The beginning of the baseball season is just days away, and the River States Conference is excited to preview the 2026 seasons for our member schools! Each RSC school talked with players and coaches from their teams, with those interviews linked below as part of Media Day!
Additionally, each school has spotlighted players expected to be major contributors during the 2026 campaign, and are also listed below as our 2026 Players to Watch!
BRESCIA
Media Day
Players to Watch
Brian Gonzalez
So. | Metairie, Louisiana | Pitcher
Gonzalez was one of Brescia's top starting pitchers during the 2025 season. The righthander posted a 6-4 record, making eleven starts for the Bearcats. He struck out 37 hitters to just 13 walks across his 56 innings of work during his freshman season.
Miguel Marcos
So. | Santiago, Dominican Republic | Outfield
Marcos was one of two Brescia players last season to earn All-Conference recognition as a Second Team All-RSC outfielder. The sophomore posted a slash line of .367/.425/.508, scoring 21 runs and driving in 16 for the Bearcats.
IU COLUMBUS
Players to Watch
Media Day
Carson McNulty
Sr. | North Vernon, Indiana | Outfield
A Third Team All-Conference selection, McNulty is described as an "old-school baseball player." He plays with a passion for the game, and he’s a competitor.
Cyrus Robinson
Sr. | Indianapolis, Indiana | First Base
Cyrus has good speed and can hit the ball a long way. The Crimson Pride are excited to see what the 2025 Third Team All-Conference selection can do with a consistent defensive position this year.
IU KOKOMO
Players to Watch
Cam Howard
Sr. | Fishers, Indiana | Pitcher
Cam brings that same competitive edge to the field with an intense approach to the game. His presence is noticeable from the first pitch. When he stays healthy and everything clicks, his skill set gives him the chance to elevate the Cougars and be a difference-maker throughout the season.
Rodney Rachel
Jr. | Colerain Township, Ohio | Outfield
Rodney brings an edge to the lineup with his intense, ultra-competitive approach. He competes with a confidence that immediately commands attention. When he channels that energy, his ability allows him to impact games in multiple ways and makes him an intriguing watch.
IU SOUTHEAST
Media Day
Players to Watch
Trevor Goodwin
Sr. | Brandenburg, Kentucky | First Base
Goodwin is a three-year starter for the Grenadiers, playing in 134 games over the past three seasons. The redshirt senior hit .330 last season, driving in 29 runs and scoring 21 for one of the River States Conference's representatives in the NAIA Tournament.
Luca Sandrella
So. | Louisville, Kentucky | Pitcher
Sandrella enters the 2026 season as the reigning RSC Freshman of the Year. A first team All-RSC selection, Sandrella was one of the top arms for the Grenadiers. The righthander posted a 4.57 earned run average across 61 innings of work, striking out 47 hitters to just 18 walks. He logged a win-loss record of 7-1, and did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his regular season starts.
KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN
Players to Watch
Tyler Sammons
Sr. | Proctorville, Ohio | Pitcher
Sammons was the leader of the KCU pitching staff in 2025, leading the team in innings pitched at 57.2. He struck out 50 hitters in those 57.2 innings, and earned two wins. He was also the only Kentucky Christian pitcher to toss a complete game.
Tate Scott
So. | Grayson, Kentucky | Middle Infield/Outfield
Scott was one of KCU's top hitters last season in the team's final season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Grayson native hit .330 for the Knights, scoring 20 runs and stealing 13 bases.
MIDWAY
Media Day
Players to Watch
Tyler Pyles
Sr. | Prospect, Kentucky | Pitcher
Pyles had 16 strikeouts in 10 innings of work, mostly out of the bullpen as a junior during the 2025 season for the Eagles, who made it the RSC Championship round.
Grant Stone
Sr. | Lexington, Kentucky | Outfield
Stone was second on the team in batting average (.338) and home runs (8) while recording a team-best .769 slugging percentage during his junior season.
OAKLAND CITY
Players to Watch
Dicky Gonzalez
Sr. | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | Pitcher/Infield
Gonzalez was considered one of the top two-way players in the River States Conference, and was a First Team All-Conference selection as a utility player. Gonzalez drove in 37 runs and scored 43 at the plate, then struck out 39 hitters across 41.1 innings of work on the mound.
Chase Rubenacker
So. | McLeansboro, Illinois | Pitcher
Rubenacker was the top relief pitcher in the River States Conference last season, earning the lone reliever spot on the RSC All-Conference First Team. As a freshman, Rubenacker posted a 2.05 earned run average across 48.1 innings of work. Rubenacker allowed less than one hit per inning, and walked just ten in his 48.1 innings.
RIO GRANDE
Players to Watch
Media Day
Connor Gullett
So. | Cincinnati, Ohio | Pitcher
As a freshman, Gullett was the ace of Rio Grande's pitching staff. The Cincinnati native, a Third Team All-Conference selection, struck out 55 hitters across 50.2 innings in 13 appearances. He earned three victories in his eleven starts, and allowed less than one hit per innings.
Brett Haskins
Jr. | Ripley. West Virginia | Outfield
Haskins had a sensational 2025 season with the RedStorm, earning both Second Team All-Conference and RSC Gold Glove honors. The junior was a .370 hitter for Rio Grande last season, scoring 33 runs and driving in 25 more.
SHAWNEE STATE
Players to Watch
Zach Gaspar
Senior | Strongsville, Ohio | Outfield/Designated Hitter
Gaspar was a Third Team All-Conference selection last season. The Strongsville native has been a mainstay in the Shawnee State lineup over the past three seasons, starting 107 games. He posted a .497 on-base percentage in 2025, and logged a slugging percentage of .639.
Diego Mendoza
Senior | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Utility
Mendoza was considered one of the top catchers in the River States Conference last season, earning Second Team All-Conference honors. The Puerto Rican catcher hit .382 and flashed some of the league's best power, belting 12 home runs and driving in 36 runs.
WVU TECH
Media Day
Players to Watch
Cody Cooper
Jr. | Bellington, West Virginia | Third Base
Cooper brings steady production to the hot corner after batting .273 in 30 games, driving in 11 runs and putting together extra-base pop with three doubles. He also adds real versatility as a two-way option, logging 23.1 innings on the mound across seven appearances, which gives WVU Tech another athlete who can impact a game in multiple ways.
Cameron Lynch
So. | Fort Ashby, West Virginia | Pitcher
Lynch is a key arm to watch after going 3–1 with a 3.97 ERA across 47.2 innings, piling up 46 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .262 average while allowing just two home runs. He also shows poise and usefulness in different roles, including a save, giving the Golden Bears a reliable pitcher who can handle important innings.