Indiana baseball began the 2025 season ranked No. 25 in the country while aiming to make its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. What was shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in school history ended up being an absence from the NCAA Tournament by season’s end.
A high-potent offense led by second round pick Devin Taylor couldn’t save the Hoosiers’ flaws — flaws that their opponents exposed time and time again last season. Indiana fielded a team 5.61 ERA, committed 58 errors in 56 games and was shut out in a must-win Big Ten Tournament game against Rutgers.
Head coach Jeff Mercer, who enters his eighth year in Bloomington, knows that the pressure is high for his squad to return to the big dance. Mercer and his team are certainly not shying away from the spotlight, especially early on. They will be thrown into the fire with an opening three-game set against No. 11 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and the Hoosiers will face eight teams in total who made the tournament last season, with six of them being non-conference opponents.
“Going and playing difficult teams early on gives you the best feedback,” Mercer said. “We felt like that was important for us to go and do more of that. I expect us to go compete and play well and win.”
The 2026 edition of Indiana baseball looks much different than that of 2025. With the departure of Dustin Glant to Major League Baseball, former college head coach and minor league pitching coach Matt Myers steps into the role of pitching coach for the Hoosiers. Mercer was an assistant under Myers at Western Kentucky for two seasons, so the two are very much familiar with each other.
In addition to the staff, the lineup also underwent a major shakeup this offseason. Two of Indiana’s premier outfielders from 2025 heard their names called at the ensuing MLB Draft: the aforementioned Taylor, along with slugger Korbyn Dickerson. Meanwhile, Tyler Cerny and Andrew Wiggins departed via the transfer portal; Mercer retooled the lineup around the star-studded sophomore class. Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2026 Indiana Hoosiers, along with a glimpse of the season schedule.
Catcher
It cannot be underestimated how important the catcher position is to Indiana’s success this season. In addition to producing at the plate, Indiana’s backstops will be responsible for managing the pitching staff — a staff that underwent a lot of overturn this offseason.
Junior T.J. Schuyler is one of the best defensive catchers in the nation. Last season, he threw out 11 runners on 34 stolen base attempts while only committing three errors. He is also one of the vocal leaders in the locker room. Schuyler's importance to the team has been echoed by both coaches and players.
“T.J. 's such a good thrower…such a good defender;” Mercer said on Schuyler. “We do a good job at holding the runners.”
“Being able to pick his brain…taking advice that he has and listening to things that he’s been able to teach me has really helped me a lot,” said sophomore C/OF Hogan Denny on Schuyler’s role in his defensive development.
Obviously, Schuyler won’t be able to catch all 56 games due to maintenance. Denny could see some time behind the plate on off days for Schuyler.
Meanwhile, a player Indiana is really excited about this season is sophomore Brayden Ricketts. Ricketts, who redshirted his freshman year, had quite the summer in the Appalachian League, batting .333 in 38 games while being an All-Star Game starter. Ricketts’ defense remains a question mark. However, if he continues to build off his strong summer, having his bat in the lineup every game will be a must.
First Base
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2025, sophomore Jake Hanley is expected to be Indiana’s everyday starting first baseman. He batted .333 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs across 56 games. On top of his success at the plate, Hanley recorded zero errors defensively, earning a spot as a finalist for the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award. His success earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, becoming the fourth Hoosier in program history to win the award.
Though his success in Bloomington was impressive, Hanley struggled over the summer. The Mason, Ohio native hit just .231 across 108 at-bats for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod Baseball League, striking out 37 times.
“I got my tail kicked in a little bit,” Hanley said of his time in the CCBL. “I think it was good for me…it’s important to have those experiences.”
Despite those struggles, Hanley received several preseason recognitions. He was added to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List — the award given to the best amateur player in the nation — and was one of three Hoosiers named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List.
If Hanley is able to use the learning experiences from this summer and return back to the dependable player he was for Jeff Mercer as a freshman, then Indiana will have a chance to cause chaos in the Big Ten.
Second Base
Second base is the only position on the infield that will not see continuity from 2025. Indiana’s two main second basemen last season, Tyler Cerny and Jasen Oliver, departed for Kentucky and Michigan State, respectively. One of Indiana’s biggest problems in 2025 was its defensive play at the middle infield positions, and Cerny/Oliver accounted for 21 errors combined.
Delaware transfer Aiden Stewart is expected to be the primary second baseman this season. The senior was one of the best players in the Colonial Athletic Association last year, finishing with a 1.044 OPS while ending the season on a seven-game hitting streak. Indiana will be the third stop for Stewart, as he played his freshman season at Siena.
“I love to play hard…play fast, play physical.” Stewart said Feb. 10. “I’m really excited to play for this school and play for these boys, so I’m going to give everything that I’ve got.”
Stewart also provides rock solid defense at the position, and his veteran experience will be a welcome sign for an infield that is still relatively young.
Third Base
Sophomore Will Moore will lead the charge for Indiana at third base in 2026. Moore was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season and led the conference in on-base percentage (good for 14th in the country) while starting at 3B in 36 games.
Even with a strong 2025 campaign, Moore knows there are constantly opportunities to get better, and those opportunities are something he took advantage of this offseason. Regardless of position, the importance of reps cannot be overstated.
“I think there’s always areas to improve no matter what, no matter what level you’re at,” Moore said Feb. 10. “I definitely attacked everywhere, but the main thing is probably just getting stronger, getting faster.”
Look for Moore to be one of the many returning sophomores to highlight Indiana’s overall production this season.
Shortstop
The shortstop position is one that will return a good amount of production this year. Sophomore Cooper Malamazian returns to help anchor the infield. Malamazian was selected as a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season while hitting .320 with 17 doubles and 40 RBIs.
The most important factor in Malamazian’s production is his defensive prowess. The sophomore started 33 games at shortstop last season (most by a freshman since 2017), and 13 games at third base, and his defense shined no matter the spot he played on the diamond.
He fielded .945 last season, along with having 102 assists and 35 putouts. The continuity with Moore and Malamazian on the left side of the infield should bode well for a team who struggled at times with errors throughout the season.
Don’t be shocked if Malamazian rises in the batting order this season as well. He never found himself higher than seventh in the order last season, but his average never dropped below .300 at any point throughout the year.
Outfield
Indiana will not get the power numbers they did from their outfielders in 2025, but there is an argument to be made that the 2026 outfield core is more well-rounded. Expect many Hoosiers to see playing time in the outfield this season, and each player has their own unique traits that make this group really intriguing.
If not for Brayden Ricketts, fellow sophomore and Appalachian Leaguer Cole Decker would’ve been Indiana’s breakout star of the summer. After taking a grand total of five at-bats for the Hoosiers in 2025, Decker batted .305 in 36 games with the Bluefield Ridge Runners. In addition, Decker played outstanding defense, whether in left, center, or right field, as he recorded only two errors in more than 250 innings of defensive play.
Over in the Northwoods League, sophomore Caleb Koskie had quite the summer as well, hitting .277 while stealing 12 bases. He also showed incredible plate discipline, walking more than he struck out. And, of course, being a pitcher, he has an absolute cannon of an arm. Koskie figures to see way more playing time in 2025.
Indiana added two intriguing outfielders via the transfer portal. Redshirt junior Ayden Crouse is a speed demon who swiped 56 bags with Chandler-Gilbert Community College last season. Who knows what his bat will look like moving from the NJCAA to NCAA Division I, but at the very least, he will be a fantastic pinch runner. Brodey Bitove, who came from Pepperdine, is a glove-first outfielder who will be a valuable defensive replacement late in games.
In addition, Indiana’s incoming freshman class features several exciting outfield prospects. Three that stand out in particular are: Noah Drake (No. 2 OF in Indiana), Cal Gates (No. 4 OF in Indiana), and Trey Meyers (No. 1 OF in Illinois).
Hogan Denny said earlier this week that he will spend some time in right field as well. There is a real possibility that the number of outfielders who play for the Hoosiers this year reaches double digits.
Utility
Speaking of Denny, the sophomore enters 2026 with an open mind when it comes to how he’ll contribute. Last season, the then-freshman started a total of 39 games at four different positions, and that versatility is something that is likely to carry over into this season.
“Anywhere I get the opportunity to play, as long as I get to be in the lineup and help the team out, I’m grateful for that,” Denny said Feb. 10. “Anywhere that can help the team win.”
Denny was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree in 2025 and is one of three Hoosiers on the Big Ten Players to Watch list for 2026. He batted .342 in conference play last season and reached base on 42% of his at-bats overall, and is part of a star-studded sophomore class that will look to lead Indiana back to the NCAA Tournament.
Pitching
The Hoosiers lacked depth from their starting pitching last season, which led to an overworked bullpen that ultimately resulted in a lackluster season for the group overall. Jeff Mercer’s squad posted a subpar 5.61 ERA for the season, ultimately costing them a tournament bid. To add insult to injury, Indiana lost its two most consistent pitchers in 2025, Cole Gilley and Ben Grable, to the MLB Draft over the summer.
New pitching coach Matt Myers certainly has his work cut out for him, as the Hoosiers’ pitching staff features a bundle of new arms that neither he nor the rest of the coaching staff have worked with before. Indiana’s 2026 pitching staff features a nice blend of talented freshmen, promising returners, and experienced transfers.
Mercer announced the probable starters for the North Carolina series earlier this week. LHP Tony Neubeck (Grad.-Missouri) will start the opener on Friday while transfer RHP Jackson Bergman (Senior-Toledo) will take the ball Saturday. Mercer did not announce a starter for Sunday as that game appears to be in limbo due to weather.
Neubeck brings valuable experience as a former starting pitcher in the gauntlet that is the Southeastern Conference. He missed a sizable portion of his four years at Missouri due to injury, including the entirety of his junior season in 2024. That being said, the southpaw is a full go for his first season wearing cream and crimson.
Bergman had a very successful career with Toledo, posting a 4.68 earned run average across three seasons. One of Bergman’s biggest strengths is limiting the long ball. In 132.2 career innings pitched, he has only surrendered eight home runs. Bergman’s pitch-to-contact philosophy allows him to pitch deep into games and keep the bullpen fresh.
“Going long into games is big for me…I’m trying to get early contact and that lets me get into the sixth inning regularly with a lower pitch count,” Bergman said Feb. 10. “As a starting pitcher, your job is to get the game going and try to keep the bullpen out of the game up until the sixth or seventh inning.”
A big breakout candidate this season is sophomore Brayton Thomas. The 6-foot-5, 232-pound southpaw worked exclusively out of the bullpen in 2025. He was up-and-down across his 15 appearances, ending the season with a 6.75 earned run average. Thomas took a major step forward in his development this offseason, adding two new pitches to his arsenal: a splitter and a sinker. This will allow Thomas to pitch away to right-handed batters and have more success. He is an option to start the third game of the opening series, whenever that may take place.
Transfer RHP Reagan Rivera (Grad.-Coppin State) should be another reliable starting option for Jeff Mercer this season. Rivera had a superb senior season, posting a 4.91 earned run average across 14 starts while being named a second team all-Northeast Conferencer. Rivera, similar to Bergman, pitches deep into games constantly, and should help the Hoosiers preserve their bullpen more consistently this season.
Graduate transfer RHP Conner Linn had quite the freshman campaign at Cincinnati in 2022, posting a 4.08 earned run average across 10 starts. Since then, it’s been rough sledding for the Indiana native. Linn underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed nearly two years, and then had a disastrous 2025 season at Northern Kentucky. Mercer and Myers are banking on Linn to return to his 2022 form, and if he does, he’ll be a valuable arm to this pitching staff.
As previously mentioned, Indiana’s bullpen worked long innings in 2025, and the group was simply exhausted by season’s end. Indiana’s new look rotation, which should provide much more volume in 2026, will help the bullpen massively. Returners Gavin Seebold and Jackson Yarberry should be two of the biggest beneficiaries of this change. Both were asked time-and-time again to relieve the lackluster starting pitching, especially Seebold, who logged 55.2 innings as a primary reliever.
Returner Jacob Vogel missed a decent chunk of 2025, but he was rock solid in the 10 appearances he did make. The redshirt junior should be another reliable arm for the bullpen this season.
Indiana also boosted the bullpen through the transfer portal. Kaden Jacobi (Grad.-Missouri), Michael Sarratt (Grad.-Point Loma) and Pete Haas (Redshirt Senior-Stonehill) all bring tremendous experience and will be used in high-leverage situations early and often.
The Hoosiers have quite a few exciting freshmen who could get some low-leverage situation reps early on. Xavier Carrera, Blane Metz and Kellen English are all highly-touted prospects who could work their way into regular bullpen work if injuries plague Indiana again.
Schedule Outlook
Just like every season, Indiana opens up the season on the road and with a very tough slate of non-conference games to begin the 2026 campaign before reaching conference action.
The season begins with a three-game series against preseason No. 11 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After that, Indiana welcomes Bradley in for a one game matchup.
The Hoosiers then head south to Jacksonville, Florida to take on the reigning NCAA champions and preseason No. 2 LSU, along with Central Florida and Notre Dame in the Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic.
The next few games include single game matchups with Xavier and Northern Kentucky, split up with a trip to Bowling Green to take on Western Kentucky in a four-game set.
Indiana then jumps right into Big Ten conference play with some single game matchups scattered throughout the rest of the schedule. Those single game matchups include Wright State, along with road matchups against two preseason top 25 teams: No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 8 Louisville. In addition, the Hoosiers will play home-and-homes with Indiana State, Evansville and Ball State.
The lone non-conference series splitting up Big Ten play is a home series with Abilene Christian in mid-April.
The Big Ten slate is set to provide some challenges for the Hoosiers. There is a clear favorite in preseason No. 1 in UCLA; however, the rest of the conference is relatively evenly-matched across the board. Indiana has two 2025 tournament teams on their 2026 conference slate in Oregon and Nebraska. The 30-game slate will ultimately be the key for Indiana’s success to build off of a tough non-conference slate.
