In a world of roster turnover, high-dollar rosters, and very little pride in the front of the uniform, there’s Navy baseball. A program that not only feeds off a championship caliber athletic department where doing things the right way is not only a slogan, but a way of life, combined with winning on and off the field, Navy baseball is among one of the few programs in college baseball that has the potential to not only beat you head to head, but provides fans of all ages a verison of the game that is so pure that it brings you back to the old days of when playing for the love of the game was all that mattered.

For Coach Ristano, with 27 guys returning from last season, the 2026 Navy baseball season has all the potential to be a special one for the Midshipmen. Not only is there depth on the roster, but talented experience that many coaches would give anything to have on their rosters heading into a new season. Navy has all of that and then some, making the Midshipman an attractive pick to win the league and to make some noise in the Regionals. 

Before discussing the roster, one must take a moment to understand what makes the Navy Athletic Department so different from any other college athletic department. Along with the other two service academies, the Navy is one of the few colleges where student-athletes would die for all those watching and cheering them on. You combine that level of sacrifice and commitment from the student athletes with the special people that make up the athletic department, and you get this sense of pride in not only what the university stands for, but pride in a place that does things the old way by doing it the right way. At Navy, there’s no NIL, no transfer portal issue, just a group of young people who love this country while using their God-given talents to bring glory to the school before making one of the biggest sacrifices a young person can make in serving their country in the highest way possible. 

So, let’s break down the 2026 Navy baseball team. 

For starters, 25 returning guys from last season’s team that finished in second place in the Patriot League with a 14-11 conference record. From those guys, the position players of interest are Evan Brown, Ty DePerno at Catcher, Andrew Manning in the outfield, Brock Murtha, Henry Mitchell, and Viktor Izquierdo at first base. Not to mention the Midshipmen have some talented arms coming back in Tyler Grenn, and all-Patroit League selection in Brady Bendik. Navy also has eleven first year freshman incoming this season, who all have the potential to make a difference this season. 

From a scheduling perspective, the non-conference side of it gives Navy a challenging, yet rewarding slate that gives the Midshipmen opportunities to compete with the best of the best, and if they take care of business could postion them to not only compete in the Patriot League but to turn the 2026 season into one that has the potential to shift the conversation to playing for an at-large Regional bid. Navy will have either series or mid-week games starting with the Opening Weekend showdown with Queens, then from there, Delaware State, a classic in Columbia, South Carolina, where they’ll play South Carolina, Marshall, and Air Force, then they’ll have games with Maryland, at Coppin State, Maine, and even at George Washington. Again, take care of business in the conference with the experienced leadership on the roster, then things get really interesting once conference play opens up at Lehigh. 

Overall, the 2026 season has a lot of potential to be a special season for Navy as the roster is there to compete with the best of the best, while non-conference scheduling allows for the conversation shift in mid-March to taking care of business in conference play and then possibly having a strong enough resume to have a shot at an at-large Regional bid, furthermore taking the pressure off the Conference Tournament. It’s all right there in front of them.  Navy has earned the respect of being in the conversation leading up to the season. Now that Opening Weekend is upon them, go out and showcase what everyone believes to be a special Navy baseball season. 

Navy opens the season on Friday as they head to Stick Williams ‘ Dream Fields in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will face Queens in a three-game series. 

Photo Credits- Navy Baseball on X