The 5 teams that just missed the cut:
Stetson is coming off a 41-win season and a contested regional appearance after the ASUN title game vs FGCU was cancelled due to rain. Their 2025 squad had one of the best mid-major pitching staffs and their season ended in the Auburn regional. Steve Trimper will have his hands full as the Hatters have a lot of retooling to do. Offensively, they were already below average a season ago and lost their best hitter, Isaiah Barkett, along with Lorenzo Meola (combined 40 extra base hits and .350 avg). Not to mention Jordan Taylor (.322 AVG, 8 HRs) transferred to Coastal Carolina. The 2026 lineup will need a lot of young guys to step up and follow the lead of veterans Foster Apple (.303) and stud defender Juan De La Cruz (.891). Jayden Hylton had an injury-plagued '25 season. If he stays healthy in '26, that will hopefully allow him to showcase his elite bat. Overall, not optimistic on this lineup at all. Pitching wise, it is a better story, but they lost program great Jonathan Gonzalez (93 IP, 1.83 ERA) and electric closer Ty Van Dyke. James Hays (53, 4.92) and Ethan Phillips (48, 5.63) will need to step up as they become even more relied upon. Jake Gorelick (41, 1.31) returns to the bullpen to be the go-to leverage arm. The interesting thing with Gorelick is that he only had 23 Ks in 41 innings, so we will see if BABIP goes his way again. FIP and SIERA suggest caution to bet on the batted ball luck again. The transfer group Trimper brought in has bright spots, but it's a wait and see group. Stetson could be argued that they belong in the 25, but they have their work cut out for them.
Tulane finished 5th in the AAC a year ago and fell to East Carolina in the tournament title game, almost making it back to back to back regional appearances. The 2026 edition of the Green Wave is really difficult to dissect and gage a reading on. HC Jay Uhlman brought in a massive portal class that fluctates across the board in terms of quality talent. Offensively, Wave return nearly 50% of ABs and a good chunk of power production. Matthias Haas (.303 4 HRs), Jason Wachs (.335 .936 OPS), and Tanner Chun (.259 8 HRs) are the core returners. This team a year ago was in the bottom half of national ranks offensively, so these guys will have to take a major step forward. In the portal, they got a few solid pieces, but nothing eye popping. Amongst the class, Trent Liolios (.263 16 HRs) from Northwestern and Tye Wood (.317 5 HRs) from New Mexico should help improve this lineup. Journeyman Nolan Nawrocki (Clemson/South Carolina) should also improve the lineup. On the mound, its even harder to project as every one of their returning arms with 25+ innings had ERAs north of 5 with a few in the 7s. Once again, the portal adds are going to play a massive role on this staff, Jack Frankel (Liberty) should compete for a weekend spot along with Jack Brafa (Tennessee Tech). Both of them had 45+ innings with mid 3 eras. All in all, if the returning talent takes a big step forward then Tulane can no doubt compete in the AAC, but its a big if.
The 'Toppers had a bizarre 30ish players hit the portal after a monstrous 2025 season where they won 46 games and won the CUSA title game to punch their first regional ticket in 16 years. HC Mark Rardin had quite a roster overhaul to deal with this offseason as he lost 1300+ ABs, including superstar Ryan Wideman who was a 3rd rd pick in the draft. Not to mention the the nearly 400 innings that went out the door too. Offensively, Western Kentucky has Hayes, Haller and Ross who all return their .300+ BAs over 400 ABs. Some interesting transfers in Cael Frost (Nebraska), Hayden Robbins (Morehead) and Parker Coley (SELA) who all should be in the opening day starting 9. Pitching wise, it could be a rough spring, but I believe in Rardin and staff to get the most out of this group with Dawson Hall, Perry, and Lyles returning about 120 good innings. Roman Petricca and Jude Favela transfer in from Vandy and USC so you have to assume they have some talent. All in all, I don't expect 40+ wins, but they should compete and get better as season rolls on.
San Diego's last few weeks of baseball in 2025 were nothing short of insane and improbable as they started the season 6-24 before going on a 22-6 run to win the West Coast reg. season title. It all came down to the last day of the season where they won game 1 of WCC championship in 14 innings over Saint Mary's to force a winner-take-all before being eliminated with the tying run on in the 9th. The 2026 edition for Brock Ungricht's squad is quite different as Toreros lose 2-way legend Austin Smith and Jack Gurevitch to the draft and Freshman of the Year Logan Reddemann to UCLA. Aden Howard (.272 .737 OPS) is back after his heroic walk-off bomb in the 14 inning game mentioned previously. Along with him, Isaiah Lane (.328 .985 OPS), Jayden Lobliner (.286 .815 OPS) and Adrian Beltre Jr. (.257 .758 OPS) should form a solid experienced core. They hit the portal hard offensively and on the mound, but offensively they got 3 guys: Andrew Gauna (CSUN), CJ Moran (SDSU) and Gage Mestas (Gonzaga) who all hit nearly .900+ OPS and should help shore up the exported talent. On the bump, they return about 100 worthy innings good for 20% of all 2025 innings. Their whole weekend rotation is probably going to be coming via portal as they brought in 3 guys that each have 100+ collegiate innings. All of them are very similar in that they have lots of meaningful innings but rough ERAs, so you just have to hope pitching department went to work this offseason. All in all, this is a team that could go for their 3rd straight WCC title or roller coaster their way to a disappointing season.
Coming off a 41-win season and a 3rd place finish in the Southland, Cardinals found themselves in quite an interesting offseason where 15+ players entered the portal and 15+ players came in via the portal. Their pitching was oustanding a year ago and they lost everyone from that staff outside of 2 arms who did count for 25% of their innings; Chris Olivier (66in 3.39) and Fabian Ramirez (34in 3.44). Cards brought in 7 arms via the portal, and all are projects at best. So this 2026 staff is a big question mark, wild card if you will. Offensively, they return a nice chunk of their offense that was a Top 100 unit nationally. Tab Tracey (.308 .796 OPS), Brayden Evans (.303 .892 OPS) and Reese Beheler (.302 .834 OPS) will form a solid veteran nucleus, but the rest are question marks as well. We can assume Lamar will definitely compete in the Southland, but how high is the floor and ceiling? It could go either way and for that reason we just could not commit to putting them in. IF the pitching staff shows up and keeps crooked numbers off the board, this will be a fast rising team.
The 5 teams that just missed the cut:
Stetson is coming off a 41-win season and a contested regional appearance after the ASUN title game vs FGCU was cancelled due to rain. Their 2025 squad had one of the best mid-major pitching staffs and their season ended in the Auburn regional. Steve Trimper will have his hands full as the Hatters have a lot of retooling to do. Offensively, they were already below average a season ago and lost their best hitter, Isaiah Barkett, along with Lorenzo Meola (combined 40 extra base hits and .350 avg). Not to mention Jordan Taylor (.322 AVG, 8 HRs) transferred to Coastal Carolina. The 2026 lineup will need a lot of young guys to step up and follow the lead of veterans Foster Apple (.303) and stud defender Juan De La Cruz (.891). Jayden Hylton had an injury-plagued '25 season. If he stays healthy in '26, that will hopefully allow him to showcase his elite bat. Overall, not optimistic on this lineup at all. Pitching wise, it is a better story, but they lost program great Jonathan Gonzalez (93 IP, 1.83 ERA) and electric closer Ty Van Dyke. James Hays (53, 4.92) and Ethan Phillips (48, 5.63) will need to step up as they become even more relied upon. Jake Gorelick (41, 1.31) returns to the bullpen to be the go-to leverage arm. The interesting thing with Gorelick is that he only had 23 Ks in 41 innings, so we will see if BABIP goes his way again. FIP and SIERA suggest caution to bet on the batted ball luck again. The transfer group Trimper brought in has bright spots, but it's a wait and see group. Stetson could be argued that they belong in the 25, but they have their work cut out for them.
Tulane finished 5th in the AAC a year ago and fell to East Carolina in the tournament title game, almost making it back to back to back regional appearances. The 2026 edition of the Green Wave is really difficult to dissect and gage a reading on. HC Jay Uhlman brought in a massive portal class that fluctates across the board in terms of quality talent. Offensively, Wave return nearly 50% of ABs and a good chunk of power production. Matthias Haas (.303 4 HRs), Jason Wachs (.335 .936 OPS), and Tanner Chun (.259 8 HRs) are the core returners. This team a year ago was in the bottom half of national ranks offensively, so these guys will have to take a major step forward. In the portal, they got a few solid pieces, but nothing eye popping. Amongst the class, Trent Liolios (.263 16 HRs) from Northwestern and Tye Wood (.317 5 HRs) from New Mexico should help improve this lineup. Journeyman Nolan Nawrocki (Clemson/South Carolina) should also improve the lineup. On the mound, its even harder to project as every one of their returning arms with 25+ innings had ERAs north of 5 with a few in the 7s. Once again, the portal adds are going to play a massive role on this staff, Jack Frankel (Liberty) should compete for a weekend spot along with Jack Brafa (Tennessee Tech). Both of them had 45+ innings with mid 3 eras. All in all, if the returning talent takes a big step forward then Tulane can no doubt compete in the AAC, but its a big if.
The 'Toppers had a bizarre 30ish players hit the portal after a monstrous 2025 season where they won 46 games and won the CUSA title game to punch their first regional ticket in 16 years. HC Mark Rardin had quite a roster overhaul to deal with this offseason as he lost 1300+ ABs, including superstar Ryan Wideman who was a 3rd rd pick in the draft. Not to mention the the nearly 400 innings that went out the door too. Offensively, Western Kentucky has Hayes, Haller and Ross who all return their .300+ BAs over 400 ABs. Some interesting transfers in Cael Frost (Nebraska), Hayden Robbins (Morehead) and Parker Coley (SELA) who all should be in the opening day starting 9. Pitching wise, it could be a rough spring, but I believe in Rardin and staff to get the most out of this group with Dawson Hall, Perry, and Lyles returning about 120 good innings. Roman Petricca and Jude Favela transfer in from Vandy and USC so you have to assume they have some talent. All in all, I don't expect 40+ wins, but they should compete and get better as season rolls on.
San Diego's last few weeks of baseball in 2025 were nothing short of insane and improbable as they started the season 6-24 before going on a 22-6 run to win the West Coast reg. season title. It all came down to the last day of the season where they won game 1 of WCC championship in 14 innings over Saint Mary's to force a winner-take-all before being eliminated with the tying run on in the 9th. The 2026 edition for Brock Ungricht's squad is quite different as Toreros lose 2-way legend Austin Smith and Jack Gurevitch to the draft and Freshman of the Year Logan Reddemann to UCLA. Aden Howard (.272 .737 OPS) is back after his heroic walk-off bomb in the 14 inning game mentioned previously. Along with him, Isaiah Lane (.328 .985 OPS), Jayden Lobliner (.286 .815 OPS) and Adrian Beltre Jr. (.257 .758 OPS) should form a solid experienced core. They hit the portal hard offensively and on the mound, but offensively they got 3 guys: Andrew Gauna (CSUN), CJ Moran (SDSU) and Gage Mestas (Gonzaga) who all hit nearly .900+ OPS and should help shore up the exported talent. On the bump, they return about 100 worthy innings good for 20% of all 2025 innings. Their whole weekend rotation is probably going to be coming via portal as they brought in 3 guys that each have 100+ collegiate innings. All of them are very similar in that they have lots of meaningful innings but rough ERAs, so you just have to hope pitching department went to work this offseason. All in all, this is a team that could go for their 3rd straight WCC title or roller coaster their way to a disappointing season.
Coming off a 41-win season and a 3rd place finish in the Southland, Cardinals found themselves in quite an interesting offseason where 15+ players entered the portal and 15+ players came in via the portal. Their pitching was oustanding a year ago and they lost everyone from that staff outside of 2 arms who did count for 25% of their innings; Chris Olivier (66in 3.39) and Fabian Ramirez (34in 3.44). Cards brought in 7 arms via the portal, and all are projects at best. So this 2026 staff is a big question mark, wild card if you will. Offensively, they return a nice chunk of their offense that was a Top 100 unit nationally. Tab Tracey (.308 .796 OPS), Brayden Evans (.303 .892 OPS) and Reese Beheler (.302 .834 OPS) will form a solid veteran nucleus, but the rest are question marks as well. We can assume Lamar will definitely compete in the Southland, but how high is the floor and ceiling? It could go either way and for that reason we just could not commit to putting them in. IF the pitching staff shows up and keeps crooked numbers off the board, this will be a fast rising team.
