After two years attending Penn State, Montgomery’s Richie Paltridge is transferring to Siena College in Albany, still with four years of eligibility.

The left-handed pitcher and outfielder had his freshman year disrupted when he required Tommy John Surgery.

“My freshman year was a little weird with COVID. I had a pretty good fall, but I ended up getting hurt right at the end of the fall. I tore my UCL and had to get Tommy John Surgery,” Paltridge said. “I got that in January 2021, so I red-shirted my freshman year.”

After getting one at-bat and one inning in the field during his sophomore season this past spring, he received a medical hardship waiver, retaining each of his first two years of eligibility.

He’ll head to Albany later this summer to start his junior year, with four years left to play college baseball.

“Sophomore year, coming off my surgery, I was eligible to be a position guy the whole season, but I didn’t really get an opportunity,” Paltridge said. “I only had one at-bat and one inning in the field. I didn’t want to lose a whole year, just for that.”

At the end of Penn State’s season, Paltridge had an open conversation with the Penn State coaches.

“They were telling me about all the starters they had coming back and that they wanted me to have the best opportunity for myself. That’s when we thought that the transfer portal would be the best option. We ended on good terms and they said they’d help with anything.”

As soon as the Saints saw the two-way Paltridge enter the portal, they jumped at the opportunity.

“When I was in the portal, only an hour in, Siena reached out to me. I talked to Coach Tony Rossi and decided to commit the following week. It’s closer to home. I still have four years of eligibility and it’s a four year scholarship. It was just a good fit.”

By joining the Saints, Paltridge will now be coached by the longest tenured head coach in NCAA Division 1 Baseball history, with Rossi just finishing up his 53rd season.

This summer, Paltridge played the outfield for the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England.

In just over 100 at-bats, he hit .265 with two home runs, five doubles and 18 RBI.

While he didn’t pitch for Nashua, Paltridge has now returned home to Montgomery for the remainder of the summer to get more throwing work in.

“I feel like being a two-way player gives you the best opportunity to get on the field. I could never pick which one I wanted to do more,” he said. “I know I can pitch and I was hitting really well in my college league.”

Being guaranteed a sixth year, it’s also now a sure thing that the future Saint will end up with a master’s degree.

“After I got surgery, I was like, ‘I gotta make sure I have a backup plan.’ I knew I’d already have the fifth year. Now knowing that I have six years and that my scholarship goes all the way through, I’m definitely going to get a master’s degree,” Paltridge said, who is majoring in business education. “It worked out even better.”