UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State baseball, led by head coach Mike Gambino, signed 11 members to its 2026 class on Signing Day on Wednesday and Thursday.
The class includes the top prospect, three of the Top 9 prospects, and five of the Top 21 prospects in Pennsylvania, as well as two of the Top 7 prospects in New Jersey, according to Prep Baseball Report. PSU signed three of the Top 200 overall prospects in the class. Since Prep Baseball Report debuted state rankings in 2012, this marks the first time Penn State has signed PBR’s top prospect in Pennsylvania.
According to Perfect Game, Penn State signed the No. 53 class in the country (sixth in the Big Ten), including three of the Top 9 right-handed pitchers in PA and the top two right-handed pitchers in New Jersey.
The class features six players from Pennsylvania, three from New Jersey, one from California and one from Michigan. It includes five pitchers, two catchers, three infielders and one outfielder.
Right-handed pitcher Jerek Turlij, ranked as the top prospect in PA and No. 66 overall by PBR, is Penn State’s highest-ranked recruit since outfielder Lonnie White Jr., who signed to play football and was committed to play baseball at PSU, was ranked No. 23 in the 2021 class before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates as the No. 64 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Right-handed pitcher Nolan Stefanik (No. 3) and shortstop Andrew Cross (No. 9) join Turlij in PBR’s Top 9 PA prospects. Right-handed pitcher Alex Weingartner (No. 4) and right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown (No. 7) are among PBR’s Top 7 prospects in New Jersey.
Penn State finished the 2025 season with a 33-23 record, posting its second-most wins in a season. PSU reached the 30-win mark for the first time since 2011.
The Nittany Lions made another strong run in the Big Ten Tournament, reaching the semifinals in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000-01.
In Big Ten play, PSU won five Big Ten series in a season for the first time since 2012 and won three Big Ten road series for the first time since 2012. Its 15 Big Ten wins were its most since 2012 (not counting a Big Ten-only schedule in 2021).
For updates on the Penn State baseball team, please check @pennstatebase on X and Instagram.
The 2026 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
