Why, in July, You Can Get Excited for February
I’m a summer guy. I don’t like to think about winter when the sun is shining and it’s warm outside. There is something that makes the summer longer, in a not-great way, though, and that’s an early exit from the NCAA Baseball Tournament. In the case of the 2026 Cardinal Nine, it was worst-case when the team didn’t even see their name called during the selection show.
I’m getting this out of the way: I don’t think there is a soul in this city who wants anyone but Dan McDonnell leading this program. Watching Skylar Meade guide Troy to a very respectable first College World Series had my inbox on fire with ‘what if…’ and yes, it’s perfectly fine to think about future succession. However, there remains something about Coach Mac being stalwart in doing things his way that’s still very respectable when the game, and college sports, are largely a mercenary-for-hire operation. One of the things that caused so much grumbling was the lackluster performance of pitching. The largest elephant in the room since COVID has been standing on the mound, and many wondered if Roger Williams’ best days were behind him.
In a world of unlimited technology, data, and analytics, Roger is old school. When the team failed to crack the field of 64 this past season, it was right to wonder if retirement, or the less-desirable separation of the pillars of Louisville Baseball were on the horizon for Coach Williams. The program needed *something* to change, and Coach hasn’t forgotten how to coach pitching, but the inability to make the tournament with a team that batted .309, and boasted two All-Americans, one of whom had a season so ridiculous that it made the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophies into team awards was a major setback. Congrats to Georgia, though…or whatever.
What’s Going to be Different?
First of all, there will be some new personnel via the transfer portal. That’s one thing you can always count on. The big one was always going to be Tague Davis. After his unreal 2026 campaign, many thought he would land at whichever SEC school lobbed the biggest sack of cash at him. He made it pretty clear he was anchored here during and after the season, especially after ‘cell phone gate,’ where Dan McDonnell’s words in an interview with 93.9 FM’s Drew Deener made national waves:
That one was particularly fun, because it was even sweeter when the university made it official and put that tweet in the video. Just a chef’s kiss burn to the haters:
Tague sticking around gives the 2027 Cardinals an anchor, and one that any program in the country would love to have. His loyalty is why his picture on the right field wall won’t just be a fleeting moment but the cementing of a lasting legacy in The Ville.
From a baseball perspective, he’s going to be a good pro. Why, one may ask, would he upend his career to go to a new coaching staff and hitting coach? Consistency sometimes is key, and for a family who has never made it about the money…Louisville deserves Tague Davis, and Tague deserves to lead Louisville back to where they belong.
Read Also: The Best Fried Fish Sandwiches in Louisville
Who Hit the Portal?
The Transfer Portal is an inevitability these days, especially on a larger roster like Baseball. There are a couple pitching defections to the portal that I think will make a difference, the biggest being lefty Ty Starke, who has pledged to Butler. Colton Hartman is another pitcher that I thought could make some strides, but has opted to give it a go at 2026 College World Series participant West Virginia, and Tanner Thomas showed potential later in the season but has entered the portal as well.
The other former Cards to hit the portal:
Nick Ballard (P)
Jake Bean (P) – (We still plan to make good on ‘Beans for Bean,’ despite Jake hitting the portal)
Parker Detmers (P) – (this one hurt a bit, not gonna lie, especially committing to Tennessee. I was excited to see how he performed after injury)
Coen Evrard (P) – Evansville
Drew Freeman (C) – Coastal Carolina
Bryce Koch (P)
AJ Martin (INF) – Richmond
Collin Osenbaugh (P) – Huntington
Chase Porter (OF)
Kaden Schoenly (P) – Campbell
What Positions of Need is Louisville Adding?
Sticking with the program is predominantly everyone who isn’t projected to go in the draft (Zion and Lucas). This is good news, although the outfield takes a massive hit losing those guys, but there is potential for returners like Ben Slanker and Griffin Crain to be the consistent outfielder the staff can build around.
Incoming guys will be interesting as the team is focused on certain needs and depth. It’s clear that the staff is very high on the core guys who are already on campus, but next year we will get to see:
Landon Akers (SS, Bellarmine)
Kamden Hawks (P, Morehead State)
Sam Skarich (P, Louisiana Monroe)
Zak Spurrier (P, Samford)
Gabe Smith (P, JUCO John A Logan)
Enrico Veach (INF, JUCO Wabash Valley)
Jonah Weathers (INF, JUCO John A Logan)
Photo of Landon Akers by Bellarmine Athletics
With the portal closed to entries, it’s still possible the staff adds to the roster, but there is some promising mid-major pitching depth coming in, and hometown kid Landon Akers bolsters the middle infield after leading Bellarmine in hits and stolen bases and ending 2026 second in batting average.
Incoming Freshmen Look to Make an Impact
Louisville is known for impact Freshmen, and this past season that torch was carried by Kade Elam. This coming campaign will be highlighted by:
Parker Clubb (C, Mulvane (KS))
Zach Floyd (OF, Louisville Trinity)
Will Fox (P, McCracken (KY))
Aaron Hernandez (LHP, Westminster Christian School (FL))
Nolan Hosking (INF, Louisville Trinity)
Corey Les (INF, St. Lawrence (IL))
Drew Messey (INF, Westminster Christian (MO))
Noah Spalding (RHP, Marion County (KY))
Isaac Sullivan (INF, Chaminade-Julienne (OH))
Blake Umberger (C, Hershey (PA))
Parker Van Engelhoven (RHP, Olentangy Liberty (OH))
Bryson Wittmer (LHP, Milan Edison (OH)
Will the Pitching be Better?
It has to be. That’s the short answer. 2026 ended with a Team ERA of 6.81, which is the worst of the McDonnell/Williams era. For some perspective, the 2024 team that missed the tournament had that dubious distinction of being the ‘worst’ ERA, and then the 2025 clicked at the right moment and they made the Final Four.
It’s going to be better largely because of the administrative shifts that Coach Mac and the office have made. Roger Williams now holds the title of ‘Pitching Coordinator.’
Joining Coach Williams on the Pitching Staff will be two very, very familiar names. A pair of Cardinal Forever All-Americans will be the Pitching Coach and the Director of Pitching. Kade McClure, who was a 2016 All-American for the Cards, last guided Kent State as Director of Pitching Development in 2025 and saw the Golden Flashes end with a 38-18 record. Nick Burdi, an All-American for Louisville in both 2013 and 2014, will now serve as Louisville’s Director of Pitching, after retiring from a long career in professional baseball.
These changes to the philosophy mean that there will be an increase in modern development tactics, technological advances, and other measurables to improve mechanics, velocity, and pitch location. The coaching staff saw what needed to be done, and did it. Having Burdi and McClure on staff will give Cardinals pitchers direction and instruction from two of the best to do it in the Red and Black.
2027 Bold Prediction
Louisville hosts. College Baseball is wildly unpredictable, but Louisville hosts. There will be that indescribable emotion of watching the stands come to their feet and do a C-A-R-D-S chant or the two-strike clap. There will be the roar for a well-timed double off the wall, and we’ll all be there for it.
Photo by Jared Anderson
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