GREENSBORO, N.C. – Rutgers baseball will embark on its 2024 spring break trip this week, starting a stretch of 10 days on the road with a three-game series against High Point.
Due to impending inclement weather, the teams will play a doubleheader on Friday followed by Sunday's series finale. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. with game two taking place 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both contests will be nine innings. The series finale will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games will be played at First National Bank Park in Greensboro, home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers.
There will be no live stream of this weekend's games. Fans can follow along on X (@RutgersBaseball) for live updates. Live stats will be available here.
Series History
This weekend marks the first time Rutgers and High Point will play.
Last Time Out
The Scarlet Knights are coming off their third straight road series win to start the season, taking two-of-three at Charleston Southern. RU split Saturday's doubleheader with the Buccaneers before winning the rubber game 9-7 on Sunday.
Justin Sinibaldi pitched an eight-inning gem on Saturday night, giving up one run on four hits, striking out 11 and walking none. On Sunday, Trevor Cohen laced the game-winning single in the top of the ninth, while Cohen, RJ Johnson Jr., Josh Kuroda-Grauer, Pete Durocher and Cameron Love all had at least two hits in the game. Joey DeChiaro earned the win by striking out all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.
RU defeated Wagner in midweek action on Tuesday with a 7-2 victory in its home opener.
In The Rankings
As a team, RU is batting a Big Ten-leading .316 with seven starters batting .300 or better, led by Kuroda-Grauer (.426) and Durocher (.423). The Scarlet Knights lead the country as well as the conference with 43 hit-by-pitches this season.
Additionally, Rutgers leads the Big Ten with 128 hits, 8.5 runs/game, 25 stolen bases, a 3.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.20 WHIP.
Individually, Tony Santa Maria and Johnson Jr. lead the Big Ten and are fourth nationally with nine hit-by-pitches, while Santa Maria leads the Big Ten with five home runs and 17 RBIs. Justin Sinibaldi is best in the conference with a 17.0 (17:1) strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.46 walks per nine innings.
Staff Updates
Head Coach Steve Owens announced a number of changes to his staff ahead of the 2024 season. Mike Garza was promoted to hitting coach after serving two years as a volunteer assistant.
With the NCAA increasing the number of full-time assistant coaches from two to three, Owens added Danny Bethea to the staff from St. John's. In his role, Bethea works with the team's catchers, offense and will coach first base.
Jack Arend also joined the staff as the Director of Player Development, where he oversees video and data collection while also running camps and clinics.
Rotation Continuity
After having to replace the entire starting rotation in back-to-back seasons, Rutgers will enjoy continuity on the mound in 2024.
Christian Coppola is set to reprise his role as the team's Friday night ace after making 13 starts and being named All-Big Ten First Team and Freshman All-America in 2023.
Justin Sinibaldi is primed for the role of Saturday starter after making 8 starts last season, including the final two Big Ten weekends after missing time due to injury. Sinibaldi owns 20 career starts in his career as a Scarlet Knight.
Depth Behind the Dish
RU has a number of quality options at the catcher position for 2024. Hugh Pinkney returns after making 48 starts at catcher and designated hitter last season, hitting .267 with 12 extra-base hits and a .716 OPS in his true freshman season. JD Jones joins the catching corps as a transfer from Miami and provides a veteran presence. True freshman Jackson Natili is primed for a big career "On the Banks" and factors in as well.
Left Side, Strong Side
The Scarlet Knights boast one of the top left sides of the infield in the entire country. SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer (#11) and 3B Tony Santa Maria (#16) are both ranked among the best at their respective positions by D1Baseball.
Kuroda-Grauer is set for his third straight season as an everyday starter and is looking to build on a season that saw him named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, collect 26 extra-base hits and have more walks (27) than strikeouts (24).
Santa Maria returns after missing the majority of 2023 with injury. He had a monster 2022 for RU, hitting .303 with 10 home runs and 69 RBIs, which were the third-most in a season in program history.
Infield Experience
Rutgers returns at least a full season of starting experience at every infield spot, with Jordan Sweeney (108), Kuroda-Grauer (105), Cameron Love (63) and Santa Maria (60) combining for 376 starts for RU.
Outfield Options
Trevor Cohen represents the lone returning starter in the RU outfield, having started all 56 games last season and hitting .298 with 26 walks to 22 strikeouts en route to being named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Rutgers retooled with the addition of RJ Johnson Jr. from the JUCO ranks, who is expected to start in centerfied. Johnson his .343 with six home runs and 36 RBIs, while leading his Gulf Coast State team with 61 hits and 55 runs scored in 2023.
Transfers Pete Ciuffreda (Lafayette) and Pete Durocher (Manhattan) bring a combined seven seasons of experience to the outfield and can play multiple positions.
Bullpen Arms
Ben Gorski returns for his final season after an All-Big Ten season in 2023 where he locked down eight saves and posted a 3.40 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He was named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year watchlist ahead of 2024.
Sam Portnoy pitched to a 3.69 ERA across 31.2 innings in 20 appearances and also earned a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watchlist.
Joey DeChiaro joins the bullpen as a graduate transfer from Old Dominion, where he appeared in 50 games across four seasons for the Monarchs. After a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, DeChiaro was named Preseason All-Conference by Perfect Game.
Jake Marshall was third on the Scarlet Knights in 2023 with 51.0 innings as both a starter and reliever and will factor in the team's plans once again. Marshall struck out 60 batters in 51.0 innings a year ago and has 191 strikeouts in his collegiate career.
Joe Mazza was second to only Gorski with 24 appearances for RU last season and pitch 32.0 innings with a 4.78 ERA out of the bullpen.
The bullpen will also receive a boost from the returns of RHP Gavin Stellpflug and LHP Donovan Zsak – neither of whom pitched last season.
A pair of transfers in Jordan Falco (Adelphi) and Sonny Fauci (St. John's) emerged as relievers who can provide length out of the bullpen as well.
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