WVU baseball's game-changing 2026 roster set for stellar season

It is officially college baseball season, and the Mountaineers will take the field on Friday on the road to begin their 2026 season, as they begin their journey towards qualifying for the NCAA Super Regional for the third straight season. And this year, they'll bring what is perhaps their most talented roster ever to the diamond to get it done.

Trio of relievers land on National College Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watchlist

The backend of the WVU bullpen might be one of the biggest strengths coming into the 2026 season, and a national award watch list proves that for head coach Steve Sabins in his second season in control.

Graduate student right-handed pitcher Reese Bassinger, senior right-hander Carson Estridge, and senior left-handed pitcher Ben McDougal have all been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watchlist before the 2026 season.

Reese Bassinger was a key piece in the bullpen for Sabins last season, leading the team in appearances with 30. Bassinger finished his senior season with 61.2 innings pitched, 43 strikeouts, and only posting a 4.23 ERA. Bassinger earned a role in helping close games last season, being tied with former Stopped of the Year award watchlist member, Estridge, with five saves season last season.  

Fourth in innings pitched in 2025 for WVU, second out of more traditional bullpen arms behind Bassinger, Estridge was also a heavily used arm last season. Finishing his 2025 season with 48.1 innings pitched, a 6.14 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and a 3-1 record, it was a very up-and-down season for Estridge. At 6-foot-7, the right-hander is a physically intimidating presence on the mound for the Mountaineers.

A Clarksburg, West Virginia, native, McDougal was the best left-handed option in the bullpen for Sabins in 2025. Appearing in 19 games, all out of the bullpen, the lefty posted a 3.63 ERA with 17 strikeouts over his 22.1 innings pitched. Where McDougal jumps off the page in stats for 2025 was his 0.99 WHIP and .182 opponents' batting average.

Eight Mountaineers land in the Top 150 position rankings from D1 Baseball

D1 Baseball released its positional rankings on Tuesday, and eight WVU players ranked in the Top 150 at their respective positions, including five position players and three pitchers. The list of position players includes Gavin Kelly (11th-ranked catcher), Armani Guzman (22nd-ranked outfielder), Brodie Kresser (50th-ranked second baseman), Sean Smith (120th-ranked outfielder), and Matthew Graveline (150th-ranked outfielder).

For the pitchers, Chase Myer (43rd-ranked starting pitcher), Maxx Yehl (69th-ranked relief pitcher), and Dawson Montesa (90th-ranked starting pitcher) all make the Top 100.

There are a lot of reasons for optimism heading into the 2026 season. WVU will start its journey to try to make a Super Regional for the third straight season when they open its season on the road against Georgia Southern on Friday.