Orono, ME - Nick Derba, Head Coach of the University of Maine baseball program, announced on Monday his roster for the upcoming 2024 season. The defending America East Champions will have a 39-man roster for the 2024 season featuring 20 pitchers and 19 position players.

Maine returns 22 players from their Championship core a season ago, including the reigning America East Player of the Year and two-time All-American, Jeremiah Jenkins, along with all four members of the 2023 America East All-Tournament Team in Jenkins, Nick White, Caleb Leys and Freshmen All-American Gianni Gambardella.

Maine's returning pitching staff struck out 364 batters a season ago while allowing 280 walks and allowing 307 runs (280 earned). The Black Bears have three All-Conference Members returning in Colin Fitzgerald (First Team), Gambardella (First Team) and Noah Lewis (Second Team) and All-Rookie Team Member, Luc Lavigueur.

On the offensive side of the ball, Maine loses two key pieces in Quinn McDaniel (5th Round - San Francisco Giants) and Jake Rainess (Transfer to Houston), who were a part of a lineup that hit the most home runs in program history as the Black Bears belted 87 in 2023. Despite losing two All-Conference First Team Members and a Second Team All-Conference Member (Dylan McNary), Maine returns two All-Conference First Team Members in Jenkins and Connor Goodman, along with key players such as Myles Sargent, Colin Plante, Nick White and Dean O'Neill, who hit his first two colligate home runs in the NCAA Regional at Miami. As a team, the Black Bears hit .292 in 2023 with an on-base percentage of .397. Maine stole 98 bases and had 362 RBIs to go along with the program record for home runs (87).

On the mound, the Black Bears are adding eight new arms to their roster. All eight of the newcomers on the mound are true freshmen: Braden Davis (Riverhead, NY), Jason Kreiger (Red Lion, PA), Gabe Gifford (Old Town, ME), Owen Wheeler (Chalfont, PA), Bailey Goss (Clinton, CT), Gavin Baillargeon (Lewiston, ME), Tommy Martorano (Wrentham, MA) and Joe Zametjis (Danvers, MA).

In the field, the Black Bears return 10 players while adding in nine newcomers, eight of which are true freshmen and one transfer, Zach Martin (Maryland). The true freshmen joining the 2024 Black Bears are: Jack Friend (East Setauket, NY), Charlie Taub (Edison, NJ), Will Burns (Reading, MA), Evan Baschnagel (Garden City, NY), Tyler Annis (Harmony, ME), Jonathan Gonzalez (Miami, FL), Chase Trolaro (Oakland, NJ) and Caden Bernardo (Glenmont, NY).

-UMaine-