2026 Baseball Season Preview
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MID-SOUTH 2026 SEASON PREVIEW
With the 2026 season starting next week, let's take a look at the 2026 Greyhounds.
After a disappointing 13-38 season, the Greyhounds have the look of a completely new squad. With only 12 players returning from last season's team which now includes 9 transfers and 16 high school players. The season starts on February 9th on the road at Blue Mountain Christian University. Then the Greyhounds have a season long, 19 game home stand from February 14-March 12. Then followed by their longest road trip of the season; 6 games from March 21-March 26. With the excitement of a hungry team and Region 2 having a new playoff structure, the Greyhounds have their sights on the post season.
Of those returners, five of them will play a major part at the plate. Cohen Jorgensen (Beaumont, Alberta), Drew Busby (Coldwater, MS), Kaleb Tejada (Greeley, CO), and Darian Yarborough (Bonham, TX) all had over 100 at bats last season. Jacari Hardaway (Morrow, GA) redshirted last season but had 84 at bats in his first year with the Greyhounds and Parker Bray (Brandon, MS) saw limited action. On the mound, the Greyhounds return six pitchers from last years squad. Jax Graham (Pictou County, Nova Scotia), Jake Reams (Blytheville, AR), Ashton Smith (Caledonia, MS), Max Bayne (Beaumont, Alberta) and Holden Jones (Carlise, AR) all pitched sparingly last season but are expected to have bigger roles on the pitching staff this season.
OFFENSE/DEFENSE
The Diamond Dawgs return five contributors from last season, and they have added a lot of quality additions to this year's squad.
CATCHER- Patten Shirley (Quitman, MS), Rydell Adair (Swift Current, Saskatchewan), Caleb Ruiz (Argyle, TX) will all be in the mix. And then you add Parker Bray in the mix with his experience from last season.
FIRST BASE- Returner Darian Yarborough who played right field most of last season and has now moved to his natural position. Robert Isidora (Veenord, Netherlands) with also be at first.
SECOND BASE- Returner Kaleb Tejada has been moved from third base to second base this season. Christian Forrest (Memphis, TN) will compete with Tejada for playing time at second base.
SHORTSTOP- After missing last season, Jacari Hardaway is now back at shortstop. Cash Rinker (Eaton, CO) will also be at short stop.
THIRD BASE- Returner Drew Busy slides over from shortstop to third base this season. Luke Ricks (Nettleton, MS) will compete with Busby at third base.
OUTFIELD- Cohen Jorgensen is the only returning outfielder from last season. Michael Mujica (Miami, FL), Zach Williams (Zachery, LA), Jordan Yearby (Plano, TX), and Hudson Unger (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) will all compete and see playing time. Ryan Burnetz (Olive Brance, MS) and Mitchell Ashley (Nacagdoches, TX) will also be in the outfield.
"We should be really good defensively at about every position this season. We bring back a good amount of leadership with our returners and the new guys have been eager to learn our systems and jump right in. Offensively, this is an athletic group that should take a big step forward from last years team. We are fast, strong, and have a good approach at the plate."-Head Coach Jason Middleton
PITCHING
The Greyhounds return six pitchers from last season and brought in four transfers as well as 11 high schoolers. This will be the biggest change from last year's team. There are a lot new faces on the pitching staff this year.
Returners Jake Reams, Ashton Smith, Max Bayne, Holden Jones Darian Yarborough, and Jax Graham will all see elevate roles. Transfers Trenton Brantley (Lewisville, TX) and Jared Tameling (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) along with freshmen Aiden McCann (Benton, LA), Sage Blackburn (Daigerfield, TX), Owens Johnson (Batesville, MS), Layton Ballard (Albany, LA), Weston Collard (Daigerfield, TX) Diego Johnson (Harlan, TX), Patten Shirley (Quitman, MS), and returners Jax Graham and Darian Yarborough are all in the mix to be starters or high leverage pitchers this season. The bullpen, as of right now, will consist of Jake Reams, Ashton Smith, Max Bayne, Holden Jones, Carson Sturdivant (Jackson, MS), Tyler Jones (Hebron, TX), Hudson Unger (Swift Current, Saskatchewan), Malachi Howze (Olive Branch, MS) and Reese Ellison (Bartlett, TN).
"This is the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team. The depth is the best we have had in our history. The overall velocity and strike throwing has been a major upgrade. I think we now have the quality and quantity of pitching to compete with the upper echelon teams in Region 2. We will go as far as the pitchers will take us."-Head Coach Jason Middleton