in 2026 (20) and Weingartner broke the steals record in 2025 (30). In 2026, the Nittany Lions won 16 games, including nine in Big Ten play. Penn State’s wins included five over RPI Top 100 teams: Purdue (54), Maryland (85), Ohio State (87), Iowa (67) and Minnesota (93). Michael Anderson earned three All-American honors, being named a first-team All-American by ABCA, second-team All-American by NCBWA and an honorable mention All

Ford Ladd joined the Penn State baseball coaching staff in July 2025 as director of pitching technology. In 2026, the Nittany Lions won 16 games, including nine in Big Ten play. Penn State’s wins included five over RPI Top 100 teams: Purdue (54), Maryland (85), Ohio State (87), Iowa (67) and Minnesota (93). On the mound, Ben Hudson and Isaiah Shayter tied first in the Big Ten and 11th in the country with 14 games started. Mason Horwat was ninth in the Big Ten with 25 pitching appearances. Colin Fitzgerald was eighth in the Big Ten in strikeouts per nine innings (10.64). Ben DeMell finished his Penn State career with 81 pitching appearances, sitting fourth all-time at PSU. Fitzgerald tallied 67 strikeouts in 56 innings in 2026. He had 7+ strikeouts in four starts including 10+ strikeouts in two starts. Hudson had five outings going 5+ innings, while Shayter had three outings with 5+ strikeouts. Thirteen members of the pitching staff made 11+ appearances. The Nittany Lions pitched two shutouts on the mound, a 1-0 win over Richmond and a 4-0 win over Washington. The shutout against Washington was PSU’s first against a Big Ten opponent since April 10, 2021 against Purdue (11-0). Between April 24-May 14 (Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Maryland), Penn State held Big Ten opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games, the first time Penn State has accomplished that since joining the Big Ten. PSU held conference opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games for the first t

Jake Palomaki joined the Penn State baseball coaching staff in July 2024. Palomaki arrived in Happy Valley after serving as a hitting coach in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, recently working with the FCL Phillies. Over the last two seasons, seven Nittany Lions have hit 10+ home runs in a season: Bryce Molinaro (2025, 2026), Jesse Jaconski (2025), Paxton Kling (2025), Jack Porter (2025), Ryan Weingartner (2025), Michael Anderson (2026) and Spencer Barnett (2026). Penn State set team records for doubles (111; 2025) and stolen bases (108; 2025). Anderson broke the PSU season home run record in 2026 (20) and Weingartner broke the steals record in 2025 (30). In 2026, the Nittany Lions won 16 games, including nine in Big Ten play. Penn State’s wins included five victories over RPI Top 100 teams: Purdue (54), Maryland (85), Ohio State (87), Iowa (67) and Minnesota (93). Michael Anderson earned three All-American honors, being named a first-team All-American by ABCA, second-team All-American by NCBWA and an honorable mention All-American by the College Baseball Foundation. Anderson became PSU’s 14th All-American selection and its first since catcher Ben Heath in 2010. Anderson was the program’s fifth first-team All-American. Anderson was also a first-team ABCA/Rawlings All-Region selection before being drafted in the fifth round (149th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Anderson was selected as a two-way player. Michael Anderson was named first-team All-Big

Nick Puccio was hired in July 2023 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Penn State baseball program. Over the last three seasons, nine Nittany Lions have hit 10+ home runs in a season: Bryce Molinaro (2024, 2025, 2026), Adam Cecere (2024), Grant Norris (2024), Jesse Jaconski (2025), Paxton Kling (2025), Jack Porter (2025), Ryan Weingartner (2025), Michael Anderson (2026) and Spencer Barnett (2026). Penn State has slugged 224 home runs since 2024 (71 in 2024, 81 in 2025 and 72 in 2026), while setting team records for doubles (111; 2025) and stolen bases (108; 2025). Anderson set the PSU season home run record in 2026 (20) and Weingartner broke the steals record in 2025 (30). In 2026, the Nittany Lions won 16 games, including nine in Big Ten play. Penn State’s victories included five wins over RPI Top 100 teams: Purdue (54), Maryland (85), Ohio State (87), Iowa (67) and Minnesota (93). Michael Anderson earned three All-American honors, being named a first-team All-American by ABCA, second-team All-American by NCBWA and an honorable mention All-American by the College Baseball Foundation. Anderson became PSU’s 14th All-American selection and its first since catcher Ben Heath in 2010. Anderson was the program’s fifth first-team All-American. Anderson was also a first-team ABCA/Rawlings All-Region selection before being drafted in the fifth round (149th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Anderson was selected as a two-way player. Michael Anderson

Ryan Wheeler was hired as the Penn State baseball program's director of program development/alumni relations in August 2023. In 2025, Penn State finished the season with a 33-23 mark (15-15 Big Ten), posting its second-most wins in a season. PSU reached the 30-win tally for the first time since 2011. Penn State made another strong run in the Big Ten Tournament, reaching the semifinals in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000-01. PSU knocked off No. 5 seed Washington and No. 4 seed USC to advance to the semifinals. In Big Ten play, the Nittany Lions won five Big Ten series in a season for the first time since 2012 and won three Big Ten road series for the first time since 2012. Their 15 Big Ten wins were its most since 2012 (not counting a Big Ten-only schedule in 2021). The Nittany Lions had a .500 or better record in Big Ten games in back-to-back seasons for the sixth time in program history. The Nittany Lions’ eight Big Ten road wins this season were its most since 2007 (9). PSU’s 27 wins in Big Ten play over the last two seasons are its most in a two-year span since 2011-12. Penn State went 11-3 in series/weekend openers in 2025. In 2024, Penn State went 29-24 overall and 12-12 in Big Ten play. Penn State posted its first winning record in the regular season since 2016 (28-27) and maintained a .500 or better mark from the entire season for the first time since 2011 (32-22). The Blue and White notched its best record in Big Ten play since going 12-12 in 2016. The

Will Jauss was hired in July 2023 as an assistant coach with the Penn State baseball program. In 2026, the Nittany Lions won 16 games, including nine in Big Ten play. Penn State’s wins included five over RPI Top 100 teams: Purdue (54), Maryland (85), Ohio State (87), Iowa (67) and Minnesota (93). On the mound, Ben Hudson and Isaiah Shayter tied first in the Big Ten and 11th in the country with 14 games started. Mason Horwat was ninth in the Big Ten with 25 pitching appearances. Colin Fitzgerald was eighth in the Big Ten in strikeouts per nine innings (10.64). Ben DeMell finished his Penn State career with 81 pitching appearances, sitting fourth all-time at PSU. Fitzgerald tallied 67 strikeouts in 56 innings in 2026. He had 7+ strikeouts in four starts including 10+ strikeouts in two starts. Hudson had five outings going 5+ innings, while Shayter had three outings with 5+ strikeouts. Thirteen members of the pitching staff made 11+ appearances. The Nittany Lions pitched two shutouts on the mound, a 1-0 win over Richmond and a 4-0 win over Washington. The shutout against Washington was PSU’s first against a Big Ten opponent since April 10, 2021 against Purdue (11-0). Between April 24-May 14 (Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Maryland), Penn State held Big Ten opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games, the first time Penn State has accomplished that since joining the Big Ten. PSU held conference opponents to five or less runs in 10-straight games for the first time since 1