By Grady Andersen, Staff Writer

Xavier’s baseball team looks to return to the College World Series in a weaker Big East.

With a revitalized roster retaining key bats and adding pitching depth, the team looks poised to make a run for a chance to go to Omaha.

The offense has retained a key slugger for them in Connor Misch. The senior first baseman broke out during his junior year, posting a .954 on base plus slugging (OPS). He started every game and was able to bat .448 and post over a 1.200 OPS in conference play. With his effort, he was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year.

He is surrounded by two other preseason All-Big East selections in outfielder Clay Burdette and righty starter Ryan Piech. Burdette, a Cincinnati native and Moeller graduate, transferred in from Ohio State and was an instant impact, hitting a 1.006 OPS in conference play while providing excellent defense in right field.

Piech, a Walsh Jesuit Alum from Aurora, Ohio, was a highly rated prospect according to Prep Baseball. Going as high as seven in state rankings, he committed to Xavier at a young age and it has paid off for both sides. The righty flamethrower accrued 65 strikeouts over 14 starts, with a 4.37 Earned Run Average (ERA). His big thing was hit prevention, allowing batters to only hit a .182 average against him.

The rise of the transfer portal has also hit baseball as Xavier lost their pitcher with the most innings in Ben Weber transferring to the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Weber pitched over 80 innings for the Musketeers, logging a 4.15 ERA across 12 starts and 18 total appearances. The other starter that transferred was Carter Hendrickson who went to the Golden Eagles of Boston College. Hendrickson spent most of his time in left field hitting a .283 average and getting on base at a .483 clip. 

Xavier finished the 2025 season just outside of the regionals for Omaha, and with their 2026 schedule, they hope to not miss out again. The team has scheduled a gauntlet for their non-conference, playing six teams that at least qualified for regionals. 

“The other piece is (that) playing against those teams is 100% going to make you better. The more you test yourself, the more you put yourself in high pressure situations and tough environments, you’re going to grow. Not only is your RPI going to get better, but your team is going to get better, your players are going to get better,” head coach Billy O’Connor said about the aggressive scheduling.

Xavier will open their schedule against a consistent quad-1 team in East Carolina and the road does not get easier from there. They will be travelling to Louisville and Arkansas, with both teams being ranked, Arkansas being seventh and Louisville being eighth respectfully. 

A short rivalry home game against Indiana is a slight reprieve before travelling to the west coast, playing Cal State Fullerton Titans, Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers. The two Oregon teams hosted regionals last year, and the Titans are consistently one of the best mid-major teams in the nation. Their last big non-conference game is a rubber match against the Commodores of Vanderbilt, who enter the season ranked 23rd. 

This schedule should help Xavier build their case to make a regional and possibly, a run to Omaha. The first pitch of the season is Feb. 13 against East Carolina on ESPN+.