MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State baseball team opens the 2026 season ranked No. 2 in the NCBWA Central Region Preseason Rankings.
The Mavericks are coming off a standout 2025 campaign in which they posted a 51-8 overall record and finished with 205 points in the final ABCA poll. Minnesota State's season concluded in the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament with a loss to Pittsburg State.
Minnesota State will begin the 2026 season Feb. 13–15 in Joplin, Mo., facing Indianapolis and McKendree.
In addition to the team's regional recognition, two Mavericks earned spots on the NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team. Senior infielder
Louis Magers (Sr., 6-5, Mankato, Minn., Mankato West) and junior left-handed pitcher
Sam George (Jr., 6-4, Bettendorf, Iowa., Pleasant Valley) were both honored.
Magers is coming off an exceptional season in which he earned NCBWA All-America Third Team and D2CCA All-America First Team honors. He recorded a .319 batting average with 68 hits, 14 doubles, one triple, and a program single-season record 20 home runs.
George earned NSIC All-Academic Team recognition in 2025 and made 13 appearances, including 12 starts. He totaled 60.2 innings pitched, finishing with an 8-0 record and a 2.97 ERA while striking out 60 batters and issuing 20 walks.
Preseason Central Region Rankings
| Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Pts |
| 1 |
Central Missouri (10) |
100 |
| 2 |
Minnesota State |
78 |
| 3 |
Pittsburg State |
77 |
| 4 |
Arkansas Tech |
72 |
| 5 |
Augustana |
55 |
| 6 |
Harding |
48 |
| 7 |
Central Oklahoma |
45 |
| 8 |
Southern Arkansas |
31 |
| 9 |
Missouri Southern |
23 |
| 10 |
Henderson State |
11 |
Preseason All-Central Region Team
| C |
Collin Helms, Harding |
| 1B |
Tyler Sardelli, Arkansas Tech |
| 2B |
Jackson Merovsh, Washburn |
| SS |
Cole Dawson, Arkansas Tech |
| 3B |
Logan Lacey, Harding+ |
| OF (3) |
Issac Pegors, UMary |
|
Levi Lampert, Southwest Minnesota State |
|
Noah Steele, Emporia State |
| DH |
Dagen Brewer, Pitt State |
| UTL |
Louis Magers, Minnesota State |
| SP (3) |
Ashton Michek, Augustana |
|
Sam George, Minnesota State+ |
|
Will Kates, Northwestern Oklahoma |
| RP |
Braden Cannon, Wayne State^ |
|
Brandon Chavez, Fort Hays State^ |
