COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Four Maryland baseball players earned preseason recognition from multiple national outlets ahead of the 2026 campaign. The Terrapins will open the 2026 campaign on the road with a three-game series at UNC Wilmington from Feb. 13-15 before returning to College Park to begin their home schedule against Georgetown on Feb. 17.
Cristofer Cespedes - Perfect Game Preseason Big Ten All-Conference Team
Sophomore right-hander
Cristofer Cespedes was named to the Perfect Game Preseason Big Ten All-Conference Team as a relief pitcher. As a freshman in 2025, Cespedes appeared in 21 games, striking out 35 batters across 30.1 innings. He led the team by holding opposing hitters to a .233 batting average. His standout performance came on March 23 at Washington, when he tossed 3.1 innings and recorded four strikeouts.
Ty Kaunas - Just Baseball Preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Infielder
Ty Kaunas was selected as Just Baseball's Preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Kaunas entered college as one of the state's top prospects, ranking as the No. 3 shortstop and No. 13 overall player in Maryland according to Perfect Game.
Bud Coombs and Austin Weiss - Perfect Game Preseason Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen
Freshmen
Bud Coombs and
Austin Weiss were both named to Perfect Game's Preseason Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen list, with Coombs ranking No. 64 and Weiss No. 90.
Coombs earned a Perfect Game grade of "10" and was rated the No. 1 player in Maryland. A standout two-sport athlete, he is also one of the nation's top football prospects, ranking as the No. 72 running back nationally and the No. 30 overall player from Maryland per 247Sports. Coombs is one of just seven Division I athletes nationwide to compete in both football and baseball.
Weiss, the highest-ranked recruit head coach
Matt Swope has landed during his tenure, was rated the No. 82 player and No. 8 left-handed pitcher nationally by Perfect Game, as well as the No. 3 overall player and top left-hander in Maryland. Weiss also represented the United States on the 18U National Team in 2024, making two bullpen appearances and posting a 1.91 ERA across 3.2 innings.
