RedHawk baseball aims to raise the ceiling following NCAA Tournament appearance last season

After the 2025 Miami University baseball team made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years, the current RedHawk squad intends to replicate last season’s success.

Miami finished 35-23 overall and boasted a 23-7 Mid-American Conference (MAC) record, good for a first-place finish and an appearance in the NCAA Knoxville, Tennessee, Regional.

This season, the RedHawks were selected to finish first in the 2026 MAC Preseason Poll.

“Our goal is going to remain the same from last year: Let’s get to the NCAA tournament,” head coach Brian Smiley said. “We’ve got to be able to get into that NCAA tournament and not only get there, but win once we're there.”

Smiley is in his third season at the helm of the RedHawks. He has a 60-50 overall record and is 40-20 in the MAC. Smiley welcomes back the same coaching staff as last year with Kyle Trewyn, Larry Scully, Miguel Rivera and Ryan Colegate all returning.

RedHawks retooling

This spring, Miami returns 23 players from the 2025 MAC champion team. Despite the roster retention, the RedHawks lost several core hitting and pitching contributors.

On the offensive side, the RedHawks lost five starters to graduation, including catcher David Novak, infielder Dillon Baker and All-MAC second team players Anthony Zarlingo and Ty Batusich.

Within the pitching staff, Miami must replace right-handed pitcher Cooper Katskee — the 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year — and left-handed pitcher Hayden Cuthbertson.

Katskee joined the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers and went 11-2 with a

3.08 ERA and 70 strikeouts at Miami last season.

Cuthbertson was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 18th round of the 2025 MLB draft. He had 43 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched for Miami last season..

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Transfer additions

In terms of additions to the 2026 roster, Smiley was heavily involved in the transfer portal, bringing in 13 new players.

Notable new additions include outfielder Hayden Christiansen from Xavier University, catcher Matthew Buffington from the University of South Florida and utility player Marcus Dierks from Kansas City Community College.

On the mound, new arms include right-handed pitcher Alex Gay from the University of Louisville and left-handed pitcher Jake Tedesco from Washington State University.

Returning talent

Two key infielders coming back for the RedHawks include the 2026 Preseason MAC MAC Player of the Yearr Evan Applewick, along with senior Dominic Krupinski.

Miami also returned two prominent pitchers to the roster: right-handed pitcher Clayton Burke and 2025 All-MAC second team left-handed pitcher Carson Byers.

Byers said returning was an easy decision for him.

“Once you experience it, you'll understand what I'm saying," Byers said. “That's why you see so many guys come back: It's a place that people truly want to be at.”

Another crucial RedHawk returning this season is hitter Ryan Novak. Last season, Novak won second team All-MAC honors and posted a career high in batting average and home runs.

The RedHawks swept their opening three-game series against the Southern University Jaguars in Baton Rouge, winning by a combined score of 36-6. They are currently 8-4 and are preparing for their first MAC series against Eastern Michigan University on March 6-8.

relvasaj@miamioh.edu

stenslka@miamioh.edu

This story was produced by Miami University journalism students in partnership with The Miami Student newspaper.