“Air Bud” Takes College Park, Maryland Baseball By Storm
Maryland’s two-sport athlete is turning heads on both sides of the ball on the diamond in his freshman season.
By Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
5/14/2026
Air Bud means more than just a movie in College Park. Any time a ball is hit in the vicinity of Bud Coombs, it’s getting caught. Even if you think you’ve hit one out of Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium, he’s bringing it back.
A member of the wave of freshmen talent on the Terps’ roster, Coombs is one of many reasons for optimism for the future as the 2026 season comes to a close this weekend.
But long before he started robbing home runs in College Park, Coombs already had a nickname that seemed destined for the role. Though his real name is Jonathan, a childhood “Bud” nickname stuck with him for years — eventually making its way with him to Maryland, where it now feels oddly prophetic.
As the season began, Coombs wasn’t a fixture in the lineup. Early injuries and the natural shifts that come with the start of a season kept him out for stretches at a time, but as the impact performances piled up, he became impossible to leave off the scorecard.
“I’ve focused on cherishing every little moment,” Coombs said. “This year has taught me that I can cherish every moment that God lets me be out here, so I’m just trying to maximize every opportunity I get.”
The native of Mechanicsville, MD, Coombs was a highly sought-after recruit. Ranked by Perfect Game as the top player in the state — and the No. 7 outfielder in the nation — Coombs had schools lined up to sign him.
“There was just something about Coach Swope and the way he was pursuing me,” Coombs said. “I just trusted him with my future. He's a great coach and he went to my same high school, so we connected over that.”
He chose the Dirty Terps over a list of schools including Penn State, Michigan, Ole Miss, and Virginia Tech. The chance to play for the local team with his home state across the chest was too good an opportunity to pass up, especially under the management of hitting guru Matt Swope.
“That’s another reason I came here,” Coombs said. “I have faith that we can do what anybody else in the country is doing. We can do that in my backyard, with my family close and around the people I grew up with.”
Bud sends it 409 feet for the three-run blast ??
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) May 12, 2026
Bottom 4
Terps 11, Hoyas 1#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/IQkln9yHP0
I’ve focused on cherishing every little moment. This year has taught me that I can cherish every moment that God lets me be out here, so I’m just trying to maximize every opportunity I get.Bud Coombs
Coombs has taken advantage of every opportunity in the lineup to establish himself as an everyday player. His .364 average ranks third on the team by players with at least 75 at-bats.
His eight homers on the year rank fifth on the team despite him having over 100 fewer at-bats than everyone ahead of him. He’s averaging a homer every 10 at-bats — a higher mark than anyone else on the roster.
Coombs is a walking highlight reel in the outfield and has made not one, but two home run-robbing grabs in right field. His jaw-dropping defense catches the eyes of everyone in the park. His robbery against Mount Saint Mary’s grabbed Scott Van Pelt’s attention, and his heroic snag against Michigan even landed him the No. 5 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10.
But what’s more fun for the young outfielder: hitting a home run, or bringing one back from orbit?
“I would say hitting one,” the freshman slugger said “You get to bask in the glory for a little longer while you run around the bases.”
BUD BLAST??#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/XyoM82IjPP
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) May 10, 2026
There was just something about Coach Swope and the way he was pursuing me. I just trusted him with my future. He's a great coach and he went to my same high school, so we connected over that.Bud Coombs
College Park provided Coombs with more than just an opportunity on the diamond. He started working out with Maryland’s football team as a running back and made the 2025 roster as a true freshman.
A three-star recruit according to 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals, Coombs was also ranked among the top 20 players in Maryland and a top-50 running back nationally. His’ elite game awareness and athleticism aren’t limited to the baseball field — he makes big moments on turf, dirt, or grass.
No matter what sport he’s playing, his well-rounded athleticism shows itself each and every day. A dynamic power threat and Gold Glove-caliber defender, Coombs has quickly established himself as a multi-tool standout on Swope’s roster.
A true freshman, Coombs is learning and growing as a baseball star, football player, student-athlete, and person. As he adjusts to the demands that come with balancing multiple sports and college life, Coombs says he’s still learning how to navigate everything that comes with being a student-athlete at Maryland.
“No doomscrolling,” Coombs said. “I’m just locked in. I’ve been working on knowing what I’ve got to do and not procrastinating any of it.”
With several years still ahead in College Park, Coombs figures to keep adding to his growing collection of “Air Bud” plays while crushing “Bud Blasts” across the country.
