All articles tagged with #college baseball
A 22-year-old college baseball player, Glenwood 'Bubba' Pysher IV, was fatally shot by a police officer in Upper Pottsgrove Township, PA, after he mistakenly tried to enter the wrong home following a night out; his mother says he was unarmed, and the shooting is under active investigation with the officer on administrative leave.
Legendary LSU baseball coach and longtime athletic director Skip Bertman died at 88 in Baton Rouge, leaving a lasting legacy as the architect of LSU’s national powerhouse—five national championships, a modernized athletic program, and the Alex Box Stadium playing field named Skip Bertman Field.
The MLB Players Association released its first Rule 4 amateur draft proposal, siding with a 20-round, soft-slot system while pushing for college-sophomore eligibility (entry at 20) and expanded college eligibility, plus restricted draft-pick trading and a June draft timing. It contrasts with MLB’s plan to shrink to 12 rounds, ban high school players, and adopt hard-slot signing rules. The union seeks greater player leverage and faster majors entry, while MLB aims to control costs and development in the next CBA; the proposal does not address an international draft.
Roch Cholowsky, the No. 1 overall pick, signed a record $10.35 million bonus with the Chicago White Sox, about $1 million under the $11.35 million slot value, enabling the team to spend the savings on other picks. The UCLA shortstop hit .320/.453/.636 with 21 homers this spring and is expected to join Chicago soon.
In a way-too-early look after the 2026 MLB Draft, LSU projects a 2027 lineup featuring Braun at 1B, Arrambide at C, Milam at SS, Serna DH, Watters LF, Park 3B, Laya RF, Kurland 2B and Washington CF, plus a deep bench; the rotation is anchored by Casan Evans, William Schmidt and Cooper Moore, with portal additions Hood, Velazquez, Sides and Brady among contenders for starting roles, and a 42-man roster that may require designation changes to fit NCAA limits.
The Chicago Cubs opened the 2026 MLB draft by taking Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend at No. 23 and then used 16 of 21 picks on pitchers, signaling a clear push to fortify the pitching staff. The class leaned heavily on college arms (eight from the Big Ten/ACC/SEC) with only two high school selections, including Dylan Blomker from La Cueva HS. They also stocked the lineup with big-power college hitters Myles Bailey (Florida State) and Caden Sorrell (Texas Tech), weighing elite power against swing-and-miss. Behind-the-scenes notes included Brennan Hudson as a “gut-feel” catcher and Chase Meyer’s West Virginia background, reflecting the Cubs’ thorough, information-driven process to build pitching depth and college-developed talent for the system.
UNC's 2026 MLB Draft haul grew on Day 2, as Macon Winslow (Round 6, Phillies) — a 67-game starter who drove in 57 runs with 10 homers — joined Matthew Matthijs (Round 17, Mariners) and Joseph Lawson (Round 20, Marlins), adding to the four Tar Heels drafted in the first four rounds for a total of seven UNC players selected in this year's draft.
The Washington Nationals selected DMV-born infield bat Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M with the 11th pick, a pure-hitting profile known for elite contact skills, rare plate discipline and power upside. Local product (Winston Churchill HS/Maryland) with a strong walk-to-strikeout rate, he’s projected as a bat-first contributor who may move to first base if needed, as defense and speed aren’t standout. He hit .319 with a .983 OPS this season, and his zone contact rate (about 92.7%) underscores his contact skills, making him a high-upside add tied to local roots and draft chatter that linked him to the Nats.
Baseball America releases Mock Draft 5.0 for the 2026 MLB Draft after the College World Series and draft combine, emphasizing “safety with college bats.” Roch Cholowsky is projected No. 1 to the White Sox, with Grady Emerson a close second, followed by Vahn Lackey, Jacob Lombard and Jackson Flora in the top five; the piece lays out picks through No. 40 with team-by-team targets and notes on signability and potential pivots, including bonus pool and slot values.
USA Baseball released the 2026 Collegiate National Team Training Camp roster (29 schools across seven conferences; SEC leads with 24 athletes; Mississippi State has four players) with exhibition doubleheaders June 27–29 in North Carolina and Virginia, followed by the Stars vs. Stripes series June 30–July 4. The Collegiate National Team will be named July 5 and will compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung, Taiwan, July 11–15. The staff is led by manager Dan Hartleb, with Mike Scioscia in an advisory role.
North Carolina and Oklahoma meet in Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series finals in Omaha, with UNC sending sophomore Ryan Lynch to the mound and Oklahoma countering with freshman Xander Mercurius. Caden Glauber could enter if Lynch struggles, and UNC is 28-0 when Glauber pitches. Mercurius recently delivered a 7.1-inning, 9-strikeout outing against Georgia. Oklahoma won Game 1 9-3 to take a 1-0 series edge, and history shows four of the last 10 MCWS champions won Game 1, underscoring the stakes of Game 2 and a potential Game 3 if needed.
Oklahoma rode a 14-hit attack to a 9-3 win over North Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, with Cord Rager settling after a rough first inning and the Sooners swiping three bases. Key moments included Deiten LaChance’s early two-run homer and a four-run fourth highlighted by Kyle Branch’s two-run single, while Carolina’s offense cooled after the opening frame. Carter French contributed a spectacular outfield catch, Tom Chmielewski provided two scoreless innings, and UNC will attempt to even the series in Game 2.
The article provides the bracket, schedule, and results for the 2026 Men’s College World Series at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, noting that North Carolina and Oklahoma will meet in a best-of-three final (June 20–22, ET) after regional and super regional rounds, with game times and networks listed and background on MCWS history and selection.
Twenty years after UNC's 2006 and 2007 teams reached the national championship series, Tar Heel alumni return to Omaha for a 20-year reunion as the 2026 UNC squad competes for the title against Oklahoma; the piece highlights UNC's enduring baseball culture—now blending homegrown and transfer players—with former players, coach Mike Fox, and current teammates sharing memories, group texts, and a sense of belonging that spans decades and trips to Omaha.
MLB reportedly proposed a major amateur-draft overhaul in CBA talks: remove high school players from the draft, shrink the draft from 20 rounds to 12, make college players eligible after their sophomore year, and reduce the bonus pool from $358.7 million to $200 million. The proposal also states there would be no further elimination of minor league teams, but its adoption is far from certain as negotiations continue.