The Hatters officially begin their campaign Friday night at 6:30 p.m. against Minnesota in the Home Opener presented by Pepsi. First pitch will air live on ESPN+. Stetson continues play Saturday at 6 p.m. against Ball State before closing the weekend Sunday at 2 p.m. versus St. John's, with both contests streaming on GoHatters.com.
Stetson enters the season on the heels of its second straight NCAA Regional appearance and back-to-back ASUN Championships. The Hatters went 41-22 in 2025, marking their second consecutive 40-win season, and earned an NCAA Regional victory for the second year in a row with an 11-2 win over NC State in the opening round of the Auburn Regional. Now, Head Coach Steve Trimper's club looks to become the first program in ASUN history to win three consecutive conference titles after posting a program-best 24-6 league record last spring.
While four Hatters were selected in the MLB Draft and several key contributors moved on, Stetson returns a strong core of impact players.
ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year Jake Gorelick headlines the group after a dominant 2025 season. The right-hander made 16 appearances, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.31 ERA across 41.1 innings while recording three saves and 23 strikeouts. His postseason performance proved pivotal, as he tossed 6.2 innings and allowed just one run against Austin Peay in the ASUN Championship semifinals. As a staff, Stetson recorded a 4.29 ERA under pitching coach Daniel Latham and struck out 495 batters — the program's highest total since 2018.
Junior Juan "Chiki" De La Cruz was named ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after stepping into a starting role two games into last season. He posted a .964 fielding percentage in 166 chances, assisting on 101 plays with only six errors while turning 17 double plays and recording 59 putouts. Offensively, De La Cruz hit .297 with 55 hits, 45 runs scored and 42 RBIs, adding four home runs, a .410 on-base percentage and 28 stolen bases.
Gorelick and sophomore outfielder Foster Apple were both named Preseason All-ASUN selections. Apple batted .303 with 66 hits and 32 runs scored last season, finishing with a .389 on-base percentage. The Hatters were selected by the league's coaches as the favorite to win the Graphite Division once again.
Another key returner is Yohann Dessureault, who missed nearly all of 2025 due to injury after leading the team in home runs in 2024. He hit 11 home runs and 12 doubles while batting .293 during that campaign.
Stetson opens the weekend against Minnesota in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Golden Gophers went 24-28 overall and 10-20 in Big Ten play last season in Head Coach Ty McDevitt's first year. Minnesota hit .263 as a team with 455 hits, 73 home runs and a Big Ten second-best 96 stolen bases, while posting a 5.75 ERA on the mound.
Drew Berkland returns after batting .293 with a team-leading 60 hits and 53 RBIs, along with 14 home runs. Weber Neels, a 2025 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, hit 15 home runs with a .604 slugging percentage and is one of three Gophers on the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
Right-hander James Hays is slated to start on Opening Day for the Hatters, while Saturday and Sunday starters are to be determined.
Ball State enters the weekend after going 36-22 overall and 21-9 in MAC play, finishing third in the conference standings. The Cardinals have won at least 35 games in six straight seasons and were selected third in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. As a team, Ball State hit .297 with 89 home runs and 415 RBIs while striking out 484 batters on the mound. Keegan Johnson returns after earning First Team All-MAC honors for the second time, going 7-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 70.2 innings last season. Gavin Balius also returns after batting .303 with 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
The Hatters hold a 2-1 all-time record against Ball State, with the last meeting coming in 1979.
St. John's finished 29-24 overall and 13-8 in Big East play last season and was selected fourth in the league's preseason poll. The Red Storm hit .300 as a team with 564 hits and 97 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Jon LeGrande, a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, batted .368 with 48 RBIs and a .578 slugging percentage. Shaun McMillan and Jayder Raifstanger also earned preseason recognition after strong 2025 campaigns.
Sunday's matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between Stetson and St. John's.
Friday's game against Minnesota will air on ESPN+, while Saturday and Sunday's contests can be viewed on GoHatters.com. Live stats links are available on the baseball schedule page at GoHatters.com.
Fans are encouraged to secure tickets early and visit the promotions page on GoHatters.com to see what special events are planned throughout the season. For behind-the-scenes coverage and the latest updates all weekend long, follow Stetson Baseball on social media.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
