The 2026 baseball season is here, and while we should not overreact to the opening weekend of the year, why not get excited about this edition of the Scarlet Knights?
Rutgers got off to a quick start taking three out of four games against Charleston. The team performed well overall and showed off great depth and balance across the roster.
Head coach Steve Owens worked to improve the roster in the offseason and added 13 transfers for 2026.
New Jersey native Charlie Meglio has been the standout addition
early on. Meglio has started all four games to begin the season and has gone 7-for-17 with one home run and four RBI. The Campbell transfer provides a boost on the infield while Peyton Bonds brings a big bat in the outfield.
Bonds returns as a starter for the Scarlet Knights in the outfield, providing pop in the middle. Bonds has eight hits in his first 19 at bats, scoring six runs and adding one home run, a double, and two RBI.
Joining Meglio in the field is N.C. State transfer Ryan Jaros. He started all four games against Charleston and is batting .357 to start with a .500 OBP.
The lineup looks strong for the season up ahead and this would be a major boost to go with the pitching staff.
Zack Konstantinovsk and Dallin Harrison got off to hot starts against Charleston and seem to be locked into positions in the rotation. Both starters went five innings and allowed one run in their first start.
Konstantinovsk allowed just two hits while striking out nine while Harrison struck out six and allowed six hits with no walks. Joe Mazza suffered a loss in his first start, allowing five earned runs over three innings, but he seems to be the best option for Rutgers to be a third starter within series.
The Scarlet Knights are just two year removed from a 28-25 season that saw them go a disastrous 6-18 in Big Ten play. Last season, Rutgers improved to 15 conference victories.
What is the ceiling for the team in 2026? We will have more answers as the years goes on, but what we learned is the Scarlet Knights will display a balanced team with strong depth across the board.
