Liberty Builds On Historic Season, Plus Tennessee & UCLA Updates | College Fall Ball Intel

Liberty Pitching Depth, Returning Core Fuel Optimism After Historic Season

The benefits of Liberty’s historic 2026 season are extending well beyond the 43 victories that matched a program record. A trip to the Athens Regional, four MLB draft selections and a growing reputation for developing professional talent have given the Flames something increasingly valuable on the recruiting trail: a stronger foothold in conversations with players who might previously have looked elsewhere.

Liberty coach Bradley LeCroy has already felt the difference. He told Baseball America that his program attracted a different caliber of player through the transfer portal this offseason, allowing the team to supplement an experienced returning core as it prepares to defend its place among Conference USA’s leading programs. Replacing second-round pick and league pitcher of the year Ben Blair and ninth-round shortstop Tanner Marsh, who swept CUSA player and defensive player of the year honors, will be no small task. But the Flames appear better equipped to absorb those departures than their losses might initially suggest.

That is especially true on the mound, where Liberty has assembled an intriguing collection of arms around a deliberate pitching philosophy. The staff places a premium on release characteristics, particularly extension and favorable fastball angles, trusting its ability to refine or reshape arsenals once those foundational traits are in place. It’s an approach reflected throughout the pitching staff, with no shortage of options to fill prominent roles.

The headliner is righthander Cooper Harrington, who saved 14 games last spring before punctuating his season with 6.1 innings of two-run ball on three hits with six strikeouts as a starter against eventual College World Series participant Georgia in the Athens Regional. Harrington is now positioned to lead Liberty’s rotation.

His unusually low fastball release combined with double-plus extension creates a difficult look for hitters, while a plus changeup and developing slider give him weapons to work through a lineup. Harrington has also taken quickly to a new cutter at 86-88 mph, expanding an arsenal he commands with impressive consistency. His transition from the bullpen should be relatively natural considering he has always trained as a starter and moved into the closer role last year primarily because Liberty needed help finishing games. LeCroy believes the larger challenge will be learning to pace himself and move past difficult innings without the luxury of retreating to the bullpen.

Harrington has considerable support.

Righty Bradley Zayac returns after posting a 3.64 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 21 walks over 84 innings. His low-to-mid-90s fastball features substantial run and solid carry, complemented by a sinker and a two-plane slider that proved effective at missing bats. Righty Jaxon Lucas has gained velocity, now sitting around 93 mph and touching 95, while pairing a changeup with the staff’s most advanced feel for manipulating breaking balls. His curveball, in particular, has developed more pronounced vertical bite.

Righty Brandon Dahlman has taken a step forward after logging significant innings last spring, while transfer lefthanders Brandt Corley (Louisiana-Monroe) and Bryson Goff (New Orleans) have made encouraging adjustments. Corley has leaned into a sinker-oriented approach, sits 93-94 mph and has improved a mid-80s changeup with considerable fade. Goff, meanwhile, added a true cutter as his stuff and physicality have progressed. Both achieve above-average extension.

Righty Jackson Evans has also made gains, deploying a lively gyro slider roughly 65-70% of the time.

There is also impressive depth to Liberty’s lineup—an athletic, experienced group that prioritizes hitting ability without lacking the strength to do damage.

LeCroy believes senior Josh Campos is one of college baseball’s premier defensive center fielders and has shown better swing decisions after an overly aggressive approach led to excessive strikeouts last season. Lefthanded hitter Riley DeCandido, who has experience at first base and both corner outfield spots, profiles near the top of the order.

Liberty’s middle infield picture is particularly interesting. Landon Scilley has flourished at shortstop after spending last season behind Marsh, but freshman Tre Miller is making a strong case for early playing time. LeCroy expected Miller to be drafted out of high school, and his early performance has reinforced that assessment. The twitchy, 160-pound infielder is an excellent shortstop defender and capable of generating surprising power, though his swing remains susceptible to misses. Second base could provide a path into the lineup. Dylan Grabowski, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn ACL and should return to live work in November. Before the injury, he showed a promising combination of defensive ability, barrel control and a line-drive swing.

Among the newcomers, East Carolina transfer Austin Irby has made perhaps the strongest offensive impression, leading Liberty in fall home runs and RBIs.

“Hitters hit,” LeCroy said of his new infielder.

Irby has adopted a taller stance and looser swing, allowing him to deliver more authoritative contact out front. Liberty is also working to sharpen his pitch selection after he swung at roughly 45% of offerings last season and chased too frequently. The early results suggest there is considerably more strength and offensive upside than his previous numbers conveyed.

Fellow ECU transfer Michael Kalinich has impressed with his power and projects as the primary catcher, while former Longwood standout Jaeden Carter offers versatility in the outfield and as a secondary catching option.

Cole Cleveland is another newcomer with considerable offensive potential. The FIU transfer hit .291/.395/.489 with five homers and 13 stolen bases as a freshman before slipping to .232/.359/.375 last season. He has looked like one of Liberty’s best hitters this fall, and his plus defense should fit comfortably in right field alongside Campos.

Liberty is coming off a season that ended against a College World Series team. The more lasting significance of that campaign, however, might be how it has strengthened the program’s ability to recruit, retain and develop the talent necessary to keep competing at that level.

Tennessee’s Pitching Staff Taking Shape, Plus Offensive Developments

Tennessee’s pitching staff has offered plenty of encouragement this fall, beginning with righthander Parker Detmers, who missed the entire 2026 season at Louisville recovering from Tommy John surgery. Now healthy, Detmers has looked electric, working with a four-pitch arsenal headlined by a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s and showing advanced feel for spin. His combination of stuff and renewed health makes him an intriguing senior breakout candidate.

The Volunteers have also been encouraged by UC Irvine transfer lefthander Ricky Ojeda, who cracked the top 10 of BA’s portal rankings. With a profile built around standout extension, Ojeda is working in the low 90s with his fastball, showing promise with a developing splitter and a short slider while moving away somewhat from the deeper curveball he previously featured. His extension has returned to an elite level, a particularly meaningful development given how central that trait is to his effectiveness. His precise role remains unsettled, but Tennessee expects him to handle a substantial volume of innings.

Sophomore lefthander Cam Appenzeller appears ready to build on an impressive freshman campaign, with his fastball gaining velocity and regularly touching 95 mph. Clemson transfer righthander Hayden Simmerson has emerged as a key bullpen option, pairing a mid-90s fastball with a plus splitter and quality slider. Freshman Cole Koeninger, a top 30 draft prospect this past summer, has impressed on both sides of the ball and is expected to contribute immediately as a two-way player.

Among the position players, Cal Baptist transfer shortstop Chris Ramirez has looked every bit as advertised. His plus hitting ability is matched by plus defense, with an exceptional internal clock and positional instincts allowing his below-average arm strength to play considerably better than its raw grade. Levi Clark has also made meaningful offensive strides, showing improved effectiveness against velocity after struggling with premium fastballs in the past. His eventual defensive home remains uncertain, but his substantial power and offensive progress have positioned him to be a regular presence in Tennessee’s lineup. Another top 2026 draft prospect, freshman catcher Sean Dunlap, has also looked ready to contribute with plus strength and an impressive feel for the barrel.

Wylan Moss Impresses As UCLA, Long Beach State Square Off

Baseball America was on hand for UCLA’s fall scrimmage against Long Beach State, which offered an early look at several intriguing 2027 draft prospects and potential breakout players. Here are six standouts from the matchup.

• Wylan Moss, RHP, UCLA: Moss delivered two impressive innings with a more controlled, direct delivery and a convincing starter’s look. His fastball sat 93-95 mph with run and carry, generating four whiffs, while his plus mid-80s changeup kept hitters off balance on both sides of the plate. A short, tight slider added three whiffs, and Moss consistently worked around the strike zone. It was an encouraging look at a pitcher positioning himself for a rotation role and a potential first-round selection in 2027.

• Phoenix Call, OF, UCLA: After injuries interrupted much of his college career, Call looked healthy and explosive, stealing multiple bases and driving an extra-base hit to the wall. His plus speed gives him the range to handle center field, where he’s expected to play regularly as a senior. There’s considerable intrigue in his athleticism, though he still has plenty to prove over a full season.

• Isaac Wachsmann, OF, UCLA: The Creighton transfer showcased his strength with a towering home run to left-center field. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Wachsmann has an imposing physical presence and obvious impact potential from the right side.

• Kalen Applefield, C, Long Beach State: Applefield homered and showed a solid overall defensive look behind the plate. He’s an average thrower whose arm was tested repeatedly by UCLA’s running game—particularly Call—but he showed the ingredients of a starting catcher with draft potential.

• Trotter Enright, 2B, Long Beach State: Enright consistently found the barrel with a compact lefthanded swing, producing several well-struck balls. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound infielder has decent present strength and solid running ability.

• Landon Sloan, RHP, Long Beach State: Sloan’s results lagged behind his raw stuff, but the redshirt freshman offered plenty to like. He reached the mid 90s with impressive fastball carry, showed a solid changeup and mixed in a slider, all from an athletic delivery. An arm injury has limited his innings over the past year, but the underlying ingredients give him intriguing upside as he gains experience.

Illinois State Rebuilding Rotation Around Experienced Transfers

Illinois State enters 2027 with an unusual roster imbalance. The Redbirds return more offensive experience than at any point in the transfer portal era under coach Steve Holm, but their pitching staff requires an almost complete reconstruction after losing their entire weekend rotation and another starting option.

The search for reliable innings has brought several newcomers to the forefront, including Illinois transfer Luke Weber, a 5-foot-10 righthander who has impressed with a fastball ranging from 90-95 mph, a slider and a changeup. Weber threw three scoreless innings against Kansas in a fall scrimmage and has emerged as a legitimate rotation candidate. Holm described him as “ultra competitive,” a quality that has helped distinguish him early.

Bradley transfer Ryan Schaffnit offers a different look at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds. His fastball has ranged from 90-94 mph, complemented by a slider and what Holm called a “really, really good changeup.” Schaffnit allowed a few hits over three innings in his start against Kansas, but his progress from the end of last season has been encouraging.

Freshman Ryan Duncheon has emerged as another intriguing arm with a fastball at 90-95 mph and a quality slider. Duncheon comes from a distinguished Illinois State athletic family—his father is the program’s all-time home run leader, while his mother was a two-time All-American pitcher. He could provide an immediate bullpen weapon with the potential to develop into a starter later in his career.

Western Kentucky transfer Jacob O’Day has impressed more with his competitiveness than pure stuff, working at 88-92 mph and striking out six over three innings against Kansas. Cincinnati transfer Brendin Oliver has shown a high-spin slider in the 2,900-3,000 rpm range alongside a 90-93 mph fastball, while Purdue transfer Joe Trenerry is being evaluated for a starting role after working primarily in relief. Trenerry has sat 89-93 mph.

Sophomore Brayden Zilis is the most promising returning pitcher, featuring an 89-93 mph fastball and plus slider after limited innings as a freshman. Illinois State is also awaiting the return of Matt Donison, a former bullpen standout recovering from UCL repair surgery who is expected to resume live pitching in November. Henry Brummel is another name worth monitoring as he works toward an anticipated April return from injury, with the potential to emerge as a late-rising draft prospect.

Fortunately for Holm, the lineup offers considerably more continuity. Center fielder Luke Stulga, right fielder Louis Bussard, catcher Ryan Bakes and infielder Eric Machej, who is moving from third base to second, all return. Bakes hit 12 home runs despite battling injuries last season, while first baseman Michael Carrano provides an accomplished offensive presence after batting .358/.427/.612 with seven homers, 11 doubles and just eight strikeouts against 12 walks in 134 at-bats.

Minnesota transfer Jameson Martin brings plus power and arm strength with the versatility to play shortstop or third base. He projects as a fixture in the heart of the order. Junior college addition Jackson Stanek hit .433/.550/.875 with 24 home runs and 43 extra-base hits at Southwestern Illinois College and offers lefthanded power in a likely designated hitter role, while West Texas transfer Caven Fuentes has been among the team’s most consistent hitters this fall.

The combination of returning production and incoming offensive talent gives Illinois State a promising foundation. How quickly its reconstructed pitching staff develops will go a long way toward determining the Redbirds’ ceiling in 2027.