OMAHA, Neb. – The Rutgers baseball team is gearing up for the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field. The Scarlet Knights, seeded 10th, will compete against 7th-seed Michigan at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Fans can catch all the action on the Big Ten Network. Stay updated by following @RutgersBaseball on X, and find live stats here.
What to Expect
Rutgers must win two games in three days against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington to make it to the quarterfinals. If they beat Michigan, they’ll go up against the winner of Ohio State/Washington. If they lose, they face the loser and must win on Wednesday and Thursday to advance.
A Quick Look at History
This is Rutgers’ fourth time competing in the Big Ten Tournament in five seasons. Before this, they had not qualified since joining the league in 2015. They made it to the championship game in 2022 but struggled in 2023. Last year, they beat No. 6 Indiana before falling to No. 3 Iowa.
2026 Team Overview
- The Scarlet Knights’ roster has 39 players—15 returning and 24 newcomers.
- Of the newcomers, 11 are true freshmen and 13 are transfers.
- Head Coach Steve Owens is starting his seventh season and has led the team to four winning seasons in a row.
- Joining the coaching staff is Ryan Fecteau, who has a strong pitching background from his time at Virginia Tech.
- Frank Schwindel, a former major leaguer, is now the director of player personnel.
Key Players to Watch
Peyton Bonds is the standout hitter, playing centerfield. He’s batting .355, with 50 hits and 76 total bases, including six home runs. Recently, he recorded a double at 121 mph, one of the hardest hits in recent college baseball history.
The catching duo, Matt Chatelle and Trey Wells, offers strength both on offense and defense. Chatelle has a .308 average, while Wells is at .302. Together, they’ve combined for over 70 runs and are instrumental in controlling the running game, throwing out 28 would-be base stealers.
Emerging Pitching Talent
New players are stepping up under Coach Fecteau. Jordan Savinon has a 3.66 ERA, while Jacob Pederson boasts a 4.63 ERA. Freshman Chris Sand has been versatile, both starting and relieving, though he has a 6.58 ERA over 39.2 innings.
Bullpen Reliability
Veteran arms like Andrew Rondini and Joe Mazza are crucial out of the bullpen. Mazza has a 3.08 ERA with four saves in 38 innings, while Rondini has a stellar 2.16 ERA over 25 innings.
A Roster Reboot
According to 64Analytics, Rutgers has brought in the top transfer portal class in the Big Ten, with 13 new players. Some, like INF Charlie Meglio and OF Chase Krewson, have been recognized as “Big Ten Players to Watch.”
Defensive Track Record
Rutgers has one of the best defensive records in the nation, maintaining a .976 fielding percentage for four consecutive seasons. Notably, shortstops Danny DiGeorgio and Josh Kuroda-Grauer received All-American honors during this stretch.
Building Futures
Rutgers is the only Big Ten team to have a top-three draft pick in each of the last three MLB drafts. Since 2021, they’ve seen 16 players either drafted or signed by MLB teams.
The Scarlet Knights are looking to make a statement in the upcoming tournament and build on their recent successes. Who knows what heights they might reach this season?
