Bold Take: Penn State baseball is proving it can compete with the nation’s best by debuting at the MLB Desert Invitational and showing off real depth. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a program rebuild fast enough to sustain this level after losing key stars? This week, six college teams, including Penn State, will kick off the season at a high-profile event in the Phoenix area, fresh off hosting the Waste Management Open.
Penn State head coach Mike Gambino frames the invitation as a milestone. Early in his tenure, Gambino recalls a conversation with Pat Kraft: the goal was to assemble a roster capable of contending in the MLB Invitational. Securing a spot in this prestigious weekend marks a tangible upgrade for the program. Friday’s opener versus Air Force starts Gambino’s third year in Happy Valley, a period in which he has steered Penn State to a 62-47 record.
The team is entering the season with undeniable depth and a readiness to push beyond the Big Ten Tournament results of recent years. Gambino notes that the current roster represents the strongest depth he’s seen since taking the job.
Roster turnover hit several big areas—pitching, power, and baserunning. The Lions said goodbye to star outfielder-slapper Ryan DeSanto, who signed with the MLB and posted an 8-2 pitching mark last year, plus a 73-inning season that included a standout Big Ten Tournament performance against Washington. His departure leaves a notable void not just in stats but in the team’s presence on the mound and in the lineup.
On offense, Paxton Kling and Ryan Weingartner also left big shoes to fill. Kling led in nearly every counting stat—hits, doubles, runs, homers, and even hit-by-pitch tallies—and was always near the top in others. Weingartner, who stole 30 bases last year, brought constant speed and threat on the bases, becoming a nightmare for catchers.
To compensate for DeSanto’s departure, Gambino emphasizes filling holes with newly acquired players who may not carry the same name recognition yet offer potential to bloom. “We were able to fill holes with some guys that maybe are not as high profile [as last year’s transfers],” he said, “but we think they have a chance to be really good for us.”
New faces stepping up include Colin Fitzgerald and Ben Hudson. Fitzgerald, a Pennsylvania native, is transferring from Maine University and arrives with a track record of solid innings pitched—75.2 in 2024 and 88.2 in 2025—though he will need to lower an ERA that stood at 5.68 to truly imitate DeSanto’s dominance. Hudson, a West Virginia transfer, arrived last season in a reliever role and contributed in 18 appearances across 27.1 innings; at Penn State, he will build up to a starting workload.
Fitzgerald is set to start Friday night, with Hudson slated for Saturday’s game.
Power addition and infield evolution also define the offseason. With Kling’s exit, Penn State sought power in the outfield and added Bryce Molinaro, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals but did not sign, returning for his final season with the Nittany Lions. Molinaro’s power presence helps anchor the infield, while the program pursued other hitters—Jayden Davis from Vanderbilt, Kevin Karstetter from Tampa, and Spencer Barnett from West Virginia—who have excelled in other aspects of the game, such as average, even if they haven’t posted monster slugging numbers to date.
This influx isn’t meant to replicate Kling’s production exactly; instead, Penn State is focusing on a broader offensive approach and depth. The Lions also retained three of their top four sluggers from last season—Jesse Jaconski, Jack Porter, and Molinaro—and the job now is to merge these veterans with the new pieces.
Gambino notes that Jaconski and Porter performed well offensively last year, while other depth options—transfers Mike Anderson and Maddox McDonald—provide backup at the corners and in the outfield. The balance of at-bats will be a challenge that the staff welcomes, as more players get opportunities to contribute.
In the lineup for the opening weekend, Porter and Jaconski will likely handle corner outfield duties, Molinaro will appear at shortstop, Karstetter and Barnett will split first-base duties with Barnett also seeing time at the opposite corner, and Davis will line up at second base for the weekend.
Baserunning remains a point of emphasis. Weingartner’s 30 stolen bases last year helped define the team’s identity and created a template for aggressive baserunning. Gambino acknowledges the loss of Weingartner’s speed but insists the lineup will feature lead-off threats and baserunning acumen throughout the order, thanks to the coaching of Nick Puccio, who specializes in the run game and developing players’ stealing capabilities.
The coming weekend will be a testament to whether Penn State can translate last year’s identity into a new season while Gambino continues to cultivate depth. They’ll face a slate of high-level programs, and their performance at the Desert Invitational will help answer questions about how quickly the program can sustain momentum after star departures.
Sean Regenye (Onward State)
