The 2026 MLB season kicks off tonight, and now seems like a good time to talk about some Nittany Lions who have taken their game to the next level. There’s only one Penn Stater in the majors right now, but a few others have a chance to make it this season.

Here’s a recap of where former Penn State Baseball stars are in the major and minor leagues.

RHP Justin Hagenman, New York Mets

Justin Hagenman was the only Nittany Lion alumnus to play in the majors in 2025, and he remains the only one on an MLB roster to start 2026.

Drafted in the 23rd round by the Dodgers in 2018, Hagenman spent seven years in the minor leagues before the Mets picked him up on a major league contract after the 2024 season. Hagenman made his MLB debut on April 16, making him the first Penn State draft product to reach the majors since 2005. Hagenman pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in his debut start.

Hagenman’s debut was his only start of the year, but he appeared in eight more games out of the bullpen for the Mets in 2025. He had a 4.56 earned run average through 23.2 innings pitched.

Unfortunately for Hagenman, he will start 2026 on the 60-day injured list (IL) after suffering a rib fracture. He will be able to return to the field sometime in late May or June.

RHP Bailey Dees, New York Yankees (Triple-A)

Bailey Dees was drafted in the 18th round by the Yankees in 2021 and has worked his way through the system. He now finds himself in Triple-A, just one step away from the major leagues.

Dees started 2025 as a starter before transitioning into the bullpen. He posted a 2.55 ERA in his 35.1 innings as a reliever with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 27-year-old is 6’8 with a fastball in the mid-90s and a four-pitch mix, the kind of size and stuff that draws attention. If he continues to put up strong numbers in 2026, he could realistically join Hagenman in the majors sometime this season.

RHP Conor Larkin, Toronto Blue Jays (Double-A)

Conor Larkin is starting the 2026 season with the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate in New Hampshire. The 2021 ninth-round draft pick spent all of the 2025 season in Double-A.

At 27 years old, Larkin is not a top prospect in the Blue Jays’ system, but he was a reliable arm for the organization, posting a 4.14 ERA in 50 innings with 50 strikeouts in 2025. If he can sharpen his skills and show that he’s ready for Triple-A ball, he could make the major league roster within a season or two.

C Matt Wood, Milwaukee Brewers (Double-A)

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft, Wood was the highest-drafted Penn State player in 24 years. After earning a promotion to Double-A Biloxi in 2025, Wood slashed an impressive .271/.371/.415 with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 59 games.

Wood received an invitation to big league spring training in 2026, which is a sign of organizational respect. He was reassigned to minor league camp in mid-March, but the opportunity to work with major-league coaches and staff would be a huge help for any player.

There are several catchers ahead of Wood in the Brewers system, but a strong 2026 could accelerate his timeline and help him reach the MLB.

2B/OF Jay Harry, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A)

Jay Harry was drafted in the sixth round by the Twins in 2023. After being traded to the Blue Jays at the 2024 trade deadline, he earned a brief promotion to Double-A, where he struggled, slashing just .153/.255/.226 in 41 games. Harry’s struggles only continued through a full High-A season in 2025.

Heading into 2026, Harry is still with High-A Vancouver and will look to bounce back and work his way up in the Blue Jays’ system.

1B/RF C.J. Pittaro, Athletics (High-A)

C.J. Pittaro went undrafted in 2024, but now plays for the organization where his father, former MLB player Chris Pittaro, works.

Pittaro slashed .232/.334/.299 with 22 extra base hits and 38 RBIs across Single-A and High-A in 2025. He will begin the 2026 season in High-A with a shot to prove himself and work his way up.

OF Paxton Kling, Texas Rangers (High-A)

Paxton Kling was one of five Nittany Lions drafted in 2025, picked in the 7th round by the Rangers. He played 21 across Single-A and High-A, slashing .301/.355/.446 with one home run and seven RBIs.

Kling was named to the Rangers’ Spring Breakout roster for 2026, a promising sign for a 22-year-old heading into his first full season of professional baseball. Kling, who is currently ranked No. 21 on the Rangers’ top prospects list, will look to improve his ranking and move up in the system this season.

RHP Daniel Ouderkirk, Seattle Mariners (Single-A)

Daniel Ouderkirk has struggled with injuries for his entire collegiate and professional baseball career. After having Tommy John surgery in 2019, he performed well enough at Penn State to be drafted in the 18th round by the Mariners in 2023.

Ouderkirk suffered further injuries immediately after signing with the Mariners and has only pitched five innings in his entire professional career. 2026 will be a make-or-break year for the 25-year-old.

RHP Spencer Bivens (San Francisco Giants), RHP Logan Evans (Seattle Mariners)

Spencer Bivens and Logan Evans both spent time in the Penn State baseball program, but neither was drafted as a Nittany Lion. Both performed well in the major leagues in 2025.

Bivens failed a drug test and was kicked off the team in 2015 before he ever pitched for Penn State. He went on to play Division II and bounce around independent leagues before signing a minor league deal with the Giants and working all the way up to the majors. Bivens had a 4.00 ERA in 81 innings for San Francisco in 2025 and has secured himself a spot in the big-league bullpen for 2026.

Evans played two seasons for Penn State before transferring to Pittsburgh. He was drafted in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB draft. Evans had a 4.32 ERA in 81.1 innings over 15 starts in 2025. Unfortunately, Evans had UCL reconstruction surgery on January 23, 2026, and will miss the entire 2026 season.

Other Notable Names

Infielder Ryan Weingartner (St. Louis Cardinals), RHP Chase Renner (Miami Marlins), and RHP Ryan DeSanto (Cleveland Guardians) were all drafted in 2025 and are on Single-A or rookie level rosters to start 2026. David Lee pitched in 23 games for the Nittany Lions as a reliever in 2024 but is listed as an outfielder in the Colorado Rockies’ organization. All four will look to work their way up in their respective organizations in 2026.