When this team was healthy in 2025, they were amongst the better teams on both sides of the ball, and I truly believe that the Huskies get back to that in 2026. They have some real offensive firepower, and that is headlined by Casen Taggert, the formidable UTL/DH, who hit a ball that just landed in Canada, and I see him hitting a whole lot more this year.
We at Just Baseball have given him the nod as our Big Ten All-Conference Preseason DH. Throw in spectacular sophomore Jackson Hotchkiss in the outfield, and you’ve got a really good 1-2 punch of pop! Catcher Colton Bower, infielder Sam DeCarlo, and outfielder Braeden Terry round out some formidable offensive weaponry.
Last season, the pitching department had its ups and downs, but I truly believe this year the Huskies have found their style. Pitching coach Connor Lambert was smiling ear to ear this fall when I was watching this team.
His pitching staff finds the zone and creates a lot of swing-and-miss opportunities. Staying healthy is always an issue at the D1 level, but I believe Justin Tims has a chance to be a difference maker. I loved his attacking approach and three-pitch mix.
He can use the slider or change to get guys out, and mix up fastball speeds and locations. Pair him with Jackson Thomas and Tommy Brandenburg, and you have a real monster of a weekend rotation.
With a plethora of bullpen arms, I expect to see Washington with one of the best team ERAs in the Big Ten this season.Â