Virginia Tech Baseball 2026 Season Preview

Experience, Depth, and a Nationally Demanding Path Forward

As the calendar flips toward February, Virginia Tech baseball enters the 2026 season carrying a sense of purpose shaped by both patience and ambition. This is not a roster built overnight, nor one assembled through quick fixes. Instead, the Hokies arrive at Opening Day older, deeper, and deliberately battle-tested—by design.

Under head coach John Szefc, now firmly established in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech has leaned into roster continuity while simultaneously modernizing the internal machinery that supports the program. The result is a team constructed to endure the grind of ACC play, withstand one of the most travel-intensive schedules in the country, and measure itself early against national heavyweights.

From a reimagined pitching infrastructure to a veteran-laden roster returning from injury, the Hokies’ 2026 profile is defined by stability—and opportunity. The question is no longer whether Virginia Tech is building toward something, but whether this season represents the moment it fully arrives.

A Reimagined Support System

One of the most consequential developments of the offseason occurred far from the batter’s box or bullpen mound. Behind the scenes, Virginia Tech reshaped its baseball operations with three strategic additions, each aimed at strengthening a different layer of the program’s foundation.

Doug Willey joins the Hokies as assistant coach with primary responsibility for pitching. His arrival signals a renewed emphasis on individualized pitcher development, tactical game-planning, and consistent communication—elements that often determine success in the ACC’s razor-thin margins. Willey’s role is not simply managing bullpens, but guiding pitchers through long-term growth plans tailored to their strengths, workloads, and competitive environments.

That emphasis is reinforced by the addition of Chase Lummus as director of pitching performance and baseball analytics. Lummus bridges the gap between raw data and on-field execution, overseeing pitch design, workload monitoring, recovery protocols, and performance optimization. In a league defined by velocity and depth, his presence allows Virginia Tech to manage innings intelligently across a five-month season.

Rounding out the trio is Easton Dally, who assumes the dual role of general manager and director of baseball operations. Dally oversees roster management, compliance, logistics, and long-range planning—an increasingly critical role as college baseball grows more complex. His work allows the coaching staff to remain focused on development and competition, rather than administration.

Together, these additions represent more than a staffing update. They reflect a philosophical shift toward sustainability, efficiency, and long-term competitiveness—hallmarks of programs built to contend year after year.

Offensive Identity Built on Experience

Virginia Tech’s offensive outlook in 2026 begins with reliability, maturity, and adaptability—qualities that often separate competitive teams from consistent ones.

Senior catcher and designated hitter Henry Cooke returns after appearing in 53 games during the 2025 season, starting 43 of them. Cooke’s value extends beyond the box score. As a veteran catcher, he provides stability for the pitching staff, situational awareness in the lineup, and leadership that becomes invaluable during tight ACC series. His experience handling high-leverage innings behind the plate offers a quiet advantage across the season.

Alongside Cooke is senior infielder Clay Grady, one of the most durable players on the roster a season ago. Grady started 52 of 55 games in 2025, anchoring the infield with dependable defense and consistent presence. His experience allows Virginia Tech to move pieces around him while maintaining continuity—a subtle but crucial benefit over a long schedule.

Beyond the two seniors, the Hokies return a collection of players who logged meaningful innings and at-bats last season, laying the groundwork for expanded roles.

Sophomore Anderson French adds flexibility at both catcher and first base, an asset that allows the staff to manage lineups strategically. Junior Ethan Gibson and sophomore Hudson Lutterman deepen the infield rotation, each having gained valuable exposure to ACC pitching in 2025.

The outfield group blends athleticism with veteran presence. Redshirt-senior Treyson Hughes, junior Nick Locurto, and sophomore Mycah Jordan form a unit capable of contributing in multiple ways—defensively covering ground, adjusting roles within the lineup, and responding to matchup demands.

Collectively, the offense may not be defined by a single star, but by balance, flexibility, and experience—traits that often surface late in close conference games.

Pitching: The Backbone of the 2026 Hokies

If Virginia Tech is to take a meaningful step forward in 2026, it will almost certainly be driven by its pitching staff—a unit defined by experience, depth, and upward trajectory.

At the forefront is junior right-hander Brett Renfrow, one of the most accomplished pitchers in the ACC. A two-time All-ACC selection, Renfrow earned Third Team honors in both 2024 and 2025 and enters the season as a proven weekend anchor. His résumé expanded further over the summer when he was selected to pitch for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, competing internationally during a tour of Japan.

Renfrow’s impact extends beyond performance. His ability to work deep into games, attack hitters with confidence, and manage adversity sets a standard for the entire staff—one that often defines series outcomes.

Joining him is senior right-hander Griffin Stieg, whose return represents one of the most anticipated storylines of the season. Stieg missed the entire 2025 college campaign while rehabbing an injury, yet his talent remained evident—he was selected in the 18th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.

Now healthy, Stieg restores a pitcher with professional-caliber stuff and extensive ACC experience, giving the Hokies a formidable one-two punch on weekends.

Depth behind the frontline starters may ultimately determine Virginia Tech’s ceiling. Junior left-hander Madden Clement, sophomore right-hander Logan Eisenreich, senior right-hander Luke Craytor, and junior right-hander Preston Crowl all return with the potential to fill critical roles, whether as midweek starters, bullpen anchors, or matchup-based options.

Clement’s return is particularly significant. After departing his first start of the 2025 season in February, he missed the remainder of the year. Now healthy, he adds a left-handed dimension that can alter series dynamics, especially against ACC lineups built to punish right-handed pitching.

Transfers Bring Experience and Professional Pedigree

Virginia Tech’s transfer class reflects a targeted approach—adding experience without sacrificing chemistry.

Junior infielder Pete Daniel arrives from Belmont with a proven collegiate bat and infield versatility. Graduate outfielder Sam Gates, transferring from George Washington, adds maturity and leadership, while fifth-year infielder Owen Petrich comes from Saint Joseph’s with extensive game experience and positional flexibility.

On the mound, junior Aiden Robertson joins the Hokies from Walters State Community College after being selected in the 13th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. His blend of velocity, projection, and competitive experience makes him one of the more intriguing arms on the roster.

Senior pitcher Peyton Smith, a transfer from Texas A&M, brings SEC-tested experience—valuable for a Virginia Tech team set to face multiple SEC opponents early in the season.

Freshmen with Opportunity

While experience defines much of the roster, Virginia Tech’s freshman class underscores the program’s future.

Infielder Ethan Ball arrives with a polished skill set and positional flexibility, while pitcher Ethan Grim adds another developmental arm to a staff that emphasizes depth and long-term growth. With the program’s enhanced infrastructure, both freshmen are positioned to develop without being rushed—often a critical factor in sustaining success.

Health as the Ultimate Variable

Perhaps no factor looms larger over the Hokies’ 2026 outlook than health.

Three core players return from significant absences: Hughes, who missed April and May of 2025; Clement, sidelined for nearly the entire season; and Stieg, who missed the full year. Their collective return is akin to adding multiple impact contributors without dipping into the transfer portal.

If Virginia Tech can maintain health across a long, travel-intensive schedule, the roster composition suggests a team capable of sustaining performance deep into May.

A Schedule Designed to Test — Early and Often

Virginia Tech’s 2026 schedule offers little margin for easing into the season.

The Hokies open the year on Friday, Feb. 13, hosting William & Mary for a three-game series at English Field. From there, the nonconference slate quickly intensifies, featuring Rutgers, ETSU, and James Madison before the team heads west.

The early-season centerpiece is the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. There, Virginia Tech will face Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Tennessee—three SEC programs with national championship aspirations. The neutral-site event provides a critical measuring stick and an opportunity to build an NCAA résumé before ACC play begins.

Conference competition offers no reprieve. Road series at Georgia Tech, Virginia, Miami, Boston College, and Cal are paired with home matchups against Duke, Stanford, Pitt, NC State, and Clemson.

Four of the Hokies’ six ACC road weekends require travel of more than 500 miles, including a cross-country trip to Berkeley. The series at Cal marks Virginia Tech’s first visit to California since the 2000 NCAA Fullerton Regional, underscoring the national scope of the 2026 slate.

The Road to Charlotte

The regular season concludes with a marquee home series against Clemson before Virginia Tech turns its attention to postseason play.

The 2026 ACC Baseball Championship, scheduled for May 19–24 in Charlotte, North Carolina, represents the culmination of a season defined by preparation, resilience, and endurance. For the Hokies, the objective is simple: arrive in Charlotte healthy, experienced, and confident—a team sharpened by one of the most demanding schedules in the country.

Outlook

Virginia Tech enters 2026 with balance. Veteran arms headline the pitching staff. Position players return with experience and hunger. Transfers and freshmen add layers of intrigue. And the infrastructure supporting the roster is stronger than ever.

If preparation translates into performance, the 2026 season has the potential to become a defining chapter—not just for this roster, but for the broader trajectory of Virginia Tech baseball.