Baseball prepares for tough 2026 schedule

The Troy baseball season is approaching quickly, with just over a week left until opening day.  

The Trojans finished up their historic 2025 season 39-21, and 18-12 in conference play while placing third in the Sun Belt Conference for the third consecutive season. The Trojans were nationally ranked for a program record 15 consecutive weeks, reaching a program-best No. 14 in the Baseball America Poll.  

The Trojans also received their first ever preseason ranking at No. 25 in D1 Baseball. Troy won each of its first 13 series, the only team in college baseball to do so, and went 17-10 on the road. Meade and staff also added 24 newcomers and the nation's No. 19 transfer portal class, according to 64Analytics. 

Several Trojans returning to Riddle Pace Field this year have earned 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Perfect Game. Leading the Trojans is first baseman Blake Cavill, who was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year by both the conference and Perfect Game.  

Cavill comes off a season of 65 walks following the conclusion of the Sun Belt Tournament. He ranked second nationally and tied the Troy record set by Jorge Soto in 1999.  

Also named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team were outfielder Steven Meier, catcher Jimmy Janicki, and Central Michigan transfer shortstop Aaron Piasecki. 

Piasecki comes off of 55 starts at second base last year, hitting .318 and roping 15 doubles, three triples, three homers and 33 RBIs.  

Jabe Boroff arrives from Enterprise State Community College and brings one of the most productive junior college bats in the country.  

In his sophomore year, Boroff had a .645 on-base percentage, leading the ACCC with .452 batting, 20 home runs and 49 RBIs, to take the ACCC Triple Crown for the second consecutive year. Boroff was also named ACCC Player of the Year, NJCAA Second Team All-American and NCBWA Second Team All-American.  

Zach Crotchfelt is another transfer, coming from Texas Tech. In 2025, he made 13 appearances, including one start, and finished 2-3 while striking out 15 batters in 17.2 innings. He opened his careeras a Red Raider with two strong innings against then-No. 6 North Carolina and earned his first win after allowing one run over 2.2 innings vs. UC Irvine. Last spring, he logged multiple scoreless outings, including appearances against Illinois, Kansas State, Cincinnati and Baylor. 

With a breakout series and a Sun Belt Player of the Week honor already on his résumé, Gavin Schrader returns as one of Troy’s most proven bats and a key piece in the middle of the lineup.  

Schrader appeared in 43 games with 37 starts and hit .288 with a .413 on-base percentage and .515 slugging percentage. He was awarded Sun Belt Player of the Week honors in Week 5 after going 6-for-12 with a double, a triple and two home runs in Troy’s series victory at Louisiana. He also hit a game-tying two-run homer in a series-clinching win over then-No. 16 Coastal Carolina. 

Looking towards their 2026 schedule, the Trojans will face 11 opponents that finished last season in the Top 100 of the NCAA RPI. Troy's home slate is highlighted by series with Maryland, Louisiana and South Alabama and a midweek matchup with Alabama, while the Trojans make trips to Mississippi State, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Alabama, East Carolina and Southern Miss. 

Troy starts its season next week for a series against Mercer Feb. 13-15 at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Ga.