After missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in 2025, the Bucknell baseball team is back to making a playoff run with an 11-1 start in the Patriot League in 2026. The Bison have had key contributors up and down the lineup, including one of the Patriot League’s premier players in senior Michael Trommer.
Michael has been a standout each of the last three years for the Bison and is having one of his best seasons yet in the Orange & Blue. In 120 games with 108 starts over his career, Michael has a .305 career batting average with a .419 on-base percentage and a .489 slugging percentage that would be one of the top ranks in program history.
The Trevose, Pennsylvania native grew up playing baseball and basketball, but turned his focus to baseball in high school where he realized he would have a more prosperous future in the sport. At Archbishop Wood, Michael started immediately as a freshman, turning in a stellar career both as a position player and a pitcher. He was a two-time First Team All-Catholic honoree and the Bucks Courier Times Player of the Year his junior year. He helped lead his team to three district championships.
“I was always bigger than most of the kids on my teams,” said Michael. “My freshman year of high school I was playing varsity and knew I could make something out of this. I was able to compete with the guys that were three-to-four years older than I was.”
Baseball runs in the family as Michael’s younger brother, Anthony, is a starter at Bloomsburg University just 45 minutes from Lewisburg.
Michael’s recruitment to Bucknell began with a phone call from former assistant coach, Chris O’Neill, who is now the manager of Washington Nationals Single-A affiliate, the Fredericksburg Nationals. After continuing conversations with the current staff and competing in camps, Michael made the decision to join the Herd.
“It came down to Bucknell and Columbia. I visited Columbia and I was not sold on it, but I came to Bucknell and I loved it. The academic side really impressed me, so I could get a good education and compete early in my career at a Division I program. It was the perfect fit for me.”
In his freshman season, Michael had just a few opportunities as a pinch-hitter. He made the most of them, going 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and five walks. He reached base safely in two-thirds of his plate appearances.
“My freshman year, the guy in front of me at designated hitter played really well, so I was patient until my opportunities came. I knew coming into my sophomore year that I would have an opportunity to earn the starting role, so I did everything in my power to make it happen in the offseason.”
Michael broke out his sophomore season, becoming an All-Patriot League First Team selection and one of Bucknell’s best hitters. He made 36 starts as the designated hitter, tallying 46 hits, 31 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He hit .336/.440/.496 for a .936 OPS with 11 multi-hit games.
“That summer and winter break leading into that season was the hardest I’ve ever worked in that point of my life. I got the opportunity and I struggled a little bit. I looked at video and talked with my coaches and quickly found my groove and some confidence, and just ran with it.”
The Bison made a playoff push that year, and beat Army on the road in the first game of the Patriot League semifinals. The scoring began on Michael’s fourth homer of the year as the Bison went on to win 4-3. The series ended in heartbreaking fashion as the Black Knights staged late-inning comebacks in both games two and three to bring the season to an end.
“Those losses definitely hurt, especially after winning the first game. As the four seed, we knew we had to play through Army to win the championship. We were five-six outs away from going to the championship against the one seed, and we felt we let it slip away which really hurts.”
While Michael was the everyday designated hitter his sophomore year, he was taking reps at third base behind one of Bucknell’s best athletes in recent history, Sean Keys. Keys was a 2024 fourth-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, and is currently playing for the double-A affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
“I came into Bucknell as a third-baseman, but with Sean at third, there wasn’t much I could do. Even though I wasn’t playing third, there were so many positive takeaways from working with him. Seeing his daily routine, his effort and how he carries himself, it was easy to understand why he was one of Bucknell’s best players in history.”
Bucknell missed the playoffs in 2025 as the Bison struggled to produce wins, including a down year for Michael where he hit .255/.376/.403. The Bison are back on track in 2026 including an 11-1 start in the Patriot League with wins in 14 of their last 16 games.
“The overall energy has been a lot higher this season. We have a ton of depth, both on the pitching side and the position side. On the mound, guys bring it every time they are out there and have had a ton of success. On the bench, we have guys who would be quality starters who come in and we know they will get the job done. Everyone understands their role and are bought into the team which has led to a lot of success.”
Bucknell began the season 1-7 but have gone 17-5 since the slow start. The Bison recently won 10 games in a row to match the second-longest winning streak in program history. The Bison won 12 consecutive games in 1969 and won 10 straight between the 1914 and 1915 seasons. In conference play, Bucknell ranks second with a .286 team batting average and a .396 on-base percentage. The Bison also rank second with a 3.98 team ERA. Bucknell has had steady production from the freshmen and sophomore classes along with the two junior transfers in Zach Selfon and Ty Lagoni. Freshman Garrett Mathias and sophomore John Calabrese are some of the league’s top hitters, and Selfon and Lagoni have been big boosts to the Bison in the left side of the infield. Freshman Brady Hoar and sophomore Everett Garber have been rock-solid as weekend starters, and several relievers have been major contributors for the Bison.
“Ty and Zach have been great for our energy and confidence. We can always rely on them and they have shown how good they can be. It gives the team a lot of confidence knowing we have a complete lineup.”
Michael was the everyday third baseman in 2025, but with Selfon at third this season, he has taken on a new role as Bucknell’s left fielder.
“Each year in high school I played a different position, so moving around and being flexible is not out of the ordinary for me. It was a little surprising the coaches wanted to move me into left field, but I like it and I feel comfortable out there.”
At the plate, Michael is in the midst of one his best seasons yet. He leads the Bison and the Patriot League with a .333 batting average, 38 hits and 11 doubles. In the conference, he ranks third in slugging percentage (.588), seventh in on-base percentage (.434), third in OPS (1.022), fourth in runs scored (26), and third in home runs (6). While he is having another All-Patriot League season, Michael thinks he can still produce more for the Bison.
“I feel like I’m getting close to the top of my game. There is always stuff I can clean up and I’m looking every day at what I can do better. I feel very confident at the plate and I think one of my biggest improvements this year has been keeping a level head. Every at-bat is a new opportunity, and it can be challenging if you haven’t had the best day.”
Earlier this season, Michael roped his 100th career hit in a 15-13 win over Saint Joseph’s. He followed up his 100th hit with a long home run in his next at-bat. Bucknell turns their focus to second-place Holy Cross for a highly-anticipated four-game series. The Bison currently lead the Patriot League by three games with 14 games to go.
“We feel great about our game right now. During the ten-game win streak, we eliminated errors and free bases. In this league, if you can do those things at a high level, you’re going to have a lot of success.”
Offensively, the Bison have key contributors up and down the lineup. Over the 14-2 span since conference play began, nine players are hitting at least .260 at the plate and 10 players have seven or more RBIs. In pinch-hitting scenarios, Bucknell is hitting .314 (11-for-34).
“The one thing I love the most about our offense is that it's not just one or two players every game contributing. You never know who is going to step up and that makes us dangerous. These next two weekends against Holy Cross and Army will test how good we are and I think we’re ready to stand up to that challenge.”
Holy Cross won the 2025 Patriot League championship to end Army’s six-year run of winning the Patriot league title. While Bucknell has only played the bottom three teams in the standings, the Bison are eager to prove their early dominance.
“I want the number one seed,” said Michael. “We’ve obviously put ourselves in a good spot and home-field advantage would be important because we play very well at home. This next stretch of games, we’ll see how well of a spot we put ourselves to help our chances of that.”
Bucknell and Holy Cross kick off the pivotal four-game series on Friday April 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Depew Field at Marren Park. The Bison then head up to West Point for another crucial four-game series at Army the following weekend. Bucknell (11-1) leads Holy Cross (8-4) by three games. Army (6-6) sits in third place.
Michael takes on a rigorous schedule as a Division I athlete and a chemical engineering major at Bucknell. While he is not sure what is next in his future, Michael is focused on finishing out the season and making it to graduation. Bucknell has has been a home for Michael the past four years as he has grown into the man he is today.
Bucknell has meant so much to me. The growth I've had from my freshman year to now has been awesome. Academically, athletically, spiritually and as a person, this school has given me every opportunity to grow in every aspect of my life.
Michael's built many lasting relationships over his time as a Bison, and his memories with the team will last a lifetime.
"Sitting in the cafeteria with 30 other guys, bus rides, road trips. Obviously playing baseball is a great time, but I think the biggest things I'll remember is everything that goes on off of the field."
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