The West Virginia Mountaineers had an absolutely incredible season in 2026 on the baseball diamond, posting the winningest season in program history on the way to thier first-ever College World Series appearance, which ended with the Mountaineers bowing out in the semfinals.
So it's no surprise that a lot of the talent on the team this past season is set to make it to the professional level. Some of those players, like Gavin Kelly and Armani Guzman, will be starting that journey after another season in West Virginia uniforms, but others heard their name called in the 2026 MLB Draft earlier this month. One of those was pitcher Dawson Montesa.
Dawson Montesa says goodbye to WVU baseball after being drafted by St. Louis Cardinals
Montesa heard his name called on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, where he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals: a franchise already home to former West Virginia players JJ Wetherholt and Victor Scott. Now Montesa will add his name to the list of former Mountaineers in the organization. And now as he is set to head to the professional level, he has offered his farewell message to the program and the fan base.
“Thank you to WVU baseball," Montesa wrote on Instagram. "Thank you to the fans that showed their everlasting support. Thank you to the coaches and staff who helped guide me to where I am today. Wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other school. Forever gonna miss this place.“
Dawson Montesa on IG:
— James (@mountaineerjdub) July 27, 2026
“Thank you to #WVU Baseball. Thank you to the fans that showed their everlasting support. Thank you to the coaches and staff who helped guide me to where I am today. Wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other school. Forever gonna miss this place.“ pic.twitter.com/SE7qhxev3d
Montesa – who transferred in from Division 2 Adelphi University – had his ups and downs in his only season with West Virginia, but ended up playing a significant role in the starting weekend lineup, and had a heroic performance during the NCAA Regional round that helped propel the Mountaineers forward on their eventual College World Series run.
Now, he is off to begin his pro career, but it's clear that he will always hold a special place in his heart for West Virginia despite his short time with the team. And it will certainly be exciting for WVU fans to follow him as he embarks on the next stage of his journey.
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