UPDATE (1/8/20):
Penn State announced the addition of Joe Nastasi and Billy Gerlott Jr. to its 2019 signing class.
Joe Nastasi
RHP | R/R | 6-0/217 | State College. Pa. | State College Area | Flood City Elite
Highlights: Four-year team member and four-year letterwinner playing baseball at State College Area for head coach Jeremy Dinsmore and Troy Allen…Two-year team captain…Helped team to three district championships…Also played football and basketball...Parents, Joe and Aaliyah, both attended Penn State…Father, Joe, was a four-year letterman on the Penn State football team.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I've been around the environment all of my life. Been here in State College since the day I was born. It has been always a top option."
From the Coaches: "Joe is a very athletic right-handed pitcher. We strongly believe his ceiling is very high for continued growth in our program. Joe is a competitor that pitches on the attack. He will run his fastball into the low 90's with a devastating tight slider to compliment his fastball. Joe has the stuff to be a backend-type bullpen arm."
Billy Gerlott
IF/OF | R/R | 6-1/195 | Auburn, Pa. | Blue Mountain | U.S. Elite
Highlights: Four-year team member and three-year letterwinner for Blue Mountain High School under head coach Bill Dobrolsky…Team Captain for 2020 season…Two-time all-league…Ranks as the No. 4 third baseman in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Perfect Game Top 500 National Rank...Ranks as the No. 7 third baseman in Pennsylvania by Prep Baseball Report…Played travel ball for US Elite.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I knew it would give me a first-class education and would allow me to be part of a great athletic program."
From the Coaches: "Billy is a utility player that can play many positions. He plays with a very high motor and his passion for the game is real. We are excited to have his skill set along with his winning attitude into our program."
ORIGINAL RELEASE:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State baseball has received National Letters of Intent from 11 future Nittany Lions, head coach Rob Cooper announced Tuesday. The class will begin participation in the 2020-21 academic year.
The initial members of the Class of 2024 include 11 incoming freshmen from five different states, including four from Pennsylvania, three from Ohio, two from New Jersey and one each from New York and California.
"We are very excited to welcome the newest group of Diamond Lions to Happy Valley, said Cooper. "These young men come from great families and winning programs. I look forward to watching this group grow and positively impact our program."
Penn State's PA recruits include two from Red Land High School – IF Kyle Hannon (Harrisburg) and RHP Jaden Henline (New Cumberland) – and one each from Pittsburgh – RHP Nicolas Cosentino (Pittsburgh CAPA/Obama Academy) – and Philadelphia – OF Gaetan Grandelli (Roman Catholic). The Ohio trio includes two from northeast Ohio - SS Will Carpenter (Aurora) and RHP Chad Rogers (Mentor) – and one from the Columbus area – OF Casey Finck (Lancaster).
1B/OF Luke Chenault (Lake Hopatcong/Pope JohnXXIII Regional) and IF Jay Harry (Metuchen) both hail from New Jersey, while two-way player Richie Paltridge (Montgomery/John S. Burke Catholic) hails from New York and RHP Carson Kohls (El Camino) is crossing the country from Sacramento.
Position-wise, the class breaks down to four right-handed pitchers, three middle infielders, two outfielders, a first baseman and outfielder combo (Chenault) and utility option in Paltridge who throws lefty on the mound and plays first base and outfield, as well.
The Nittany Lions will announce additional members of the Class of 2024 later in the academic year. Below are Penn State's 11 early decision signees:
Will Carpenter
SS | L/R | 6-2/195 | Aurora, Ohio | Aurora | Team Ohio Pro Select
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner playing baseball at Aurora High School under head coach Michael Brancazio … Two-year team captain … First-team all-conference and all-district honorable mention as a junior … Ranked as the No. 1 shortstop in Ohio and No. 12 player in the state by Perfect Game … Perfect Game Top 500 National Rank … Ranked as the No. 4 shortstop in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report … Played travel baseball for Team Ohio Pro Select … Brother, Matt, is a senior on Ohio State's baseball team … Father, Matt, played baseball collegiately at Mississippi State and professionally.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it provides a strong combination of academics and athletics. I love the coaching staff and I am excited to be a part of this program."
From the Coaches: "Will is a smooth swinging left-handed hitter that can hit for average and has shown the ability to have gap to gap power. Will shows above average arm strength in the infield that will allow him to play the left side of it."
Luke Chenault
1B/OF | L/L | 6-1/210 | Lake Hopatcong, N.J. | Pope John XXIII Regional | Wladyka Baseball
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at Pope John XXIII Regional High School under head coach Vin Bello… Named NJAC First-Team All-Conference…NJAC All-Academic Team…First-Team All-Herald…Third-Team All-State…Ranked the No. 2 first baseman in New Jersey by Prep Baseball Report…Ranked No. 3 in New Jersey and 42nd nationally among first basemen by Perfect Game…Perfect Game Top 500 National Rank…Played travel ball for Wladyka Baseball…Played football as a tight end for one year.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State for the academics, great atmosphere, facilities and coaching staff."
From the Coaches: "Luke is another left-handed hitter that has a smooth swing that can hit for power and average. His ability to play multiple positions, both 1B and OF gives our staff some options. He can flat out hit!
Nicolas Cosentino
RHP | R/R | 6-2/215 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Pittsburgh CAPA/Obama Academy | Team All-American
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner under head coach Rick Helterbran…Team captain and MVP… Ranks No. 14 among right-handed pitchers in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Perfect Game Top 500 National Rank…Played travel ball for Team All-American.
On Choosing Penn State: "I love the feel of a big campus like Penn State, and it felt like the right place for me when I first visited. I also wanted to go somewhere where I could play baseball at the highest level as well as get a great education. I really like the coaches and was very attracted to the opportunity of earning playing time as a freshman."
From the Coaches: "Nick is a right-handed pitcher that we are excited about. He brings an upper 80's to low 90's sinking fastball and has the ability to throw his secondary for strikes in any count. He brings superb pitchability with him and has an advanced feel on how to control the running game. We are excited about his ability to pitch at a high level."
Casey Finck
OF | L/L | 6-2/180 | Lancaster, Ohio | Lancaster | Midwest Marlins
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at Lancaster High School under head coach Corey Conn…Two-time First-Team All-Ohio…Two-time OCC Player of the Year…Two-time First-Team All-Central District…Two-time Columbus Dispatch First-Team All-Metro…Two-time Lancaster Eagle Gazette Baseball Player of the Year…Played travel ball for the Midwest Marlins…Also played football and basketball…Father, Dan, played football at Ohio State.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I know it will give me a first-class education and will allow me to be part of a great athletic program."
From the Coaches: "Casey is an extremely athletic center fielder who is an all-state football player as well in the state of Ohio. He is another left-handed hitter that will use his speed as a weapon from the left side. We look forward to seeing his continued development in our program."
Gaetan Grandelli
OF | L/R | 5-11/185 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Roman Catholic | Zoom Baseball Academy
Highlights: Four-year team member at Roman Catholic High School under head coach Bobby Hill…Two-time team captain…Two-time All-Catholic honoree…Ranks as the No. 6 outfielder in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Ranks as the No. 11 outfielder in Pennsylvania by Prep Baseball Report…Played travel ball for Zoom Baseball Academy…Also played football and hockey.
On Choosing Penn State: "Penn State is a very successful school and I want my family to be a part of the Penn State culture."
From the Coaches: "Gaetan is an athletic center fielder that has speed and athleticism. Has a very accurate arm from the outfield and is a left-handed hitter that can hit for average and shows gap to gap power. He can utilize his short game to generate havoc on the bases. He plays the game with a high motor."
Kyle Hannon
MIF | L/R | 5-10/194 | Harrisburg, Pa. | Red Land | FTB Mid-Atlantic
Highlights: Four-year team member and three-year letterwinner at Red Land High School under head coach Nate Ebbert…Named all-league…Ranks as the No. 1 second baseman in Pennsylvania by Prep Baseball Report...Ranks as the No. 10 second baseman in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Played travel ball for FTB Mid Atlantic…Also played basketball.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because the coaching staff is amazing, I connected with them very well. The school is one of a kind with great athletics and great academics at the same time. The people you meet there are awesome, and it cannot get much better than that!"
From the Coaches: "Kyle is an offensive second baseman that has pop and bat-speed from the left side. Has shown the ability to hit for power as well. He plays the game hard and has solid range defensively."
Jay Harry
MIF | L/R | 6-0/195 | Metuchen, N.J. | Metuchen | Baseball Warehouse/Central Jersey Stampede
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at Metuchen High School under head coach Leo Danik…Two-time First-Team All-State Group 2…Two-time First-Team All-County…Two-time First-Team All-Division…Ranked the No. 2 shortstop and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania and No. 75 shortstop and No. 371 player nationally by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked as the No. 9 shortstop in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Played travel ball for Baseball Warehouse and Central Jersey Stampede…Father, George, played baseball at Wake Forest.
On Choosing Penn State: "I always dreamed of playing for a school like Penn State with such a great athletic and academic reputation. Once I met Coach Cooper and Coach Newman and spent several weekends on campus I knew it was where I was meant to be."
From the Coaches: "Jay has everything our staff looks for when recruiting ELITE-level guys. He is a winner. He is a middle infielder that plays with a very high motor. He is a left-handed hitter where he uses his speed and power that will bring a dynamic to the top of our lineup. His speed will make it difficult on opposing teams. He has range defensively and the ability to make plays from all over the infield."
Jaden Henline
RHP | L/R | 6-2/195 | New Cumberland, Pa. | Red Land | Holman Hurricanes Elite
Highlights: Four-year team member and three-year letterwinner at Red Land High School under head coach Nate Ebbert…2019 All-Sentinel First Team…2019 Penn Live All-Star Baseball Team Honorable Mention…Ranked as the No. 8 right-handed pitcher and No. 21 player in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Perfect Game Top 500 National Ranking…Ranked as the No. 12 right-handed pitcher in Pennsylvania by Prep Baseball Report…Member of 2015 Red Land Little League World Series team…Also played football.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of the world class academics, the amazing community spirit and the opportunity to play baseball in the Big Ten in my home state."
From the Coaches: "Jaden has a very fast arm with minimal effort. He has two solid secondary pitches to go along with his fastball that he can throw at any time. Our staff is excited to get him into our program."
Carson Kohls
RHP | R/R | 6-0/195 | Sacramento, Calif. | El Camino | SSC Sacramento Sports Center 18U Open Team
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at El Camino Fundamental High School under head coach Marc Distefano…Two-time Team Captain…Team MVP…Capital Athletic League All League First-Team…All-Metro Team All-Divisions…Threw two no-hitters…Played travel ball for SSC Sacramento Sports Center 18u Open Team.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of their tradition, school spirit and dedication to be the best! After comparing other college campuses, it was an easy decision. The team and coaches made me feel like family. #WeAre."
From the Coaches: "Carson is a right-handed power arm out of the state of California. He has the ability to pitch in the low 90's with a heavy fastball. He has a strong frame with late life on his ball. We foresee him making an immediate impact on the mound."
Richie Paltridge
LHP/1B/OF | L/L | 6-3/194 | Montgomery, N.Y. | John S. Burke Catholic | Frozen Ropes Rockies
Highlights: Three-year letterwinner at John S. Burke Catholic High School under head coach Al Trezza…Team captain for the 2020 season…Ranks as the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in New York by Prep Baseball Report … Ranks as the No. 6 left-handed pitcher in New York by Perfect Game…Played travel ball for Frozen Ropes Rockies...Also played basketball.
On Choosing Penn State: "I chose Penn State to further my education and extend my baseball career at a high level."
From the Coaches: "Richie is a two-way prospect out of New York. He brings size and athleticism with him to the mound that generates a tough angle on hitters. He uses a powerful swing from the left side that has the ability to hit the ball out of the park. He also can play first base and outfield very well."
Chad Rogers
RHP | R/R | 6-5/220 | Mentor, Ohio | Mentor | Team Ohio/Ohio Warhawks
Highlights: Four-year letterwinner at Mentor High School under head coach Jeff Haase…Team reached stat finals junior year…Ranks as the No. 6 right-handed pitcher and No. 7 player overall in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report…Ranks as the 10th-best right-handed pitcher in Ohio and 18th-best player overall in the State by Perfect Game…Perfect Game Top 500 Ranking…Played travel ball for Team Ohio/Ohio Warhawks...Also played basketball and football.
On Choosing Penn State: "When I first took a visit to this school I was in awe about the facilities and the academics. The coaches are really the ones that sold me on this school and program. They made it feel like I'm at home and I wouldn't want anything else. I can't wait to be a part of this family and legacy."
From the Coaches: "Chad is a front-line arm, highly-touted prospect out of Ohio that our staff foresees making an immediate impact. He is a tremendous athlete that uses his big frame well as he gets downhill on his fastball at 89-91 mph and creates a difficult angle on hitters. He has swing-and-miss secondary pitches. In addition, he flat out competes on the mound and works with a quick tempo.
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