Rutgers University
Michigan
Baseball Welcomes Michigan for Big Ten Series
Mar 26 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball returns home this weekend to host Michigan for a three-game conference series at Bainton Field.
The Scarlet Knights (14-10, 3-3) dropped two-of-three at Illinois last weekend, winning Sunday's finale 8-3 and collecting a midweek win over Delaware by a score of 8-0 on Tuesday.
The Wolverines (12-12, 1-5) dropped two-of-three at home to Nebraska last weekend and split a pair of midweek games against Oakland (L) and Toledo (W).
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.
NOTE: Michigan does not share starting rotations. As a result, Rutgers' projected starters will not be made public.
Series History
Rutgers is 10-16 all-time against Michigan, including a 7-15 mark in Big Ten play. The last time the two teams met was in 2023, with the Scarlet Knights winning two-of-three in Piscataway.
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 all 24 games in centerfield and batting leadoff.
- Bonds leads RU with a .398 average, 39 hits, 27 RBIs 27 runs, 10 stolen bases and is tied for the team lead with six home runs and eight doubles.
- Last weekend at Illinois, Bonds hit a 121 mph double, one of hardest-hit balls in the BBCOR era of college baseball.
Backstops Bringing It
- The catching duo of Matt Chatelle and Trey Wells has proven to be one of the top strengths for RU – both offensively and defensively.
- Wells (.354) and Chatelle (.317) are two of the team's top three hitters by average, combining for 54 hits, 36 runs scored and 30 RBIs.
- Behind the dish, the duo has helped RU control the running game, throwing out 13 baserunners to just 22 stolen bases allowed.
Emerging Arms
- A number of new Scarlet Knights have emerged as reliable arms for new pitching coach Ryan Fecteau.
- Vincent Borghese has seen time as a starter and reliever, leading all qualified RU pitchers with a 2.66 ERA and 27 strikeouts to nine walks in 20.1 innings pitched.
- Jacob Pederson has posted a 1.93 ERA in relief, pitching 14 innings with 19 strikeouts to just three walks.
- True freshman Chris Sand has started and come in as a reliever, posting a 3.98 era in 20.1 innings, tied for the second-most innings on the team.
Roster Reloaded
- 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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