BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point finished atop the 2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll, while senior RHP Justin Lehman earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year when the League office announced preseason honors on Thursday.
Head coach Chris Tracz and the six-time defending champion Black Knights collected 50 points and 10 first-place votes to rank first in the preseason poll. Navy, the 2024 runner-up, received 34 points, while Holy Cross and Bucknell picked up 32 points apiece to tie for third place. The Crusaders also picked up the remaining two first-place votes. Lehigh (20) and Lafayette (12) rounded out the six-team Patriot League field.
Lehman, the 2024 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, earned the League’s preseason major award. Holy Cross’ Sean Scanlon (Sr., 1B/RHP) was selected the 2025 Patriot League Preseason Baseball Player of the Year and Lehigh’s Jake Whitlinger (Sr., CF) claimed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Army West Point, Bucknell and Lehigh picked up three honorees apiece on the 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Baseball Team. Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh each had one representative.
Patriot League baseball head coaches and sports information directors voted on the preseason poll, All-League team and major awards. Neither group was permitted to vote for their team or student-athletes.
Voting for the Patriot League baseball preseason poll, major awards and All-League team is conducted by League head coaches and athletics communications contacts. Neither group was permitted to vote for their student-athletes or team.
2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year
Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Sr., 1B/RHP, New York, N.Y./Fordham Prep/Avon Old Farms
Career Stats: 105 GP, .296 BA, 60 R, 101 H, 29 2B, 10 HR, 61 RBI, .469 SLG, .435 OBP, .962 FLD
*Scanlon is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning recognition in 2022 and 2023.
*The New York City native was limited to six games last season but ranked third in the League in on-base percentage (.461), fourth in doubles (18), 11th in RBIs (36) and 14th in slugging percentage (.506) in 2023.
*Last season, Scanlon posted two home runs, six RBIs and a 1.067 OPS in six games.
2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Sr., RHP, Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford
Career Stats: 18 APP, 12 GS, 78.2 IP, 5-4, 2.52 ERA, 2 CG, 1 SHO, 66 H, 26 R, 22 ER, 26 BB, 55 K, .234 OPP BA
*Lehman was selected 2024 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and a First-Team All-League selection after finishing the regular season with a 5-2 record and 1.44 ERA to rank second in NCAA DI.
*In League play, the Fort Mill, S.C. native went 4-1 with a 1.60 ERA in seven starts spanning 45.0 innings pitched.
*The senior right-hander is the NCAA DI active career leader with a 2.52 ERA
2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jake Whitlinger, Lehigh, Sr., CF, Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College
Career Stats: 137 GP, .300 BA, 132 R, 151 H, 26 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 58 RBI, .378 SLG, .426 OBP, 52 SB, 314 PO, 4 A, .994 FLD
*Whitlinger recorded 90 putouts with a .989 fielding percentage, three outfield assists and one double play in 46 games last season for a Mountain Hawks team that finished only behind Army in earned runs allowed.
*The senior centerfielder was a 2024 First Team All-Patriot League selection after batting .319 with 44 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.
*He has registered 314 putouts with just two errors in 137 games during his career at Lehigh.
2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point, 50 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Navy, 34
3. Holy Cross, 32 (2)
3. Bucknell, 32
5. Lehigh, 20
6. Lafayette, 12
2025 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Major Awards
Player of the Year – Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Sr., 1B/RHP
Pitcher of the Year – Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Defensive Player of the Year – Jake Whitlinger, Lehigh, Sr., CF
2025 Preseason Baseball All-Patriot League Team
Starting Pitcher: Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Grenn, Navy, Jr., RHP
Relief Pitcher: Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr., RHP
Catcher: Ethan Swidler, Lafayette, Jr.
Infielder: Chris Barr, Army West Point, Jr., (2B)
Infielder: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Sr., (2B)
Infielder: Michael Trommer, Bucknell, Jr. (3B)
Infielder: Brock Murtha, Navy, Jr. (2B)
Outfielder: Billy Parker, Army West Point, Jr.
Outfielder: Chris Morabito, Bucknell, So.
Outfielder: Jake Whitlinger, Lehigh, Sr.
At-Large: Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Sr. (1B/RHP)
Preseason All-Patriot League by the Numbers
Nine of the 12 Preseason All-Patriot League selections received All-League honors at the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, with seven first-team selections and two major award winners. Two preseason All-League honorees earned spots on last season’s second team, while two more received All-League recognition prior to the 2024 season.
The Black Knights’ Lehman and Bucknell’s Chris Morabito (So., OF) were the 2024 Patriot League Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, respectively, with Lehman earning a first-team nod and Morabito claiming a spot on the second team. Army’s Billy Parker (Jr., OF), Bucknell’s Billy Kender (Sr., 2B) and Michael Trommer (Jr., 3B), Lafayette’s Ethan Swidler (Jr., C), and Navy’s Tyler Grenn (Jr., RHP) were 2024 first-team selections.
Morabito was joined on the 2024 All-Patriot League Second Team by Navy’s Brock Murtha (Jr., 2B). Holy Cross’ Scanlon (Sr., 1B/RHP) earned All-League second-team honors in 2022 and 2023, while Navy’s Landon Kruer (Sr., RHP) was a second-team member in 2023.
Army’s Chris Barr (Jr., 2B) is the lone preseason honoree not to have All-League honors on his resume, though he is joined by Parker and Kruer as 2024 All-Tournament Team honorees.
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The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.