UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State baseball has added four transfers to the program, led by Head Coach Rob Cooper. The players join the roster ahead of Fall 2021 practice. The transfers include three pitchers and an infielder. Three transfers are from Power Five programs. Including incoming freshmen, 17 players have joined the program ahead of the 2022 season.
The Nittany Lions finished the 2021 season with 18 wins, playing against exclusively Big Ten opponents. The wins included a 3-2 victory over No. 18 Michigan on March 26 and a series sweep over Michigan State in which Penn State out-scored the Spartans, 39-13. Penn State scored 10 or more runs in six games, the blue and white's most against Big Ten opponents since 2008 (8) and the most in a season since 2016.
Penn State led the Big Ten in doubles (93) and doubles per game (2.21), ranking 11th in the country in doubles per game. The Nittany Lions sat third in the conference in batting average (.269). Penn State hit 34 home runs, its most since 2012, and had five players with four or more homers.
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Travis Luensmann
So. | RHP | R/R | 6-6/234 | Altoona, Pa. | Bellwood-Antis/South Carolina
BEFORE PSU (South Carolina)
Appeared in four games for South Carolina…Pitched 2.1 innings and struck out two batters…Made appearances against Dayton, Clemson, Winthrop and Davidson…Threw a scoreless inning against Dayton, striking out one batter…Pitched two-thirds of an inning against Winthrop, recording one strikeout.
HIGH SCHOOL
Pitched at Bellwood-Antis High School for head coach Steve Conlon…Was a four-time All-Conference selection…Helped Bellwood-Antis to district titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and a state semifinal appearance in 2017…As a junior in 2019, went 8-1 with a 1.14 ERA. Recorded 82 strikeouts in 49 innings…Ranked 167th overall and the 58th pitcher, as well as the No. 4 prospect and No. 2 pitcher in Pennsylvania, in the 2020 class by Perfect Game…Played travel ball for the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox, Stars Baseball and the Keystone Railsplitters.
PERSONAL
Full name is Travis John Luensmann…Son of Kevin and Elaine Luensmann…Has two brothers, Chad and Jack, and a sister, Abby…Mother, Elaine, attended Penn State…Aunt, Laura Henry, uncle, Ken Lloyd, and cousins, Maddie and Connor Lloyd, all attended Penn State…Father, Kevin, played football at Dartmouth…Brother, Chad, pitched at Nebraska and UCF…Majoring in psychology…Wants to pursue a career as an MLB scout, cross-checker or a college baseball coach…Born on June 8, 2001 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Cooper on Luensmann: "Travis is a guy that we had a lot of interest in during his high school career. He has the ability and drive to make an immediate impact on our pitching staff. One of his strengths is how he continues to build velocity as his outings progress. He had a very successful summer in the Northwoods League and we are excited to watch him compete in an Nittany Lion uniform."
Jordan Morales
Jr. | LHP | R/L | 5-9/173 | Souderton, Pa. | Souderton/LaSalle
BEFORE PSU (LaSalle)
Made 21 appearances, including seven starts, at LaSalle…Earned two wins and two saves in 16 appearances (seven starts) in 2021…Pitched 45.2 innings and recorded 49 strikeouts…Earned a career-high nine strikeouts in a start against Saint Joseph's and fanned eight batters against St. Bonaventure…In 2020, served as the team's closer…Tallied a 2.16 ERA in five appearances with two saves…Threw 8.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs, and struck out 14…Held opponents to a .167 batting average.
HIGH SCHOOL
Pitched at Souderton Area High School for head coach Mike Childs…Ranked among the Top 500 prospects and fifth among left-handed pitchers in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game…Named the Intelligence Conference Pitcher of the Year…Was a two-time first team All-Conference selection as a pitcher and outfielder…Went 10-1 with an 0.43 ERA and 93 strikeouts as a senior…Helped team to a 24-4 record and a PIAA 6A State Championship in 2019…Played travel ball for US Elite National.
PERSONAL
Full name is Jordan Morales…Son of Kristine and Angel Morales...Siblings are Angel, Marissa and Cameron…Majoring in communications to pursue a career with a professional sports team…Born on May 1, 2000 in Souderton, Pennsylvania.
Cooper on Morales: "Jordan is a left-handed pitcher who loves to compete. He will provide much-needed depth and Division I experience to our pitching staff."
C.J. Pittaro
So. | INF | L/R | 6-1/195 | Hamilton, N.J. | Steinert/Vanderbilt
BEFORE PSU (Vanderbilt)
Played in five games for Vanderbilt…Batted .333 and drove in three runs…Knocked in two runs with a single against Western Kentucky…Pinch-hit and drove in a run against Georgia State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Hamilton East-Steinert High School for head coach Brian Giallella…Served as a team captain as a junior and senior…Led the team to a CVC Conference Championship in 2017…Was a two-time All-State Selection, a three-time All-Conference honoree and a two-time All-District pick…Recorded a .347 average and 52 RBI in his prep career…Ranked as the No. 295 prospect and 59th shortstop, as well as the No. 6 prospect and No. 2 shortstop in New Jersey, in the class by Perfect Game…Also played basketball.
PERSONAL
Full name is Christopher John Pittaro…Son of Chris and Lisa Pittaro…Has two sisters, Erica and Giana…Father, Chris, played at North Carolina and in the MLB for the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins (1985-87)…Mother, Lisa, played soccer at George Mason and for the U.S. Women's National Team (1986-87, 1990)…Sister, Giana, plays soccer at Yale…Majoring in communications arts and science…Born on October 16, 2001 in Hamilton, New Jersey.
Cooper on Pittaro: "C.J. is a blue-collar player with a great work ethic. He has grown up around the game of baseball and it shows in his baseball IQ. We are excited to see him compete and make an impact in our program."
Kellan Tulio
Jr. | LHP | L/L | 6-2/215 | Emmaus, Pa. | Emmaus/Louisville
BEFORE PSU (Louisville)
Pitched for two seasons at Louisville…Made eight career appearances…In 2021, made four appearances, covering 2.1 innings and striking out one…Threw a scoreless inning and struck out a batter against Western Kentucky…Pitched 1.1 scoreless innings at Cincinnati…In 2020, pitched in four games, throwing 2.2 innings and two strikeouts…Threw a scoreless inning against Western Michigan.
HIGH SCHOOL
Was a four-year letterman at Emmaus High School for head coach Jeremy Haas…Was an all-district selection…Ranked the No. 81 prospect and No. 6 pitcher in the country as well as the No. 4 prospect and No. 1 pitcher in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game in the 2019 class…Participated in the 2018 Perfect Game National Showcase at Tropicana Field…Played travel ball for Tri State Arsenal.
PERSONAL
Full name is Kellan Tulio…Parents are Chris Tulio and Julie White…Has twin brothers, Patrick and Owen…Mother, Julie, competed for Canada in the High Jump in the 1976 Olympic Games…Mother is a member of the Boston University Athletics Hall of Fame...Majoring in communications and minoring in business…Born on August 29, 2000 in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
Cooper on Tulio: "Kellan is a left-handed pitcher who has the ability to play this game for a long time. He put together a great summer in the NECBL, making the All-Star team as a starter. We are excited to see him continue his development as a pitcher in a Nittany Lion uniform."
