Rice Baseball Coach David Pierce revealed on Tuesday that the program has secured 11 new signees for the 2026‑27 recruiting class, a move he says is designed to lift the Owls back to the forefront of national competition.
A Blend of Local and Out‑of‑State Talent
The incoming group comprises five high school prospects, four transfers from four‑year colleges and two junior‑college transfers, offering a balance of raw potential and proven collegiate experience.
Geographically, the class stretches from the Lone Star State to the East Coast, with seven recruits hailing from Texas, two from Florida, one from California and another from North Carolina, underscoring the program’s expanding footprint.
Among the newcomers, Houston native Judson Dowell arrives with a reputation for physicality and All‑District honors earned at The Bennett School, while Celina, Texas’ Caden Mitchell brings a track record of defensive reliability and leadership behind the plate.
Right‑hander Grant Nicholson from Charlotte, North Carolina, comes off a 5‑0 season at Wake Forest and a stint with the Amsterdam Mohawks that featured a 5.27 ERA, giving the staff a proven winner.
Left‑hander Rivers Kurland of Tampa, Florida, was a 2A All‑State selection and helped guide his high school to a state‑title game, adding depth to the pitching rotation.
Outfielder Zachary Gingrich from San Antonio earned Male Athlete of the Year at Smithson Valley High School, and fellow Texan Brady Ladusau set a freshman record with five home runs at Abilene Christian.
Left‑hander David Wilson from Bullard, Texas, was a consensus All‑State choice and participated in the Texas‑New Mexico JUCO All‑Star Game, while Evan DePodesta, a catcher from San Diego, was part of the first no‑hitter in Cathedral Catholic history and comes from a family steeped in baseball.
West Palm Beach’s Gabe Rozenfeld, a left‑handed pitcher, posted a 4‑0 record and a 0.80 ERA while earning first‑team All‑District honors, and Cypress, Texas’ Silas Newport was named co‑MVP of District 22‑6A and a finalist for Houston Player of the Year.
Laredo’s Juliocesar Hernandez, a right‑handed pitcher, made the Laredo City Times All‑City team and helped his squad capture a district title, rounding out a class that also includes David Wilson.
The 11 newcomers join six players already committed for the 2027 cycle, bringing the total roster count to 17 for the upcoming season, a depth that Pierce says reflects the program’s ‘Rice Guy’ ethos of competitiveness, academic excellence and life‑long ambition.
A Vision for the Future
Pierce emphasized that each recruit embodies a commitment to excel on the diamond, in the classroom and in the community, a philosophy that he believes will translate into sustained success and a return to national prominence for Rice Baseball.