PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball and head coach Steve Owens welcome three pitchers to the program. Sam Portnoy signs as recruit out of Eastern High School, Ryder Tallent joins as a transfer from Mercer County Community College and Aaron Winkler is set to compete in his final collegiate campaign for the Scarlet Knights as a graduate transfer from Richmond University. All three bolster the roster for the 2021 season. 


Sam Portnoy
RHP | 6-2 | 200 | R/R
Voorhees, N.J./Eastern HS
 
Why Rutgers? "I chose Rutgers so I could play for my home state and for the great baseball program here."
 
Owens Quote: "Sam is a very projectable pitcher who has a good arm slot and delivery. He is a strike thrower and has good action and movement on his fastball. We are excited about his tools and the potential for him to develop in our program."
 
Notes: A three-year varsity letterwinner at Eastern High School … worked 52.1 innings with 33 strikeouts in 2019 … credited with seven wins … helped team to a 23-9 record … went 5.2 innings with no earned runs permitted to win the South Jersey, Group 4 title game … Vikings advanced to New Jersey Group 4 Final … named 2019 First Team Olympic Conference … a 2019 Carpenter Cup participant.
 
Personal: Son of Stephanie and Sean Portnoy … has an older, Maddie, and a younger brother, Max … intends to major in exercise science.


Ryder Tallent
LHP | 6-2 | 210 | R/L
Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial HS/Mercer County Community College
 
Why Rutgers? "I chose Rutgers because both the academic and athletic programs are what I was looking for. Rutgers is my dream school because my sister also attends."
 
Owens Quote: "Ryder is a left-handed pitcher with good size, athleticism and arm strength. He has continued to make improvements every year and has the benefit of two years of college experience coming in. Throughout the year, he expressed high interest in our school and program as we proceeded with the evaluation process. We are very pleased he will be joining us and look forward to his impact on our pitching staff both short and long term."
 
Notes: Played at Mercer County Community College the past two seasons for coach Fred Carella … named to the Fall 2018 Garden State Athletic Conference All-Conference Academic Team … played summer 2019 for the Freehold Clippers in the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League and helped team to the league championship … earned the ABCCL Playoffs MVP … a three-year varsity letterwinner at Jackson Memorial High School under coach Frank Malta … also played one year of high school basketball … played travel baseball for Tri State Arsenal.
 
Personal: Son of Mary and Mike Tallent … has an older sister who attends Rutgers, Taylor, and a younger brother, Jack … intends to major in education.


Aaron Winkler
RHP | 6-0 | 195 | R/R
Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane HS/University of Richmond
 
Why Rutgers? "The coaches were able to put together a very successful program at Bryant and I feel like they will continue that at Rutgers. Coming from a smaller school, I wanted to get a different experience at a bigger school. On top of being a competitive team in a Power 5 conference, they offer a graduate school program that is perfect for me."
 
Owens Quote: "Aaron will be coming in with a ton of experience and success both in his high school and collegiate career. Performing effectively as both a reliever and a starter, he will be a mature, veteran guy that could help us in any role. Aaron has three very good pitches in his arsenal and mixes his locations and speeds well. We are looking forward to his arrival and helping him to have a great final year filled with individual and team accomplishments."
 
Notes: Set to compete final collegiate season as a graduate transfer in 2021 … pitched in 49 games with 22 starts on the mound for Richmond from 2017-19 … logged 122.2 innings with 112 strikeouts … has experience pitching against nationally-ranked opponents … earned degree from University of Richmond as a rhetoric and communication major … intends to enroll in Global Sports Business program at Rutgers University.
 
2019 (Junior): Appeared in 14 games with six starts on the mound … worked 31.1 innings with 25 strikeouts compared to 11 walks … went 3.1 scoreless innings at No. 25 Florida State (5/12) … picked up five strikeouts in four shutout innings at James Madison (4/2) … fanned a season-high seven over four scoreless frames against Princeton (3/18) … earned the win in season debut at Kennesaw State (2/16).
 
2018 (Sophomore): Appeared in 14 games with 13 starts … totaled 61.1 innings with 58 strikeouts … beat La Salle (5/12) with five strikeouts and two runs permitted in five innings … fanned seven in start at VCU (5/5) … picked up career-highs with 10 strikeouts and six scoreless innings versus Davidson (4/21) … collected six punchouts at George Mason (3/31) … permitted only one unearned run with five strikeouts against Massachusetts (3/24) … earned the win versus Binghamton (3/3) by surrendering just two runs in five innings … won season debut versus George Mason (2/17) with seven strikeouts, no walks and two hits permitted in five scoreless innings … named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week (2/19) for the performance.
 
2017 (Freshman): Appeared in 21 games with three starts … made start at No. 9 Virginia (5/16) and went two scoreless innings … also logged two shutout frames in start at Coppin State (5/10) … first start came at No. 3 North Carolina, permitting an unearned run in two innings … earned first win versus George Washington (4/8) with two innings of relief … struck out a season-high five batters in a three-inning save against Asheville (4/2) … struck out the side in an inning at VMI (3/21) and versus Longwood (2/22) … made collegiate debut in relief at Coastal Carolina (2/17), the defending national champions.
 
High School: A three-year varsity pitcher at Fox Lane High School … logged 111 innings with a 0.82 ERA … struck out 122, walked 24 and held opponents to a .175 average against … 2016 New York Section 1 AA Pitcher of the Year … ranked the No. 14 right-handed pitcher in New York by Perfect Game … a member of the National Honor Society … also played football and basketball.
 
Personal: Son of Anita and Andy Winkler … father played soccer at Ithaca … has a younger sister, Maya.
 
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