Eastern Michigan University Head Baseball Coach Trevor Beerman announced the hiring of Steve Merriman as the program’s pitching coach Thursday, June 25.

Merriman joins the Eagles after serving as the Director of Pitching Development at Texas Tech University during the 2026 season. Before the Red Raiders, the Michigan native spent 20-plus years serving in various roles with seven different MLB organizations as well as multiple stops as the pitching coach at Michigan and Toledo.

In the 2026 campaign, Tech’s bullpen struck out 11 batters in a 10-5 win over No. 24 UTSA, March 11. Merriman contributed to Jackson Burns’ 7.2-inning win over No. 17 West Virginia, April 11, in which he allowed only one run with five strikeouts, and zero walks. He also oversaw a seven-inning complete game by junior Lukas Pirko, who allowed just one run in a 15-1 win over Albany in the first game of a doubleheader, Feb. 21. The next day, Tech pitchers blanked the Great Danes, 10-0, as Kaysen Raineri and Connor Mohan teamed up for the Red Raiders’ first shutout since the 2024 campaign.

In 2025, Merriman oversaw a Montgomery Biscuits team (Double-A, Tampa Bay Rays) that won the Southern League South Division with a 78-60 record. Individually, Merriman mentored big leaguers Ian Seymour, Cole Wilcox, Mason Montgomery, Duncan Davitt, and Trevor Martin.

During the 2024 season, Merriman helped the Biscuits to an 80-57 record, winning both the first and second half title and a trip to the Southern League Championship Series.

The coach went to the Tampa Bay Rays organization after returning to Michigan from 2021-22, where the former Central Michigan standout served as the Wolverines’ Pitching Coach. It was his third stint in Ann Arbor as Merriman also served as Michigan's pitching coach from 2011-12, as well as the 2001 and 2002 campaigns. Throughout his time at Michigan, he worked with notable MLB Draft selections, including 20-year MLB vet Rich Hill and former 2021 Second Round pick Steve Hajjar.

Merriman spent the 2019-2021 seasons with the Colorado Rockies organization where he served as the Rockies Pitching Coordinator and assisted with pitching analytics, technology implementation, and program development for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats.

Merriman landed with the Rockies after spending the 2018 season with the Chicago Cubs serving as the Assistant Pitching Coordinator for Chicago's Dominican Academy to Low-A clubs.

The coach's over two-decades of experience also includes stints as a Midwest Area Scout (Michigan and Ohio region), an Extended Spring Training Coordinator (Arizona Diamondbacks) and a Rehab Pitching Coordinator role with the New York Mets organization.

While with the Mets, Merriman was part of the first portable biomechanics lab that was used in spring training (2005-06 season), run by the ASMI Lab, Dr. James Andrews, and Glenn Fleisig.

In addition to his extensive experience in pro ball, Merriman is well versed in the modern baseball technologies including Rapsodo, Driveline, TrackMan, and PitchGrader and has served as an advisory board member for OnBase U and Proplay AI.

Merriman also has worked with the Texas Baseball Ranch (Ron Wilforth Clinic) and the Dr. Tom House/Joe Newton Arm Care + Velocity Program.

He got his start in pitching as a Pitching Coach at Toledo (1996 season) and had a two-season run as the Head Coach at Macomb Community College (1999-01).

While at Macomb, Merriman saw 90% of his student-athletes earn an opportunity at a four-year institution while five players were selected in the MLB Draft. The Monarchs made back-to-back regional finals appearances and finished above .500 in both seasons.

The Michigan native attended Central Michigan, where he earned his degree in Education in 1991 while being a four-year standout on the Chippewas baseball squad.

During his time in Mount Pleasant, CMU won three MAC Championships and made three NCAA Regional appearances. Merriman was an honorable mention All-MAC selection as a catcher after the 1990 season.

Merriman and his wife, Sue, have three children; Troy (wife Hannah), Trisha (husband Nate), and Traci (husband Levi). The couple has two grandsons and two granddaughters. His son, Troy, is currently the head baseball coach at Tiffin University.

The Steve Merriman File
Name:	Steve Merriman
Hometown:	Grandville, Mich.
High School:	Mt. Pleasant H.S. - Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
College:	Central Michigan University - Bachelor’s degree in Education - 1991
Family:	Wife - Sue; Son - Troy; Daughters - Trisha, Traci
Coaching Experience
Year	Position	Employer
2026-Present	Pitching Coach	Eastern Michigan University
2026	Director of Pitching Development	Texas Tech University
2025	Pitching Coach	Bowling Green Hot Rods (High-A, Tampa Bay Rays)
2023-25	Pitching Coach	Montgomery Biscuits (Double-AA, Tampa Bay Rays)
2021-22	Pitching Coach	University of Michigan
2019-21	Pitching Coach	Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Colorado Rockies)
2018	Assistant Minor League Pitching Coordinator	Chicago Cubs
2014	Pitching Coach	Lexington Legends
2013	Pitching Coach	Idaho Falls Chukars
2012	Pitching Coach	University of Michigan
2009-11	Midwest Area Scout	Major League Scouting Bureau
2007-09	Extended Spring Training Coordinator	Arizona Diamondbacks
2004-06	Rehab Pitching Coordinator	New York Mets
2002-04	Associate Scout	Colorado Rockies
2002	Pitching Coach	University of Michigan
1999-01	Head Coach	Macomb Community College
1996-99	Bullpen Catcher	Detroit Tigers
1996	Pitching Coach	University of Toledo
1995	Hitting Coach	University of Michigan


1	Jake Leonard	INF	5' 6''	170	2nd	L/R	Macomb, Mich. / Stevenson
2	Hank Blackburn	P	6' 2''	185	1st	R/R	Liberty, Miss. / Liberty
3	Steven Laurence	INF	6' 2''	190	3rd	R/R	McMurray Pa. / Peters Township	Garrett College/Louisburg CC
5	Phillip Thigpen	INF	5' 9''	170	2nd	R/R	Chicago, Ill. / Kenwood Academy
6	JJ Nielson	UTIL	6' 0''	190	3rd	R/R	Cerritos, Calif. / Jordan	Hawai'i/Grand Canyon
7	Kriss Sydlowski	OF	6' 2''	185	4th	R/R	Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline	Wake Tech C.C. / USC Sumpter
8	Keegan Knupp	INF	6' 4''	210	2nd	R/R	Lewis Center, Ohio / Olentangy Orange
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9	Carson Hilton	OF	6' 0''	185	3rd	L/R	Gardner, Kan. / Gardner	Neosho County CC
10	Colin Barrett	P	6' 3''	210	1st	R/R	Phoenix, Md. / Accellus Academy
11	Brooks Porter	OF	6' 1''	205	1st	L/L	Reno, Nev. / Robert McQueen
13	Connor Walsh	INF	6' 3''	180	3rd	R/R	Mattawan, Mich. / Mattawan
14	Preston Cosby	P	6' 3''	200	2nd	R/R	Portage, Mich. / Kalamazoo Hackett	Lake Michigan
15	Cole Gomez	P	6' 3''	200	2nd	R/R	Phoenix, Ariz. / Desert Vista	Umpqua
18	Marc Nellis	OF	6' 1''	195	3rd	R/R	Toronto, Ontario / American Heritage Plantation	Connor State
21	Ryan Hunter	C	6' 0''	210	2nd	L/R	Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman
22	Nathan Borchardt	C	5' 11''	205	4th	L/R	Stanley, N.C. / East Lincoln	King
23	Demir Heidelberg	OF	6' 2''	190	2nd	R/R	Homewood, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor
24	Cole Hambly	UTIL	6' 2''	205	2nd	L/R	Cranston, R.I. / Worcester Academy	Siena
25	Ben Schechterman	UTIL	6' 0''	190	4th	L/L	Aurora, Ohio / Aurora	Ohio State
26	Jack Joyce	P	6' 2''	180	4th	R/R	Canby, Ore. / Canby	Linn Benton CC/Coppin State
27	Patrick Ilitch	OF	6' 1''	215	5th	R/R	Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / University Liggett	Valparaiso/Villanova
29	Ryan Karl	P	6' 0''	185	5th	R/R	Eureka, Mo. / Cuba	Southern Indiana/Missouri-St. Louis
30	Carter White	P	6' 1''	180	4th	L/L	Shelby County, Ky. / Shelby County	Lincoln Memorial
32	Drew Norris	P	6' 2''	190	5th	R/R	Leawood, Kan. / Blue Valley	Utah / Johnson C.C.
33	Nick Weaver	C	6' 1''	185	4th	R/R	Streamwood, Ill. / Streamwood	Elgin C.C.
34	Jake Harris	C	6' 0''	185	1st	L/R	Knoxville, Tenn. / Farragut
35	Colton LaFave	P	6' 2''	205	4th	R/R	Litchfield Park, Ariz. / Shadow Ridge	Central Arizona/San Diego State
36	Ben Llewellyn	P	6' 4''	190	3rd	R/R	Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove North	Minnesota State
37	Terry Kaler	P	6' 4''	215	3rd	L/L	Concord, N.C. / Northwest Cabarrus	Liberty/Gaston
38	John Carmichael	P	6' 0''	190	4th	R/R	Destrehan, La. / Destrehan	McLennan C.C.
39	Malcolm Gillies	P	6' 0''	180	2nd	L/L	Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley
40	David Goldapper	P	6' 1''	210	3rd	L/L	Parkland, Fla. / Marjory Stoneman Douglas	LSU - Eunice
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41	Owen Mikin	P	6' 3''	215	1st	R/R	Hinckley, Ohio / Saint Ignatius
42	Markus Roberson	P	6' 3''	225	2nd	R/R	Carroll, Ohio / Bloom Carroll
43	Addison Walker	P	6' 5''	185	3rd	R/R	Mission Viejo, Calif. / Capistrano Valley	Incarnate Word/Salt Lake CC
44	Sam Round	P	6' 3''	200	4th	R/R	Phoenix, Ariz. / Pinnacle	Paradise Valley CC/Arizona

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Trevor Beerman	Head Coach	tbeerma1@emich.edu	734.487.0315
	Steve Merriman	Associate Head Coach	smerrima@emich.edu	734.487.8660
	Seth Caddell	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	scaddel3@emich.edu
	Jordan Doole	Assistant Pitching Coach/Director of Player Development
	Trent Farquhar	Assistant Coach/Hitting
	Mitch Nearhood	Director of Baseball Operations

Eastern Michigan Athletics

2027 Baseball Roster

Jake Leonard

Hank Blackburn

Steven Laurence

Phillip Thigpen

JJ Nielson

Kriss Sydlowski

Keegan Knupp

Carson Hilton

Colin Barrett

Brooks Porter

Connor Walsh

Preston Cosby

Cole Gomez

Marc Nellis

Ryan Hunter

Nathan Borchardt

Demir Heidelberg

Cole Hambly

Ben Schechterman

Jack Joyce

Patrick Ilitch

Ryan Karl

Carter White

Drew Norris

Nick Weaver

Jake Harris

Colton LaFave

Ben Llewellyn

Terry Kaler

John Carmichael

Malcolm Gillies

David Goldapper

Owen Mikin

Markus Roberson

Addison Walker

Sam Round

Trevor Beerman

Steve Merriman

Seth Caddell

Jordan Doole

Trent Farquhar

Mitch Nearhood