The 2026 college baseball season continues to gain momentum, and GRB Rays alumni across Division I programs made their presence felt this past week. From early-season nonconference matchups to pre-season tournament play, Rays players competed at a high level across the country. Here are some highlights from the past week in college baseball for Rays alums.
Jake Schaffner was a key contributor in the Tar Heels’ offense, highlighted by his first home run of the season – a 3-run shot vs. Richmond that helped North Carolina roll to a 10–0 win. He also scored runs in UNC’s series vs. East Carolina and recorded hits and a walk in multiple games, finishing the stretch with consistent on-base action and run production as North Carolina faced a mix of opponents.
Marcelino Edison Alonso was a key offensive contributor for Indiana State, going 1-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI in the Sycamores’ 7–0 win over UMass Lowell and adding a 1-for-5 performance with an RBI in a victory over Miami (Ohio). His big home run provided early run support and highlighted his impact on Indiana State’s lineup during the week.
Braden Smith continued his strong start to the season as a starting pitcher for UCF, earning a win and logging quality innings as part of the Knights’ rotation. In his appearance during the Live Like Lou Jax Classic, he struck out four and allowed just two runs on six hits over roughly 5.2 innings in a 4-2 win over Notre Dame, showcasing his ability to keep UCF in games on the mound.
Dominic Kibler provided a spark in the Panthers’ lineup, homering for an early lead and driving in a run and also scoring a run and collecting a hit in Milwaukee’s split with Duke. He finished the stretch with a home run, a run scored, and multiple times on base, showcasing his offensive contributions despite Milwaukee facing tough competition. Teammate John Hadley was a major force in Milwaukee’s offense, launching a grand slam and driving in 4 runs in the Panthers’ big win over Duke on February 21. He also scored a run and recorded hits in the weekend series, though he was held hitless in one later contest, showcasing both his power impact and presence in the lineup.
Kaden Connor produced one of his most productive performances of the early season, smacking his first career home run — a 2-run shot — and driving in 2 runs in NDSU’s game at Stetson. He also scored a run vs. Monmouth and reached base multiple times (including a walk and a double) in the Bison’s 5-1 win, finishing the stretch with key extra-base action and run production.
Wech made a key relief appearance for Oklahoma State, coming on in the Cowboys’ victory over Grand Canyon and logging 2.0 innings with 0 earned runs on 1 hit, 1 walks and 3 strikeouts to earn the save. His steady work out of the bullpen helped stabilize the OSU pitching staff in that mid-week non-conference game during the early season slate.
Cal Fisher appeared in four games for Florida State, going 3-for-11 (.273) with 3 RBI, a double, a walk, and a sacrifice fly while starting at shortstop. He delivered a two-hit, two-RBI performance in the 13–3 win over Jacksonville and added an RBI sac fly against Michigan, providing timely offense during the Seminoles’ strong start
Joey Nerat delivered a hot offensive stretch for Iowa, compiling multiple hits and driving in runs in wins including a big offensive outburst in a high-scoring win over Northeastern. He recorded several RBI knocks, including a double and multiple singles in the series at Florida Atlantic and helped spark the Hawkeyes’ offense with multiple stolen bases as Iowa took series wins and climbed to a strong early-season start.
Aaron Jungers was impactful out of the bullpen for the Lions, earning the win by tossing three scoreless relief innings (allowing three hits with a strikeout) in Lindenwood’s 4–2 victory over St. Thomas on February 20. He also appeared in earlier relief action, recording multiple strikeouts and work in scoreless frames as part of the bullpen’s strong outings during Lindenwood’s early-season stretch.
Gabe Roessler was a key offensive catalyst for Missouri State, highlighted by a 3-RBI double in an 11–0 win over Oral Roberts on Feb 17. He added a hit and scored a run in the Bears’ Feb 20 game at Ole Miss, finishing the stretch with multiple times on base and steady run production in tough non-conference games.
Miles Nelson was a key contributor in Trevecca Nazarene’s offense. He homered and drove in a run in the Feb. 17 game at Tusculum, and in the Feb. 21 game vs Valdosta State he recorded a hit and a walk, finishing the stretch with multiple times on base and showcasing pop in the lineup as the Trojans competed in Gulf South Conference action.
Cole Selvig notched his first win of the season of Northeasrt, going 6 innings, allowing three hits with five strikeouts for Minneosta.
Jackson Hunley served as a regular in Lewis’s lineup and earned multiple hits in the Feb 22 game vs. Wayne State, going 2-for-5 with a run scored in the 6–4 contest. Across the series, he consistently reached base and scored once as the Flyers competed in mid-week action. On the mound, Carter Endisch appeared out of the bullpen for Lewis, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief against Wayne State on Feb 22, allowing one hit with 2 strikeouts and no runs, helping keep Lewis close in that outing.
Howie Rickett saw action in multiple UNCW games and finished the stretch with a couple of hits and contributions on offense. In the Feb. 22 win over Fordham, he singled and reached twice, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate, and earlier in the week he recorded a sacrifice bunt and a single as part of Wilmington’s early-season offensive efforts. Across that span he continued to start and contribute from the catcher/INF spots, helping the Seahawks earn wins in non-conference play.
Terek Verhage saw action in St. Thomas’s split doubleheader at Lindenwood, finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI single that drove in a run in the Tommies’ 2–1 win and contributed defensively as the team split the weekend series. His RBI knock was a key early run in the victory and highlighted his offensive impact from the catcher position during that weekend’s games. On the mound, Landon Majerus made a pitching appearance for the St. Thomas Tommies on Feb. 20 vs. Lindenwood, tossing 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 1 hit with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts as part of the Tommies’ pitching staff in that 8–2 win. While he didn’t record any other offensive stats that weekend, he contributed valuable innings out of the bullpen in St. Thomas’s early-season game action.
Brady Malkow made the start for the UW-Whitewater Warhawks and was solid on the mound against Trinity on Feb. 19, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing just 1 run on 2 hits with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks before exiting the game in a 6–2 Whitewater win. His performance highlighted his role in anchoring the Warhawks’ pitching staff early in the season as they opened with a victory in San Antonio.
