Pitcher Michael Merchant commits to Rutgers baseball
On Saturday, Michael Merchant committed to Rutgers baseball. It is a big-time get for the program.
Merchant is the third 2025 commitment for the Scarlet Knights, joining outfielder Tyler Wiltsey and shortstop Julius Rosado.
Merchant (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with an excellent fastball. Since 2020, Michael’s fastball has increased in velocity by +19 MPH, ranging from 83 – 86 MPH. According to Perfect Game’s percentile rankings, Merchant’s fastball is ranked 98.81 percent among the class of 2025 at 87 MPH.
The Connecticut native (Milford, CT) has a killer slider and curve ball. Merchant’s slider comes in at 75 MPH, making it a 10 MPH difference from his fastball. With a fastball in the mid-high 80s, his breaking ball produces a ton of swing and misses.
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been working on offspeed. Starting to come together #Uncommitted @Soup_Pitching @CHRecruitingHub @TheClubhouseCT pic.twitter.com/6YX2SuaHSx
— Michael Merchant (@michaelmerch) February 9, 2023
Merchant attends Jonathan Law High School, where he will continue his development while participating in The Clubhouse, one of the premier AAU programs in the Northeast. The Clubhouse churns out multiple Division I commitments to programs like the University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, Villanova University, University of Connecticut, Rutgers University, Boston College, Sacred Heart, and Tulane. This AAU program has totaled 204 D1 commitments and six drafted MLB players. As he continues to develop, Merchant will be a solid addition to the Rutgers baseball program.
