While the 2026 Bearcats will feature a lot of new faces, there is plenty of superstar power to lean on for Jordan Bischel’s ballclub, and they will be hunting their third straight 30-win season and potential for another NCAA Tournament appearance. 

West Virginia Mountaineers 

In year one of the Steve Sabins era, the Mountaineers secured a Big 12 regular season title, going 44-16 with a 19-9 conference record, seeing their season end in a Super Regional, their second straight year making a Super.

Despite losing a chunk of veteran presence on the field and in the clubhouse, Sabins retooled through the portal and kept some big pieces of the puzzle in-house that should propel WVU to another successful season.

All-Big 12 Freshman selection Gavin Kelly made 45 starts as a true freshman with immediate impact, slashing .299/.402/.395 going 16-18 on stolen bases, looks to be bumped into a larger contributor role in 2026, and easily could make that leap into one of the better middle infielders in the conference.

Junior utility-man Armani Guzman, who led the team in stolen bases (17), capitalized on his limited playing time, only making 27 starts, and notched MVP Honors in the Clemson Regional. Guzman slashed .327/.403/.449 with five doubles, two home runs, and 22 RBI. 

Grad-senior Brodie Kresser, one of two Mountaineers to start 59 games a year ago, locking down shortstop again, slashed .278/.373/.378 with 13 stolen bases in 2025, but led the team in runs scored with 50. Kresser continues to be both a table setter and a run machine that will be a huge factor in 2026.

Sabins and Co. hit the portal hard, bringing in a trio of mid-major bats in Sean Smith (Georgia Southern), Brock Wills (UNC Wilmington), and Matt Ineich (Ohio) all of whom posted a .900 OPS and better at their respective schools.

Grouped with senior catcher Matthew Graveline, who comes over from Ohio State after being a three-year starter, notching All Big 10 Freshman Team honors in 2023, and started 55 games for the Buckeyes a year ago. 

On the mound, junior right-hander Chase Meyer should make the leap into the rotation after a successful sophomore year, flashing some of the best stuff I’ve seen in person.

He lights up the radar gun paired with solid secondaries, including a hammer-curveball. Meyer appeared in 22 games, making three starts, posting a 9-2 record over his 48 innings of work.

The Big-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention punched out 63 and held hitters to a pedestrian .192 average, could be a breakout year, and has potential for one of the better arms in the conference.

Grad-senior right-hander Reese Bassinger should play another huge role for the Mountaineers coming off his 2025 campaign, where he led the club in appearances (30) and saves (5). Over his 61 ⅔ innings, he accumulated 43 strikeouts and a 4.23 ERA while holding hitters to a .269 average.

Between some excited new faces and returning staples, there’s no reason West Virginia can’t make a push for a second straight Big 12 regular season title and postseason appearance.

With money pouring into the program and a fearless leader at the helm, West Virginia isn’t a fluke; they’ll continue to produce top draft talent and deep postseason runs.

Players to Watch

SS – Travis Sanders, RS Jr, Baylor

Sanders notched our preseason All-Conference award coming off a 2025 season where he slashed .335/.425/.549 with nine doubles, eight home runs, and 25 RBI. Looks to take another step forward, locking down shortstop for the Bears, and is a huge piece of their 2026 success. 

RHP – Colter McAnelly, Jr, Utah

McAnelly returns after leading the Big 12 in strikeouts a year ago (92) over his 92 ⅔ innings in 14 starts. The 2025 All-Conference selection will anchor the Utes on the mound for a third straight season and has been as automatic as you can get in the conference on Friday nights.

OF – Andrew Williamson, Jr, Central Florida

Williamson posted near video game numbers in 2025 with his .352/.448/.662 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and 53 RBI. A violent and big swing from the left side, UCF’s offensive staple should be poised for another massive year in 2026 after a great Summer in the Cape, well deserving of an All-Conference spot.

OF – Logan Hughes, Jr, Texas Tech

Despite the recent struggles of the Red Raiders, Head Coach Tim Tadlock is as good as any in the country. Logan Hughes anchors Tech in 2026 after posting a 1.108 OPS with 19 bombs and 13 doubles.

Hughes supplies a ton of pop from the left side and likely will be knocking on the door, if not surpassing 20 home runs again in 2026.

LHP – Hudson Barrett, Jr, Oklahoma State

The once Freshman All-American for UC Santa Barbara in 2023, Barrett has missed the last two seasons due to injury, but has every bit of elite in his arsenal and could be a potential stopper of the year, so long as he stays healthy.

The former Gaucho posted a 1.92 ERA over 61 innings in his lone full season of work, keeping hitters to a .195 average. If you haven’t heard of this kid or have forgotten about him, get ready to see his draft stock skyrocket in 2026.

SS – Grant Gallagher, Sr, Kansas State

The ETSU transfer will look to supply a lot of juice in the Wildcats lineup after flashing ridiculous power in 2025. Gallagher posted a .676 SLG% with 21 home runs and 52 RBI. I anticipate similar output for K State in 2026.

RHP – Garrison Sumner, Sr, BYU

The 8.32 ERA is not indicative of the stuff Sumner flashes, racked up 60 punchouts in 61 ⅔ innings of work for the Cougars a year ago. A lively fastball with solid offspeed, I anticipate Sumner getting much more realistic results for what his stuff can play at, a really fun arm to keep tabs on.

OF – Dean Toigo, Sr, Arizona State

The Sun Devils bring what feels like an entirely new roster, and former UNLV product and All-Mountain West selection, and Mountain West Co-Player of the Year, Dean Toigo, will be a massive piece of their 2026 success. Slashed .377/.445/.682 with 13 doubles, 18 home runs, and 74 RBI in his lone year at UNLV.

Top 2026 MLB Draft Prospects

NamePositionSchoolOwen KramkowskiRHPArizonaAndrew WilliamsonOFUCFSawyer StrosniderOFTCUChase BrunsonOFTCULogan HughesOFTexas TechBrady Ballinger1BKansasTommy LaPourRHPTCUJack NatiliCCincinattiTre BroussardOFHoustonKollin RitchieOF/3BOklahoma StateGavin GallagherINFKansas StateChase MeyerRHPWest VirginiaDominic VoegeleRHPKansasNathan TaylorRHPCincinatti