Penn State’s baseball program rode a magical run at the end of head coach Mike Gambino’s first season at the helm all the way to the Big Ten title game. While the Nittany Lions came up short in Omaha, it was the program’s deepest run into the tournament in 24 seasons. Penn State finished the year with a 29-24 record, with Gambino’s 29 wins being the most in program history for a first-year head coach.
Now the second season has begun.
The offseason is expected to feature quite a bit of turnover, as the Nittany Lions are expected to be active in the Transfer Portal to replenish a roster that has undergone a ton of change in the last year. So far, BWI has confirmed seven names in the Transfer Portal since the season ended. Here’s a look at the offseason movement so far.
Moving on from Penn State
Redshirt junior outfielder Billy Gerlott entered the Transfer Portal back in April. He was honored by the team at Senior Day last month. Gerlott started 43 games in 2023, but registered just 42 at bats in 2024. He hit .286 with five doubles and three runs batted in.
A host of academic sophomores, all of whom were recruited by former head coach Rob Cooper, entered the Transfer Portal earlier this week. Sophomore infielder Ty Torti, sophomore left-handed pitcher Jacob Coffin, redshirt freshman left-handed pitcher Aiden Coleman, redshirt freshman infielder CJ Carmichael and redshirt freshman James Lordi all entered this week. True freshman catcher Martin Howell also went into the Transfer Portal on Monday.
Torti played in eight games this year, hitting two home runs and getting 10 hits in 25 at bats. Coffin, Torti’s high school teammate at Pro5 Baseball Academy in North Carolina, pitched nine innings in five appearances. He gave up five earned runs and struck out seven batters.
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A Tyrone (Pa.) product, Coleman didn’t see any action in the last two seasons. The same was the case for Carmichael, from Bloom Carroll High School in Lancaster, Ohio. Lordi appeared in nine games for Penn State this year, allowing 17 hits in 14 innings of work and giving up eight earn runs. He was 0-1 on the season. Howell, a New Jersey native, did not appear in a game for the Nittany Lions.
The biggest hit for the Nittany Lions in the portal has already found a new home. Bellefonte (Pa.) native Bobby Marsh entered the Transfer Portal on May 29 and announced his commitment to the University of Miami on Monday. Cooper is the acting director of program development for the Hurricanes.
Marsh started 52 games in the outfield this year for the Nittany Lions, hitting .309 and with six home runs and 47 RBI. He was fifth on the team in hitting and third in RBIs. He also tied for the team lead by getting hit by a pitch 10 times.
Penn State is already active in the Transfer Portal
The Nittany Lions plan to be active this offseason to replenish their roster. After nabbing All-Big Ten outfielder and Pennsylvania native Adam Cecere from Wake Forest last offseason, Gambino has gone back to the Demon Deacons to add a pitcher for 2025. Former Wake Forest right-handed pitcher Will Andrews announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Tuesday.
Andrews pitched in 2022 and 2023 at Wake, but according to his official Demon Deacons bio he suffered a leg injury prior to the 2024 season that kept him off the roster this past season. He instead served as the team’s bullpen manager last season. He’ll be a graduate transfer addition for the Nittany Lions.
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