University of Washington
NC State
Diamond Dawgs Open Season At Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge
February 12, 2026 | Baseball
PONCE, Puerto Rico - Washington is set to begin the 2026 campaign on Friday at the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge. The Huskies kick off the season against NC State on Friday at 11:30 a.m. PT. All the games will be broadcast for free on Victory Plus.
SECONDΒ SEASON UNDER SMITH
On July 9, 2024, Eddie Smith was named the 25th head coach of University of Washington baseball, announced by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun. Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley. Smith begins his second season at the helm of the Huskies in 2026.
UP NEXT
The Diamond Dawgs open the 2026 campaign at the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge. All of the Huskies' games will be played at the Estadio Francisco Montaner in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Washington will open the season against NC State on Friday, Feb. 13, before facing Wake Forest, Boston College, and Houston to round out the trip.
FRESH FACES
Washington features a new-look team in 2026, including 23 newcomers, 16 of whom are transfer players. The Huskies return 13 letterwinners from a season ago, including nine position player starters.
FOUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS
The Huskies welcome four new members to the Diamond Dawg staff. Kade Kryzsko has joined as an assistant coach, Justin Jacobs is the team's new recruiting coordinator, Scott Junck is the Director of Baseball Operations, and Jake Rook is the director of baseball analytics.
THREE DAWGS NAMED CONFERENCE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hayden Lewis, Casen Taggart, and Jackson Thomas have each been named Big Ten Players to Watch, the conference announced on Wednesday.Β
Hayden Lewis, the newest of the three Huskies, joins Washington after two seasons and 22 appearances with New Mexico State. The senior right-handed pitcher tossed a career-high 28.2 innings last season in seven starts. He struck out 25 batters while allowing a .312 batting average.
Casen Taggart figures to again be a focal part of the Husky offense after leading the the team in batting average (.331), on base percentage (.471), and walks (46). The senior firstbaseman started in 50 games a season ago and had the longest reached-base streak on the team, totaling 31 straight games. His 0.92 walks per game had him ranked No. 33 in the nation, and he also launched six home runs, 11 doubles, and drove in 32 runs.
Jackson Thomas looks to be a key returning pitcher for the Diamond Dawgs after a strong debut on Montlake last season. Thomas threw 71.2 innings last season while making 15 appearances and 13 starts. He became the Huskies' Saturday starter and collected a 5-4 record while holding teams to a .276 average and 48 strikeouts. He tossed a career-best seven frames at Nebraska (March 8), allowing just four hits and two runs. In his 13 starts, Thomas allowed two or less runs on eight occasions.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Despite Washington's rise from 17th place in last season's poll to a fifth place finish, the Huskies have been left out of this season's Big Ten Preseason Poll. This year, the conference announced the voted top-six finishing programs.
1. Β Β UCLA
2. Β Β Oregon
3. Β Β USC
4. Β Β Nebraska
5. Β Β Indiana
6. Β Β Iowa
PRESEASON PLAYER RANKINGS
Sam DeCarlo, Casen Taggart, and Jackson Thomas were each named in the D1Baseball Preseason Player Rankings.Β
DeCarlo was named a top-50 shortstop, Taggart was tabbed a top-50 firstbaseman, and Thomas was named a top-200 starting pitcher.
D1 BASEBALL WASHINGTON OUTLOOK
Strengths
Washington's greatest strength heading into 2026 is its defensive ability, particularly from the inside out. With most of the rotation and lineup regulars returning, the team boasts experience and cohesion across the diamond.
Question Marks
The Huskies will miss the power production that all-time program home run leader AJ Guerrero provided. While there are several guys in the lineup who can hit it deep, this year's iteration is encompassed with more gap-to-gap hitters.Β
Star Power
Shortstop Sam DeCarlo is a defensive standout for Washington, having started 147 games over three years and posting an impressive .971 fielding percentage with just six errors in 57 starts at shortstop last season. After overcoming minor injuries sustained on the Cape, DeCarlo enters his senior year looking to follow-up a career-high .825 OPS in 2025. He could stand to improve his bat-to-ball skills, but he's undeniably a reliable and winning presence in the Huskies' lineup.Β
Glue Guys
Catcher Colton Bower is a defensive asset for Washington, known for his excellent receiving skills and toughness behind the plate. Despite playing through minor injuries in 2025, his grit and leadership made a positive impact on the pitching staff. First baseman Casen Taggart stands out as Washington's statistically best returning hitter, combining plate discipline with the ability to hit for both average and power. Taggart led the team in hitting at .325 last season, posting a .963 OPS and drawing 50 walks in 226 plate appearances, while also showing athleticism with 10 steals. Presumptive Friday guy Jackson Thomas (5-4, 4.10) returns as a starting arm with the ability to induce weak contact, featuring a fastball in the mid-90s and multiple off-speed pitches he can land for strikes. His best offering is a 78-80 mph slider that held batters to a .230 average.Β
Picks to Click
Transfer Mic Paul joins Washington after seeing action in 25 games for 2025 National Champion LSU, bringing high-end center field defense thanks to his outstanding reads and closing speed. With two national championship rings and a reputation as a clubhouse leader, Paul's winning mentality is expected to make an immediate impact in his first year with the Huskies. While his bat still has room to develop, his defensive prowess is critical for Washington.
Top Newcomers
Transfer Ethan Swidler brings high motor energy and proven leadership to Washington, where he will catch and DH after posting a .956 OPS for Lafayette in 2025. Offensively, he's a middle-of-the-order run producer with exceptional bat control, consistently drawing more walks than strikeouts over the past two seasons. His defensive skills, experience managing pitching staffs, and ability to barrel pitchers make for a nice fit in Seattle.Β
2026 Outlook
The Huskies are one of the better coached programs in the conference and they return the bulk of a team that finished fifth in the Big Ten with a 17-13 record. There's no reason to think they're not capable of repeating the success they experienced in 2025.
SLAMMIN' SAMMY
Sam DeCarlo led the Huskies in runs scored (42), was second in hits (61), second in home runs (8), second in multiple hit games (15), and second in total bases (92) in 2025. He was more than just a power hitter, however. The shortstop was a beacon of consistency for Washington, serving as the only Husky to start every game this season and he led the team with 126 assists. He also second on the team in fielding double plays (27). DeCarlo was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, making him one of the top-100 shortstops in the nation last season.
WALKING THE WALK
Casen Taggart showed his patience at the plate, earning 46 walks last season. He's among the best in taking bases on balls in the country, finishing 53rd in the NCAA in total walks and fifth in the Big Ten. On a per game basis, Taggart had the 33rd-highest mark in the country and is also fifth the Big Ten (0.92). He's collected four walks on two occasions this season, most recently against Purdue (4/6).
Taggart has cemented himself as one of the best batters on the team, earning a .331 batting average to lead the team, along with a team-best .468 on base percentage. Taggart also owned the longest reached base streak on the team and it currently sits at 31 straight games.
THOMAS ON TOP
Jackson Thomas became a consistent starter for the Huskies since making his first start against San Francisco early last season. He's turned in 13 total starts, 10 of which he's gone for at least 5.0 innings. In eight of those starts, he allowed two or less runs. Against USC to close the regular season, Thomas went 6.0 innings with only a single run allowed.
Among pitchers reaching the minimum of 1.0 IP per game, he led the team in least walks (26) and home runs allowed (6). He also finished second on the team in earned run average (4.10), opposing batting average (.268), runs allowed (31), and was third in strikeouts (48).
Thomas previously played under Head Coach Eddie Smith at Utah Valley. While there, the right-hander amassed a 3-1 record in 38.1 innings pitched. He played in 12 games and made five starts, with opponents batting .271 against him.
BOWER BOOMING
Colton Bower was a force behind the plate and as a hitter last season. Defensively, he caught 14 runners stealing. As a batter, Bower logged six home runs and had 33 hits on the season, including seven doubles.Β
In the Big Ten rankings, Bower finished second in both hit by pitch (24) and in hit by pitch per game (0.46). Bower was also in the top-30 in both hit by pitch statistics nationally, coming in at 29th in total HBP and 24th in per game.
His 24 pitches worn last season are tied for the most in a season in program history.
