Rutgers University
Maryland
Baseball Hosts Maryland
May 07 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball is set for the final home series of the season this weekend when it hosts Maryland for a three-game set. As part of the weekend's festivities, RU will celebrate Letterwinner Day on Saturday Day and Senior Day on Sunday, with both ceremonies set for pregame.
The Scarlet Knights (22-26, 9-15) were most recently swept on the road by No. 17 USC last weekend.
The Terrapins (23-26, 6-18) were swept at home by Michigan last weekend.
All three games this weekend will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can follow along on X (@RutgersBaseball) for live updates. Live stats will be available here.
Series History
Rutgers is 11-21 all-time against Maryland, including a 9-16 record in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights took two-of-three last season in College Park in the regular season finale.
The 2026 Scarlet Knights
- The 2026 roster features a total of 39 players, with 15 returners and 24 newcomers.
- Of the 24 newcomers, 11 are true freshmen and 13 are transfers.
- Head Coach Steve Owens enters his seventh season at the helm of the program and has accumulated four consecutive winnings season with RU.
- Ryan Fecteau joins the program as associate head coach/pitching following an eight-year stint at Virginia Tech as pitching coach.
- Former major leaguer Frank Schwindel also joins the staff as director of player personnel.
Bonds at the Top
- Peyton Bonds has been the team's top hitter, starting 33 games in centerfield and batting leadoff.
- Bonds leads RU with a .358 average, 49 hits, 31 runs, 13 stolen bases, 75 total bases and is second with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
- This season at Illinois, Bonds hit a 121 mph double, one of hardest-hit balls in the BBCOR era of college baseball.
- Peyton Bonds has been the team's top hitter, starting 33 games in centerfield and batting leadoff.
- Bonds leads RU with a .358 average, 49 hits, 31 runs, 13 stolen bases, 75 total bases and is second with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
- This season at Illinois, Bonds hit a 121 mph double, one of hardest-hit balls in the BBCOR era of college baseball.
Emerging Arms
- A number of new Scarlet Knights have emerged as reliable arms for new pitching coach Ryan Fecteau.
- Jordan Savinon (2.54) and Jacob Pederson (4.63) have both been strong in relief, pitching a combined 51.2 innings with 47 strikeouts.
- True freshman Chris Sand has started and come in as a reliever, posting a 6.11 ERA in 35.1 innings, the fourth most on the team.
Veterans in the 'Pen
- Andrew Rondini and Joe Mazza have both proven to be ultra-reliable arms out of the bullpen.
- Mazza has emerged as the top high-leverage arm, posting a 3.03 ERA with 37 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 32.2 innings with two saves.
- Rondini owns a 2.16 ERA across 25.0 innings, having retired all 10 batters faced against Hofstra and striking out three in the ninth in the win at Indiana.
- Rutgers recruited the top transfer portal class in the Big Ten, per 64Analytics, with the haul consisting of 13 players (5 pitchers, 8 position players).
- Among in the incoming transfers, INF Charlie Meglio and OF Chase Krewson were both named Big Ten Players to Watch,
- The Scarlet Knights also welcome the top ranked recruiting class in program history, consisting of 11 true freshmen ready for their debut season on the Banks.
Lineup Experience
- In addition to three returning starters, the RU lineup projects to feature loads of experience.
- Behind the dish, Matt Chatelle (129) and Trey Wells (114) have a combined 243 games of collegiate experience.
- Infield transfers Ryan Jaros (56), Charlie Meglio (102) and Quinten Perilli (130) combine for 288 games of collegiate experience.
- In the outfield, Chase Krewson (91) and Tristan Salinas (55) both offer plenty of starting experience.
Defensive Excellence
- Rutgers has been among the best defensive teams in the country the last four seasons. RU is one of just six teams with a .976 fielding percentage in each of the last four seasons (Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Oregon, Vanderbilt)
- In that timeframe, a pair of shortstops in Danny DiGeorgio (2022) and Josh Kuroda-Grauer (2024) were both All-Americans and Brooks Wallace Award finalists for the best shortstop in the country.
Professional Development
- Rutgers is the only team in the Big ten to have a top-three round pick in the MLB Draft in each of the last three seasons: Trevor Cohen (2025, R3 - Giants), Josh Kuroda-Grauer (2024, R3 - Athletics) and Ryan Lasko (2023 - R2 - Athletics)
- In total, RU has seen 16 players either drafted or signed to MLB organizations since 2021.
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