The 2026 baseball season has become a showcase for Ball State University’s recent alumni, with six former Cardinals already on major league opening day rosters and a broader group shaping the developmental landscape.
A Season of Momentum
What unites these former Ball State standouts is a blend of rigorous collegiate preparation and timely professional breakthroughs, illustrating how the university’s program continues to produce talent ready for the rigors of the big leagues.
Merritt Beeker, the 2024 Mid‑American Conference Pitcher of the Year, has emerged as a reliable arm for the Low‑A Fredericksburg Nationals, where his 2025 campaign featured a 2.84 ERA before a recent elbow injury landed him on the 60‑day injured list.
Right‑hander Ryan Brown, now in the Dodgers’ system, logged 92 strikeouts over 48 innings in his debut professional season, showcasing a fastball that consistently topped 95 miles per hour.
Outfielder Alex Call, a Los Angeles Dodgers prospect, is batting .267 with a .373 on‑base percentage and a .343 slugging mark, having collected 28 hits, five doubles, 16 RBI and 16 runs across 51 games.
Zach Cole made an immediate impact for the Houston Astros, launching a home run in his very first MLB appearance on May 4 and adding three more homers and eight RBI in limited at‑bats.
Catcher Hunter Dobbins in the Detroit Tigers organization posted a .585 slugging percentage in June, complementing five doubles, a triple, four homers and 17 RBI while playing for the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Switch‑hitting shortstop Dylan Grego, navigating the San Diego Padres system, posted a .314/.379/.431 slash line in June, splitting time between the El Paso Chihuahuas and Lake Elsinore Storm.
Right‑hander Jacob Hartlaub in the Tampa Bay Rays system has fanned 28 batters in 23.2 innings for the Charleston RiverDogs, maintaining a sub‑3.00 ERA.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Drey Jameson earned his first call‑up on June 6 and has recorded eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings across six relief appearances.
Ty Johnson, another Rays right‑hander, has compiled 56 strikeouts in 44.1 innings with a 3‑1 record, 2.64 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over nine starts.
Chayce McDermott, a Dodgers prospect, carries a 4.95 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 20 innings across 20 Triple‑A appearances with the Oklahoma City Comets.
Kyle Nicolas, a right‑hander in the Orioles system, has struck out 26 batters in 20 innings spread between the Louisville Bats and Norfolk Tides.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Trennor O'Donnell returned from a 2025 injury hiatus, logging three recent appearances as he works toward full health.
Left‑hander Tyler Schweitzer made his MLB debut on April 8 for the Chicago White Sox and has posted a 2‑2 record with 33 strikeouts in 40.2 innings at Triple‑A Charlotte.
Together, these former Cardinals illustrate how Ball State’s baseball pipeline continues to feed talent into the highest levels of the sport, blending collegiate success with professional perseverance.