Eight Hitters I Like for the 2026 College Baseball Season
A closer look at some under-the-radar hitters worth knowing as next year's college baseball season approaches.
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With nearly 300 Division I college baseball programs across the country, it’s virtually impossible to know every single “good” player. Each school carries its own identity, philosophy, and style of play, all of which shape how players develop and perform. Some athletes thrive within their system, while others struggle to find their footing.
Of course, it’s easy to talk about the stars everyone already knows, like the Golden Spikes candidates and Roch Cholowskys of the world. But beyond those familiar names lies another tier of position players quietly putting together impressive journeys.
This piece aims to spotlight a range of hitters who fit that broad label of “good,” but who, in my view, haven’t received the attention they deserve. Consider it a closer look at some under-the-radar hitters worth knowing as we move closer to the 2026 college baseball season.
Harrison Feinberg – OF, Northeastern
I was genuinely shocked when Feinberg went undrafted as a junior last July, and months later, that feeling hasn’t changed.
The Northeastern standout put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in college baseball last spring, earning 2025 CAA Co-Player of the Year honors. He slashed his way to an eye-popping 1.170 OPS across 58 games, racking up 18 home runs, 67 RBI, 14 doubles, and 37 stolen bases. Simply put, he did everything.
Feinberg’s production was a driving force behind Northeastern’s remarkable run, a stretch that saw the Huskies win 36 of 37 games, including an incredible 27 straight with a CAA Championship. I caught a glimpse of him during the 2025 fall ball season, and his frame looked as physical as ever.
Lucas Moore – OF, Louisville
Perhaps the most noteworthy player on this list, Moore has an exceptional hit tool with a high baseball IQ. He will be a junior at Louisville in 2026.
Across 66 games with the Cardinals last season, the left-handed hitter slashed .339 with five home runs, 49 RBI, 53 stolen bases, and an .884 OPS, walking 34 times compared to just 29 strikeouts. Moore’s pro-style approach at the plate allows him to spray line drives to all fields, and his sharp eye keeps him consistently ahead in counts.
Once he reaches base, he’s a constant threat to run. His 53 steals not only showcase his top-tier speed, but also his strong instincts and ability to read pitchers. An absolute pest to plan against.
Todd Clay – INF, Auburn
Standing at 6-foot-3 with a strong, stocky frame, Clay looks like he could easily line up at linebacker for the Tigers as he could at third base. The Auburn native returns home via the transfer portal after an impressive stint at UAB.
In 2025, Clay started all 53 games for the Blazers, hitting .361 with seven home runs, 51 RBI, 13 doubles, and an impressive 39-to-30 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He’s a hard-nosed player who clobbers the baseball while maintaining a subtle and calm presence in the box.
Before his time at UAB, Clay spent two seasons in JUCO ball, where he established himself as a reliable competitor. Now, he’ll face a new challenge manning the hot corner in the SEC, a test that he should be hungry for, considering Auburn is his “dream” school.
Mika Petersen – OF, Brown
You know I had to throw an Ivy League hitter on here. Petersen brings both high-level academics and steady production to this group as he enters his fourth season with the Bears in 2026.
At just 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, the outfielder doesn’t boast an imposing frame, but that’s never stopped him from making an impact. In 2025, he served as Brown’s offensive catalyst, slashing .355/.401/.467 en route to First Team All-Ivy honors. While he’s only hit four home runs in his career, Petersen slaps the ball to all fields and rarely gives away an at-bat.
A model of durability and loyalty, he has started 111 of 112 possible games during his collegiate career, becoming a fixture in Brown’s lineup and a leader in the clubhouse. Expect another strong year from the senior and some fun Ivy League duels next spring against Yale’s Jack Ohman.
Jackson Chirello – OF, Kennesaw State
Chirello stands at 6-foot-6 but weighs just 195 pounds, sporting a lean, athletic build that translates into real on-field speed. He tracks balls in the gaps, is an on-base threat, and moves with the kind of fluidity you don’t usually see in a frame that big.
A senior who’s started 139 of 144 possible games for the Owls, he’s been a constant in Coach Coe’s lineup. In 2025, he hit .265 with five homers, 13 doubles, 26 RBI, an .859 OPS, and reached base at a .401 clip.
His numbers don’t jump off the page compared to some of the other hitters on this list, but he absolutely passes the eye test. In the Cape in 2024, he posted an .827 OPS over 31 games, proof that the wood bat didn’t hold back this freak athlete from making an impact and standing out for all the right reasons.
Mason Strong – C/OF, Utah Valley
Strong has bounced around plenty during his college career, starting at BYU, then spending a year at Oklahoma before finally finding a home at Utah Valley as a redshirt junior.
Once he settled in, he exploded. The utilityman put up monstrous numbers in 2025: 11 home runs, 67 RBI, a .366 average, 19 doubles, three triples, 12 steals, and a 1.041 OPS. He earned First Team All-WAC honors and was named the WAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player after launching a clutch two-run bomb to secure the conference championship.
Instead of parlaying that breakout season into another transfer, Strong chose to stay loyal to the Wolverines, the program that helped him unlock his potential. He’s going to be one of the more exciting West Coast players to watch next spring.
Diego Castellanos – OF, Saint Mary’s
SMC won 36 games in 2025, and Castellanos was a big reason why. The outfielder logged just two at-bats as a freshman with the Gaels, but he stayed patient and loyal, and it paid off.
In 2025, as a sophomore, he started 58 of 61 games and hit .311 with eight homers, 40 RBI, an impressive .414 OBP, 11 doubles, and eight steals. He delivered in big moments, too, launching a clutch home run against USC in the Corvallis Regional.
Even with only one full season of experience, expectations around Castellanos are high heading into 2026. Saint Mary’s looks poised to make more noise on the college baseball landscape, and their junior left-handed bat should be right in the middle of it.
Tyler Minick – INF, UConn
Last but not least, Tyler Minick rounds out my list of eight hitters I “like” for the 2026 college baseball season. The Reading, PA native has been a force at the plate for UConn ever since arriving on campus in 2024.
In 2025, the infielder launched 18 home runs, drove in 62, had nine doubles, two triples, and hit .362. At times, Big East pitching almost looked too easy for him, yet the six-foot junior has zero intention of leaving Connecticut.
Minick also made a massive jump on the bases from ’24 to ’25, swiping 15 bags last spring, and he’s always looking for ways to round out his game. I’m curious to see what steps forward this power threat makes in 2026.
Written by
College Baseball & MLB Draft writer for Just Baseball! St. Lawrence Baseball alum 2025. Follow me on X @DiscussBaseball for more content!