Invitation and Immediate Impact
Relief pitcher J'Shawn Unger, a key contributor for the Nebraska Huskers, has been selected for the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp. His 13 saves tied for fifth nationally, and he finished the season with a 6‑1 record, a 4.05 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 40 innings.
The camp, held in North Carolina, will feature three days of exhibition games before the highly anticipated Stars vs. Stripes series. A final 20‑player roster will be announced on July 5, after which the chosen athletes will travel to Taichung City, Taiwan, to compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship.
Nebraska is using the offseason to reshape its squad. Head coach Will Bolt has secured the commitment of Kellan Burke, a power hitter from Cloud County Community College, who hit .413 with 21 home runs, 16 doubles and 93 RBIs, helping his former team finish 50‑7 and rank No. 2 in the NJCAA Division I regular‑season poll. Burke was also named the 2025 Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in North Dakota.
The transfer class also welcomes Cole Moore, Reese Moore, Caleb Hoover and Zach Bates, while the program bids farewell to players such as Cooper Katskee, Max Buettenback and Ty Horn. This turnover reflects a deliberate effort to blend fresh talent with experienced returning players.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Coach Bolt emphasized that the additions are part of a broader strategy to reload the roster for the upcoming season, leveraging both the transfer portal and junior‑college pipelines. The Huskers aim to maintain their competitive edge in the Big Ten and beyond.