Philly Leader

The University of Pennsylvania's baseball team is gearing up for the 2025 season with high expectations following their recent successes. Under the leadership of Head Coach John Yurkow, the Quakers have become a dominant force in the Ivy League, having won back-to-back Ivy League Tournament championships and three consecutive Ivy titles since 2022.

Coach Yurkow expressed confidence in his team's preparation during the fall and preseason. "I thought we had a very productive fall season," he said. The team has been preparing rigorously, eager to transition from intersquad games to competitive play.

The Quakers face the challenge of replacing key players like Wyatt Henseler, Ryan Dromboski, and Cole Zaffiro. However, new captains Connor Chavez, Nate Polo, Will Tobin, and Jarrett Pokrovsky are expected to lead the team effectively. "All four of those guys have very strong leadership qualities," Yurkow stated.

Returning infielder Davis Baker will be pivotal this season after a strong performance last year. Infield positions see familiar faces with Nick Spaventa at first base and Chavez at second base. Freshman Caden Fahy is anticipated to make an impact at shortstop.

In the outfield, Ryan Taylor returns healthy alongside Gavin Collins. Several players including Nate Polo and transfer Gavin Degnan will compete for right field positions.

The designated hitter role may be filled by various players including Asa Wilson and Pokrovsky as options remain open according to Yurkow.

Penn's pitching staff will see new configurations following departures but promises potential with returning players like Tobin and newcomers such as Sebastian Haggard making strides in preseason training.

With Columbia picked as favorites in the Ivy League's preseason poll, Penn was ranked second with 101 points. "It should be another ultra-competitive year," remarked Yurkow regarding conference dynamics.

Assistant Coach Mark Royer rejoins Penn's program after seven seasons at UMass bringing valuable experience back to Philadelphia which excites Coach Yurkow: "It's great to have Mark back."

Penn opens its season against Florida State in Tallahassee this weekend with all games available on ACC Network Extra and ESPN+ platforms.

For updates on Penn baseball follow their social media channels or visit PennAthletics.com.