Photo by: Cos Lymperopoulos
Baseball Hands Out Awards at First Pitch Dinner
Jan 19 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Head coach Steve Owens and the Rutgers baseball program hosted its annual First Pitch Dinner on Saturday night at The Rutgers Club.
Hosted by Rutgers Athletics play-by-play announcer Dom Savino, the event featured remarks from Owens, Director of Athletics Keli Zinn as well as a Q&A with guest of honor Al Leiter, a World Series champion, two-time all-star and 19-year MLB veteran. Leiter spoke on his experience as a Berkeley, New Jersey, native being drafted to the hometown New York Yankees, navigating through the ups-and-downs of a baseball career and offered words of advice and inspiration to the team.
The program also handed out six awards from the 2025 season.
2025 Rutgers Baseball Team Awards
Ron Kish Academic Excellence Award: JD Jones
Hosted by Rutgers Athletics play-by-play announcer Dom Savino, the event featured remarks from Owens, Director of Athletics Keli Zinn as well as a Q&A with guest of honor Al Leiter, a World Series champion, two-time all-star and 19-year MLB veteran. Leiter spoke on his experience as a Berkeley, New Jersey, native being drafted to the hometown New York Yankees, navigating through the ups-and-downs of a baseball career and offered words of advice and inspiration to the team.
The program also handed out six awards from the 2025 season.
2025 Rutgers Baseball Team Awards
Ron Kish Academic Excellence Award: JD Jones
- The Ron Kish Academic Excellence Award is given annually to the member of the Rutgers baseball team with the highest GPA.
Most Valuable Position Player: Trevor Cohen
Most Valuable Pitcher: Quinn Berglin
Fred Hill Award: Ty Doucette
Most Valuable Pitcher: Quinn Berglin
Fred Hill Award: Ty Doucette
- Named for the legendary head coach and Hall of Famer, the Fred Hill Award is given annually to the member of the Rutgers baseball program who best exemplifies the values of character, passion for the game and love for Rutgers Baseball.
Ron and Pat Game Changer Award: Ted Phelan
- The Ron and Pat Bainton Game Changer Award is given annually to the Rutgers baseball supporter whose contributions in the past year have had the greatest impact on the growth of the program.
Knight Award for Outstanding Service: Ken Pennini, strength and conditioning coach
- The Knight Award for Outstanding Service is given annually to a member of the Rutgers baseball support staff who has gone above and beyond in their service to the Scarlet Knights and whose daily actions and presence make a lasting impact on the student-athletes.
The Scarlet Knights open the 2026 season on the road against Charleston on Feb. 13
Rutgers University Baseball /// Piscataway, N.J.
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Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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INF
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