The Pitt Panthers reached the ACC Tournament for the fourth straight season in 2024 and ended the regular season a 7-2 run. Left for dead in the ACC rankings with a 6-18 conference record, Pitt first stunned #8 Florida State at home before going on the road to upset Miami– scraping by Notre Dame on the final day to qualify for the tournament. Overall, the Panthers went 26-29 on the season and 10-20 in the ACC. Their season ended after going 0-2 in pool play against North Carolina and Wake Forest.
Pitt struggled offensively in conference play, finishing last with a .246 batting average and slugging a total of 68 extra base hits. Program legends Dom Popa and CJ Funk, who played in over 300 combined games at Pittsburgh, have both graduated. That duo were second and fourth respectively on the team in OPS. The good news is thatPitt’s leaders in home runs (Melendez) and on-base percentage (Cantwell) are both back and they’ve returned the #18 transfer portal class in the country according to 64 Analytics.
The Panther pitching staff improved during conference play and ended up with the eighth-best ERA in ACC games. Ryan Andrade and Jack Sokol were both solid down the stretch as Pitt streaked towards the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. Phil Fox might’ve been the best reliever in the ACC after going 3-2 with a 1.47 ERA and walking just three total batters in 36.2 innings. Those three critical arms are gone to pro ball and the Panthers will need some new faces to step up in 2025.
Catchers (Starter Rank: 7, Group Rank: 7)
Jayden Melendez, the younger brother of Kansas City Royal star MJ Melendez, returns for his senior year after playing in all 55 games last year and leading the team with 16 home runs. The Miami, Florida native struggled making contact over some stretches but will remain one of the primary long ball threats in the Pitt lineup. The 5’8” backstop will see time behind the plate and at DH and could hit anywhere below clean-up in the batting order.
Sebastian Pisacreta took just 38 at-bats as a freshman in 2024 but was Pitt’s best player in the fall. Pisacreta slashed .237/.396/.447 in 11 starts and will likely be an everyday player in the lineup this year. The sophomore won the team’s “November Madness” Challenge which rewarded players points based on various batted ball outcomes. Pisacrea will split time with Melendez at catcher and designated hitter.
Jackson Cooke, a transfer from UT-Martin, could serve as the third catcher while also potentially getting playing time in the outfield. Freshman infielder Andy Perez also provides depth at the catching position alongside fellow first-year Isaac Terhune.
Infield (Starter Rank: 14, Group Rank: 14)
The Pitt infield will be anchored by one of the best first basemen in the country as Luke Cantwell returns for his senior year. The former Fairleigh-Dickinson transfer slashed .333/.515/.548 while leading the team with a 1.063 OPS in 55 starts. He finished fourth in the ACC in walks (57) and third in the conference in both on-base percentage (.511) and hit by pitches (19). Cantwell embodies the “Grittsburgh” mentality and is known for his high energy personality. The lefty slugger is the Panthers’ most important player.
Ryan Zuckerman is back at third base and poised for a monster season after enjoying an impressive freshman campaign. Despite missing his entire first fall ahead of 2024, Zuckerman played in 50 games and hit .267 with 14 extra base hits. His .853 OPS and 30 walks were each good for third on the team. The 6’4” sophomore has major power-potential as evidenced by his multi-home run display against Washington in only his third career game. Zuckerman could earn the opportunity to bat second ahead of Cantwell and should blossom into a star into 2025.
The third returner on the starting infield is shortstop Jake Kendro. The former Tennessee transfer is a glove-first type that can showcase the occasional burst of power. He hit .247 with 12 extra base hits but struck out 68 times. If he can cut down on the strikeouts, he could end up as one of the better all around shortstops in the conference.
Second base appears to be a battle between two transfers in Gavin Miller and Caden Dulin. Former Auburn infielder Gavin Miller returns home after hitting .281 with a .861 OPS in a part-time role last year. Even if he doesn’t win the everyday job, expect head coach Mike Bell and his staff to find Miller plenty of at-bats. Dulin is a JUCO transfer from New Jersey who put up insane numbers over 59 games in 2024. The right-handed junior hit .496 with 30 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, and 98 RBIs. He struck out just 10 times all year while walking 42 times. His offensive ability stands out and could see him get the nod over Miller.
Pitt has plenty of depth in the infield as junior Anthony LaSala and sophomore Keeton Burroughs return. Each of those two can play across the infield and are quality defenders. LaSala continues to improve significantly at the plate and could serve as a potential late game pinch hitting option. Burroughs is coming off a productive summer that saw him hit nearly .300 in the Florida Collegiate League and has some decent upside.
Freshmen TJ Socarras and Andy Perez are talented first-years that could see some playing time but are more likely developmental depth pieces.
Outfield (Starter Rank: 10, Group Rank: 12)
Pitt has four starting-caliber players for three spots in their new look outfield following the departures of Funk, Popa, and Justin Fogel following last season. Former Miami Hurricane Lorenzo Carrier appears to be a lock for right field after reports indicate he enjoyed a monstrous fall while hitting eight home runs. The 6’5” slugger could slide into the clean-up spot and finally enjoy a breakout season after three years in Coral Gables as a part-time player. In 48 games for the Canes last year, Carrier had 13 doubles and 5 home runs. A breakout season on his new team could see him selected in the MLB Draft.
Derrick Tarpley Jr is a legitimate 5-tool player that could be plying his trade in the minor leagues right now. Drafted in the 18th Round out of high school, Tarpley ended up at Youngstown State where he hit .328 with five doubles and two home runs over 16 starts as a true freshman. An injury derailed his season and earned him a redshirt, but the Pennsylvania native is poised to be a vital piece of the Panther lineup.
David Pedanou is a 6’4” high contact speedster that could lead-off and play any of the three outfield positions. Pedanou played in over 100 games for Dayton over three seasons and hit .310 with 19 doubles, six triples, and six home runs while stealing 39 bases. His ability to wreak havoc on the base paths ahead of Zuckerman, Cantwell, and Carrier could be a gamechanger for the Pitt offense.
AJ Nessler is both a former Pitt Panther and a current one. The Tampa native played for Pitt as a freshman in 2023 before transferring to UCF as a sophomore. He returns once more as a junior and will be in the discussion for the lead-off role and left field. With most of the lineup aside from Cantwell being right-handed, Nessler could have the edge ahead of Pedanou or Tarpley for a starting spot due to the need for another lefty in the lineup. The 5’9” spark plug only played in 36 games for the Knights last season, slashing .276/.375/.408.
JUCO transfer Logan Duffy probably isn’t in the starting outfield conversation, but could be a key left-handed bench in late game situations. True freshman Julian Irizarry will also provide depth as he develops for a bigger role in future seasons.
Projected Lineup
Rotation (Rank: 14)
Ryan Reed is the lone weekend starter that returns for Pitt in 2025. The right-hander struggled for much of last season but had a few standout moments. His best start probably came in his first ACC start on March 10th against UNC. The lefty went five innings while allowing one earned run. A late April start against Bryant saw Reed go 6.2 innings while allowing one earned run and striking out eight, but he allowed five more unearned to score. His arsenal includes a mid-90s fastball, a slider, and an above average changeup. If he can improve his command from last season, he’ll enjoy a bounce back year.
Aidan Coleman is another returner joining Reed in the rotation as serving as the primary midweek starter for Pitt as a true freshman. Coleman went 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA while striking out 34 over 37.2 innings in 2024. The 6’0” right-hander’s arsenal features a low 90s MPH heater paired with a low 80s MPH slider. Coleman throws those two pitches about 80% of the time but does mix in a low 80s MPH changeup as well. He doesn’t generate a ton of swing-and-miss but is very effective working the zone. Improved command and pitch execution will see the young talent develop into a potential staff ace. He looked the part of an ace over the summer in the New England League, going 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 45 strikeouts to just seven walks in 37.1 innings.
Fairleigh-Dickinson transfer Patrick Gardner is likely the third candidate for the rotation after excelling in that role for the Knights last season. 14 of Gardner’s 16 appearances were starts and he went 8-2 with a 3.14 ERA while striking out 93 batters in 86 innings. The senior is a crafty southpaw with good command who has been a beacon of consistency since arriving in the fall. He could end up being Pitt’s best starter.
Drew Lafferty is another hometown kid who returns to the Pittsburgh area after spending time in a different state. Lafferty was the mid-week starter for Kentucky who struggled with consistency but retains high upside. His best start for the Wildcats came on March 5th against Eastern Kentucky when he hurled five shutout innings while striking out five hitters in a 10-0 win. He could serve as the midweek starter for Pitt or see time as a swingman.
Another option for the rotation is St. Bonaventure’s right-hander Noah Czajkowski, who actually got the start in the fall scrimmage against Mercyhurst. He had some command issues that day, but boasted a 91-to-93 MPH fastball and a filthy low-80s slider. The analytics team advised that his fastball normally sits in the mid-90s. Czajkowski had five strikeouts in those two innings while allowing two hits, walking two batters, and plunking another pair. Only one earned run scored, however. If Czajkowski finds consistency in the execution of pitches, he become one of Coach Bell’s best pitchers.
Bullpen (Rank: 13)
Swingman Ethan Firoved returns for his senior year after throwing 45.1 innings for the Panthers last season. His 58 strikeouts were second on the team only to Friday night starter Ryan Andrade, who had 72. Firoved is a savvy veteran that provides experience, reliability, and consistency out of the bullpen.
Three other returners who could be breakout high-leverage arms are Matt Porter, Gavin Chillot, and Kyle Demi. Porter is a senior with a three-pitch mix that loves to work fast and attack the zone. The left-hander was particularly electric when I saw him in the fall. He struck out the side on just 12 pitches while showcasing the fastball and curve. Porter has the ability and stuff to take over the closer role. He also got experience starting over the summer in the Appy League and could be a darkhorse for the rotation should the Panthers need him there.
Gavin Chillot has a similar build to Phil Fox and like the former Pitt closer, gets the most out of his build. The sophomore right-hander struck out 15 hitters over 14 innings last season and boasts a mid-90s fastball. Demi is a senior right-hander with plus velocity and strikeout stuff. He struggled in 2024 with a 16.97 ERA, but struck out 19 batters in just 11.2 innings.
Kayden Faulcon, another right-handed sophomore returner, only pitched in three games last year for Pitt but didn’t give up an earned run in his 3.1 innings of work. He too flashed swing-and-miss capability with a pair of strikeouts in one inning of relief.
Transfer Andrew Gaines is the arm that could be in the conversation of bullpen ace with Firoved and Porter. The former Iona righty went 2-3 with a 5.31 ERA and 26 strikeouts last season. He throws in the high-90s and at 6’5”, 240 pounds, is an intimidating bulldog on the mound.
Pitt added three intriguing JUCO options to their bullpen as well in Sam Bryan, Dylan Venturini, and Isaac Upole. Bryan is a right-handed junior that had 83 strikeouts in 59 innings last year and struck out the side in their fall scrimmage against Mercyhurst. Venturini is another high-velocity righty that comes over from the College of Southern Nevada after just 2 innings as a freshman in 2024. Isaac Upole is a 6’4” lefty with an electric arsenal and high upside that needs to find consistency and command.
Freshmen Drew Turner and Antonio Doganiero could make an impact early in their careers. Doganiero has the higher upside and showed a lot of maturity on the mound in the fall.
Projected Staff
Outlook
On paper, this is the best Pitt team I’ve seen in Mike Bell’s tenure as head coach. Luke Cantwell is a bonafide star and the revamped outfield should make a big improvement in their offense. Losing Andrade, Sokol, and Fox were huge losses for the rotation but the pitching staff appears much deeper overall. Pitt’s success will rely on that revamped pitching staff and the emergence of sophomores Ryan Zuckerman, Sebastian Pisacreta, and Aidan Coleman.
“The trio of Coleman, Pisacreta, & Zuckerman are homegrown talents that represent the core of our Pitt Panther Baseball Program,” Mike Bell told me in early January. “The experiences & game development that all three had in their freshman campaigns carried over into great summers respectively and took their games to another level this past fall. We always preach about trusting the process, the process is showing us the day-to-day growth that these three have obtained in our system. We fully expect they will show the league and the country the same production at a high level this spring.”
The success of those three with the aforementioned improvements will go a long way to Pitt challenging for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1995. Certain things will need to go right to make that magic happen, but I fully believe in Mike Bell and his coaching staff. The culture they’ve built there has already taken their program to unprecedented heights. The team has a clear identity based on their city and school’s roots. Now they’ve just got to take the next steps and make it to the NCAA Tournament. But no matter what happens, we know that this is a team full of grinders that will embody the ‘Grittsburgh’ spirit.
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