Tech Baseball brings in exciting group of newcomers for 2026
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the fall semester begins to dawn on the Tennessee Tech campus, the Golden Eagle baseball team will welcome 16 new members to the roster with 10 from the transfer portal, two junior college transfers and four standouts coming up from the prep ranks. It’s an exciting group of new talent for a Golden Eagle team that had a strong 37-20 season this past spring but is looking to return to the program’s recent highs to the NCAA Super Regionals and beyond.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the fall semester begins to dawn on the Tennessee Tech campus, the Golden Eagle baseball team will welcome 16 new members to the roster with 10 from the transfer portal, two junior college transfers and four standouts coming up from the prep ranks.
It's an exciting group of new talent for a Golden Eagle team that had a strong 37-20 season this past spring but is looking to return to the program's recent highs to the NCAA Super Regionals and beyond.
Last season, the Golden Eagles led the Ohio Valley Conference in victories, compiling an 18-9 record, and led the conference in the RPI rankings. With a strong foundation to build from, these newcomers are primed to continue the program's success.
"This is a talented group of incoming young men," said Tech baseball head coach Matt Bragga. "Coach (Ben) Brooks did a phenomenal job of putting this class together. It is an amazing blend of transfers and high school talent that will fit in great with our incredibly strong group of 19 returners. I can't wait to watch this team get to work. We are expecting a great 2026 season."
The transfer portal group includes 10 players who have already built an incredible resume at their previous stops and are looking to bolster the Golden Eagle lineup.
TY BARNETT (LHP | Cincinnati transfer)
Ty Barnett returns to his home state after a great start to his collegiate career at Cincinnati, leading the Athens and McMinn County High product back toward his native soil. Facing Big 12 Conference competition and starting games against UC San Diego, Arizona, Louisville and Miami (Ohio), he's battle-tested as Barnett posted a 4.61 ERA in 13 appearances with opponents hitting .235 and compiling a 1.39 WHIP.
COOPER CASTEEL (LHP | Lee University transfer)
A standout lefty on the bump, Cooper Casteel – a Cleveland, Tenn., product – put together great numbers at Cleveland State CC and Lee University before inking with the Golden Eagles. At Cleveland State, Casteel struck out 179 over 139 innings. He then started in 14 games at Lee this past season, allowing just 76 hits over 77 2/3 frames to post a 3.24 ERA. He was a second-team All-Gulf South Conference selection after the recent campaign.
NASH CROWELL (IF | Reinhardt transfer)
Infielder Nash Crowell could almost be called Bash with his fantastic numbers at Reinhardt. Seeing a .364 batting average, a.468 on-base percentage and a .755 slugging percentage is incredible, but once you throw in a program-record 60 home runs, 212 hits, 46 doubles and 182 RBI – in 159 total games at that – you know the guy can hit. Crowell set Reinhardt's single-season home run record with 20 in 2023, then broke again the following season with 23. He was a two-time NAIA All-American (third team in 2024 and second team in 2025), while he was also a first-team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference in '24 and '25, while also winning a Gold Glove Award at first base this past season. Crowell also participated in the 2025 Western Canadian Baseball League's Home Run Derby after hitting .302 with seven dingers and 32 RBI.
CONNOR CROWSON (IF | Montevallo University transfer)
Connor Crowson comes to Cookeville after tenures at Bossier Parrish CC and Montevallo, earning All-State, All-Conference and MVP honors at his first stop. At Montevallo, he finished with a career .354 batting average and .455 on-base mark, amassing 147 hits, 24 home runs, 20 doubles and 103 RBI. He had a breakout year last season, leading the team in OPS (1.096), home runs (16), slugging percentage (.645) and RBI (62). Crowson was a 2025 Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star, hitting .402 with four round-trippers and 49 RBI.
JAYDEN DILLARD (RHP | Maryland-Eastern Shore transfer)
Righty Jayden Dillard finished up his career at Maryland-Eastern Shore with a great 9.30 strikeouts per nine innings average and opponents hit just .226 against him. He had success with the Tarboro River Bandits in the Old North State Collegiate League as he allowed only one earned run in 34 2/3 innings on 16 hits with 54 strikeouts and opponents hitting .109 against him.
CADE FULLER (IF | Freed-Hardeman transfer)
Cade Fuller, who spent the last two seasons at in-state Freed-Hardeman, comes over to Tech following a breakout season for the infielder as he batted .402 with 16 home runs, 57 RBI and 27 stolen bases, leading the team in average, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, stolen bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. For his efforts, he was a third-base Gold Glove winner and a first-team All Mid-South Conference pick. At the NAIA school, his career slash line was solid, posting a .349 batting average, .448 on-base percentage and .711 slugging mark. This summer, Fuller was a Coastal Plain League All-Star, collecting a .916 OPS and ranking second on the team in home runs (6), first in doubles (9) and fourth in stolen bases (15).
MANNY GARZA ( C | Arizona State transfer)
If the name Manny Garza sounds familiar, it should – the catcher from Arizona State joins his twin brother Eddie on the Tech roster. Manny played three seasons at Rice from 2022 to 2024 before joining the Sun Devils for a spell in 2025. With the Owls, Garza posted a .291 batting average with 25 doubles, nine home runs and 61 total RBI. The two-time Cape Cod leaguer was ranked the fifth-best catcher in Division I with 11.0 defensive runs saved according to 643 Charts as he led the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA in runners caught stealing over 2023 and 2024. Garza was selected to the All-Silver Glove Series Team in 2022 and was on the Buster Posey Watch List in 2024.
DREW KIRBY (RHP | Louisiana transfer)
Originally a Cookeville native, right-handed pitcher Drew Kirby returns to his hometown as he joins the Golden Eagle roster. Playing high school ball in Texas, he was ranked the 58th best pitcher in Texas by Perfect Game in 2023. Kirby played the first two seasons of his college career at Louisiana, redshirting in 2024 and making his first five appearances this past season. He was named a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate All-Star in 2024, striking out 35 over 25 frames. Kirby comes to Tech where his sister, Sydney Kirby, had success with the Golden Eagle softball team as she was an all-OVC second-teamer.
ALEX KUNTZ (LHP | Concordia University-Wisconsin transfer)
Lefty hurler Alex Kuntz comes to Cookeville after a great career thus far at Concordia-Wisconsin, posting a 2.43 ERA with 119 strikeouts across 70 1/3 innings of work with opponents hitting .140 against him. He ranked first in Division III baseball in hits allowed per nine innings (4.07) and strikeouts per nine innings (15.35). A first-team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference selection, Kuntz was also an American Baseball Coaches Association and D3Baseball.com All-Region second-team pick.
JAMIE ROBERTSON (RHP | San Diego transfer)
Righty Jamie Robertson moves over from his West Coast digs at San Diego to join the Tech squad. Following a stint at Los Angeles Valley College, Robertson made 18 appearances last season at San Diego, getting valuable pitching experience against San Diego State, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and Gonzaga. He struck out 23 and allowed five walks in 19 2/3 innings pitched across 18 appearances. Robertson recently finished up a stint with the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaskan Summer League, posting a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings, allowing just 20 hits in four starts.
Tech's junior college transfers bring in two catchers who have put up great numbers and looking for more in Cookeville.
TY DENTON (C | Cleveland State CC transfer)
Ty Denton, a Knoxville native who was a standout at Hardin Valley Academy, joins the Golden Eagles after an awesome 2025 season at Cleveland State CC, hitting .352 with a .490 on-base and .593 slugging mark. He led CSCC in home runs, doubles, extra base hits, slugging percentage and OPS, while finishing in the Top 20 in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association in average, slugging and doubles.
A.J. MARCHETTI (C | Indian Hills CC transfer)
A.J. Marchetti comes to Tech with a fantastic career .349 batting average with a .454 on-base and .576 slugging mark during his days at Indian Hills CC, leading the team in batting average with a .347 in 2025 – the second best in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. A NJCAA All-Region 11 first-teamer, Marchetti was the only catcher in the country with at least a .345 batting average, five home runs and 16 runners caught stealing. He was the ICCAC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, throwing out 19 base stealers.
Tech also brings in four high school student-athletes who had amazing careers on the prep level who could make immediate impacts in the program.
TYLER BENNETT (INF | Christian Academy of Knoxville)
Tyler Bennett, an infielder from CAK, proved to be a fantastic hitter but also showed some pitching strength in 2025 to extend his game. This past season, Bennett hit .431 with seven home runs, while also earning District Pitcher of the Year honors with a 5-2 record, 1.90 ERA and 48 strikeouts. The accolades kept rolling in as he was a Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Mr. Baseball Finalist, the Tennessee Baseball Network Division II-A Player of the Year and was a first-team selection by both 5-Star Preps and the TBCA. He was recently named to the Smokey Mountain Summer Collegiate Team's All-Tournament Team, hitting .422 with a home run, nine RBI and a .509 on-base percentage.
CARSON DAVIS (RHP | East Hamilton HS)
Carson Davis, a righty from East Hamilton High, threw 176 strikeouts in his high school career as he helped lead the Hurricanes to two district championships and a substate appearance. Davis was twice named a Perfect Game Preseason honorable mention All-American in the Southeast Region.
JUSTIN FALLON (OF/LHP | Upperman HS)
Justin Fallon, an outfielder and left-handed pitcher from nearby Upperman High, finished among the Bees' top five in program history in total runs scored, total bases, doubles and games played, while also standing first in career hits and second for the most hits in a single season with 60. He had two seasons batting over .400 and finished with 13 career home runs. A MaxPreps Freshman All-American, Fallon also earned All-Region and All-State honors over the course of his career.
JAXON JONES (INF/OF | Hardin Valley Academy)
Jaxon Jones, a versatile infielder and outfielder from Hardin Valley Academy, set the school's program record for career hits with 184 as he helped lead the team to a district title and a state runner-up finish in 2023. This past season, Jones, in addition to his team MVP honor, was named the district Offensive Player of the Year along with his first-team all-district award, first-team All-ETBCA, a 5-Star Preps first-teamer and was on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's All-State team. Jones was also recognized as a Tennessee Top-25 statistical performer.
