Jarrett Pokrovsky hit a career-best .335 last year. | Photo: Michael Nance, Penn AthleticsPHILADELPHIA — Penn enters the 2026 season believing experience can be its advantage — and patience its necessity.
The Quakers return one of the Ivy League’s most seasoned lineups after finishing 21–20 overall and 13–8 in conference play last spring, but will spend the early part of the season reshaping a pitching staff that remains in transition.
For coach John Yurkow, the formula is clear: lean on veteran bats, survive the opening weeks, and grow into Ivy League play.
“One of the strengths of the team is we have a lot of the bats coming back in the lineup,” Yurkow said. “We should be pretty experienced there.”
That experience begins with seniors Jarrett Pokrovsky, Ryan Taylor and Davis Baker, all of whom have been fixtures in the lineup since their freshman seasons. Pokrovsky and Gavin Collins each hit .335 last year, with Pokrovsky posting a .927 OPS and delivering one of the most productive seasons in program history. He broke both the Penn and Ivy League single-season doubles record with 24 two-baggers.
Collins reached base at a .442 on-base percentage, giving Penn a steady presence at the top of the order.
Baker’s season was uneven by his standards, but the power remained intact. He finished with eight home runs, 39 RBIs and a .526 slugging percentage, and Yurkow believes a bounce-back year will come down to approach rather than mechanics.
“At times he just tried to do a little too much last year,” Yurkow said. “It really comes down to pitch selection. He’s gotten himself into some better hitters’ counts. He’s actually a pretty good two-strike hitter. It’s just swinging at the right pitches early on.”
Penn also returns Nick Spaventa (.293 average, five home runs) and Gavin Degnan, who posted a .925 OPS in limited action. Behind the plate, Qwynn Ahearn and Ernie Echevarria both saw extended time last season, providing stability at a position that often defines offensive rhythm.
Speed remains a defining element of the offense, particularly with Taylor in center field. He went 20-for-22 in stolen bases and scored 38 runs, making him one of the league’s most disruptive runners.
“If he gets on base, there’s a good chance he’s going to steal a bag,” Yurkow said. “He’s got game-changing speed, and he’s getting a lot better defensively in center field.”
Two freshman infielders — Jay Secretarski and Jack Warner — emerged during fall workouts as early contributors.
“They’ve both really swung the bat well,” Yurkow said. “They’ve given us a reason to think they can help us early.”
The pitching staff, however, will be tested in the season’s opening month. John Cerwinski and Sebastian Haggard remain sidelined after injuries last year, with Cerwinski projected to return by the third weekend and Haggard expected sometime in April.
“Getting those two guys back will be a nice shot in the arm,” Yurkow said.
Until then, Penn will rely on veteran starters Jake Moss, Marty Coyne and Josh Katz, while Thomas Shurtleff and Connor Darling anchor the bullpen. Cerwinski is expected to slide into a late-inning role once healthy. Freshmen Luke Pokrovsky and Nick Newburn could be asked to contribute early as the staff sorts itself out.
“We’re going to have to throw some of those guys into the fire a little bit,” Yurkow said.
Penn opens with one of the Ivy League’s most demanding nonconference schedules, beginning with a three-game series at Texas A&M before road trips to Mercer and East Carolina.
“I like trying to challenge our guys early,” Yurkow said. “Those environments prepare you for what postseason baseball looks like.”
In a league where Columbia and Yale stand as early benchmarks and roster turnover reshapes contenders each spring, Penn’s formula is straightforward: trust its veteran lineup, weather the early pitching transition, and grow into the Ivy League race.
After a 13–8 Ivy season and a return to the conference tournament, the Quakers enter 2026 believing experience can carry them — if their young arms develop quickly enough to support an offense that already knows how to win.
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