UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As the Penn State baseball program approaches the 2019 season, the Nittany Lions are eager to showcase their improvement from last season.
There is a lot to be excited about for the 2019 baseball season: with the addition of 12 players to the roster, new coaches, and the close-knit feel of the team.
Welcoming the Newest Nittany Lions to Happy Valley
Penn State baseball welcomed seven incoming freshmen and five transfers to the roster this year, and the veteran players are making sure the new kids feel right at home here in Happy Valley.
"The biggest thing for me is just making them feel comfortable, whether it's inviting them out to hang out at home or have them over for a football game or something just to make them feel like they're accepted, which they are. But I know that it's a big step coming to a big university like this," senior Shea Sbranti said.
Senior Ryan Sloniger echoed Sbranti's feelings toward being of assistance to the new players and the passion he has for mentoring them.
"I'm a senior so I take that leadership role very seriously. I like being able to help," Sloniger said.
Not only is a veteran like Sloniger helping the new players, but they are also helping seasoned verterans like him.
"Jacob Padilla is a junior college transfer catcher, obviously at my position, but it's his first year here, he's a junior, and I love being able to pull him aside, help him whenever, because I can learn things from him also," Sloniger said.
While the new players are getting help adjusting to Penn State, they are also impressing head coach Rob Cooper with their talent, but he wants them to continue to work hard and improve once the regular season begins.
"Ryan Ford had a really good fall for us and he's a true freshman, you know at times he swung the bat at an advanced way for a freshman. Gavin Homer, a junior college transfer…had a great fall, played really good defense, and I want to say hit close to .500 in the fall… but those guys got to continue to get better and better."
New Tools Found in New Coaches
This past August Penn State Baseball announced the additions of Sean Moore and Dallas Burke to the program's staff. Moore is the director of operations and player development, a new position on the baseball team. Burke is serving as a volunteer assistant coach.
For the players, these new coaches have proven to be of value to their team.
"We've been really focused on our offensive work. With the addition of Coach Burke… he's been really helpful with our hitters and we've been hammering away hitting, so it's been a good fall and leading up to a good spring," senior infielder Conlin Hughes said.
Hughes wasn't the only one with high praise for the newest assistant coach. Senior outfielder Jordan Bowersox also talked about the value Burke has brought to the team so far.
"Coach Burke, with the offense, I think he's done an incredible job. It showed in the fall a lot. It's been the best fall since I've been here… but yeah, just we're trying to eliminate strikeouts on the offensive side, and it showed a lot in the fall," Bowersox said.
Excitement and Good Vibes as the Season Approaches
With the team's skills improving, they are hungry to succeed in 2019 and improve upon their 15-34 record from last year. Cooper and his team feels as though this past fall was a very good one for the program, and they are excited to turn that pre-season success into wins this regular season.
"I am excited about what these guys could become… our guys have shown some really good things this fall. Their accountability… very player-driven so far, high standards, helping each other out," Cooper said.
Sophomore pitcher Mason Mellott reiterated his coach's feelings about their fall momentum.
"I definitely think we had a way different fall this year than we had last year. The feel just playing and in the locker room and around here is definitely different and I feel like we've bought in a little more to a certain idea, not multiple ideas, so I feel like we're all heading in the right direction and we've looked good so far," Mellott said.
Heading Down South
As the winter season continues in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions' season kicks off on February 15thwhen the team travels to the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, North Carolina, to take on Monmouth.
The team's first home game will be on March 15th, as the Nittany Lions face-off against UMass Lowell.
