bradleyfan124
Well-known member
Good news! I think the baseball program is back on track now.
-
Welcome to BradleyFans.com! Visitors are welcome, but we encourage you to sign up and register as a member. It's free and takes only a few seconds. Just click on the link to Register at the top right of the page, and follow instructions. If you have any problems or questions, click on the link at the bottom right of the page to Contact Us.
Baseball 2026: "It's going to be an exciting brand of baseball"
- Thread starter Tobias S Bradley
- Start date
Bradley baseball fell to Indiana State 8-3 today. They are now 5-17, 1-1.
The team ERA is 9.98 and WHIP is 2.31. Hopefully, those numbers improve.
Stats through 22 games- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026
It's going to take some time to recruit more talent. Coach Dedman just arrived in June, 2025, long after most teams had finished recruiting. He did a good job to build a roster, but these struggles are what I think most of us expected.
The team ERA is 9.98 and WHIP is 2.31. Hopefully, those numbers improve.
Stats through 22 games- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026
It's going to take some time to recruit more talent. Coach Dedman just arrived in June, 2025, long after most teams had finished recruiting. He did a good job to build a roster, but these struggles are what I think most of us expected.
Tobias S Bradley
Member
That seems like the right expectation, DC. A lot of guys still figuring it out, at the plate and on the mound. Keeping their head above water is going to be a challenge. Not much depth. Experienced coaches, though, so I have hope.
Looking ahead, the recruiting class for 2026 is strong, ranked 69th in the nation, ranked for the first time in a long time, if ever.
College recruit rankings 2026 by Perfect Game
Looking ahead, the recruiting class for 2026 is strong, ranked 69th in the nation, ranked for the first time in a long time, if ever.
College recruit rankings 2026 by Perfect Game
Last edited:
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
Is there a listing of the commits so far
If you go to that website Tobias posted and click on the school name (Bradley is at #69 on the list), it takes you to a page that lists info about each recruit.
Rankings-
https://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Recruiting/Rankings.aspx (BU #69)
Bradley recruits-
For the record, I don't know how complete or accurate that source is. There may be other recruits than the 9 listed. But it is impressive to see Bradley at #69. Only one other MVC school is higher (Indiana State at #56), and only one other in the top 100 (UIC at #95).
And note that the baseball transfer portal has not been kind to mid-major schools, especially those in the north. Every year, the baseball powers in the south and southwest rebuild their roster now by recruiting kids from the postal.
The last couple years, there have been around 5,000-6,000 players in the baseball transfer portal.
There Are About 5,000 Players in the College Baseball Transfer Portal | FM 96.9 The Game | Beat of Sports
On this episode of The Bridge, brought to you by Advent Health, the Coach and the Bulldog discuss Willie Mays, college baseball transfer portal, FSU and Gator baseball, and much more!
Last year there were over 6,000-
Notebooking the NCAA baseball portal
As the dust begins to settle with the NCAA transfer portal, there are a few notes of interest. One of the biggest is that most who enter the portal fail to find a landing spot.
247sports.com
Last edited:
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
Ok Great...ThanksIf you go to that website Tobias posted and click on the school name (Bradley is at #69 on the list), it takes you to a page that lists info about each recruit.
Rankings-
https://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Recruiting/Rankings.aspx (BU #69)
Bradley recruits-
For the record, I don't know how complete or accurate that source is. There may be other recruits than the 9 listed. But it is impressive to see Bradley at #69. Only one other MVC school is higher (Indiana State at #56), and only one other in the top 100 (UIC at #95).
And note that the baseball transfer portal has not been kind to mid-major schools, especially those in the north. Every year, the baseball powers in the south and southwest rebuild their roster now by recruiting kids from the postal.
The last couple years, there have been around 5,000-6,000 players in the baseball transfer portal.
,fit(1200,675),quality(65))
There Are About 5,000 Players in the College Baseball Transfer Portal | FM 96.9 The Game | Beat of Sports
On this episode of The Bridge, brought to you by Advent Health, the Coach and the Bulldog discuss Willie Mays, college baseball transfer portal, FSU and Gator baseball, and much more!969thegame.iheart.com
Last year there were over 6,000-
Notebooking the NCAA baseball portal
As the dust begins to settle with the NCAA transfer portal, there are a few notes of interest. One of the biggest is that most who enter the portal fail to find a landing spot.
Tobias S Bradley
Member
Here's a Bradley news release from November on the 2026 signing class, with short bios on 15 players.
Bradley Baseball Announces Signing Class of 2026
Four are from smaller colleges. A fifth was at Fresno State in 2024.
States: Four from Illinois, four from Missouri, three from Wisconsin, one each from Minnesota, Florida, Texas, and California.
It appears that the Perfect Game rankings include only high school players.
Recruiting seems to work on a calendar that is two or three years out, at least. The top 2026 high school players in the country (this year's seniors) mostly would have committed a year or more earlier than this list from Bradley's new coaching staff last fall. Schools now, during the 2026 season, are filling out their commitments from 2027 high school graduates (this year's juniors), and starting to get commitments from some 2028s (this year's sophomores). But this summer, new coaches at the end of their first season, such as Bradley's, will probably have a few slots to fill from community colleges, JCs, etc. Maybe this is similar to basketball's calendar?
Bradley Baseball Announces Signing Class of 2026
Four are from smaller colleges. A fifth was at Fresno State in 2024.
States: Four from Illinois, four from Missouri, three from Wisconsin, one each from Minnesota, Florida, Texas, and California.
It appears that the Perfect Game rankings include only high school players.
Recruiting seems to work on a calendar that is two or three years out, at least. The top 2026 high school players in the country (this year's seniors) mostly would have committed a year or more earlier than this list from Bradley's new coaching staff last fall. Schools now, during the 2026 season, are filling out their commitments from 2027 high school graduates (this year's juniors), and starting to get commitments from some 2028s (this year's sophomores). But this summer, new coaches at the end of their first season, such as Bradley's, will probably have a few slots to fill from community colleges, JCs, etc. Maybe this is similar to basketball's calendar?
Last edited:
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
I didnt see that list when it came out. Looks like a good group. The new Coach is putting some effort into it. Things are looking up for Bradley baseball
Tobias S Bradley
Member
Definitely ran out of pitchers today. A 10-2 lead turned into an 18-10 loss.
Wasted an encouraging start by pitcher Robert Sanford, 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs.
Braves go 1-2 on the road at Indiana State.
Game 1, won 10-8. Recap. Box score.
Game 2, lost 3-8. Recap. Box score.
Game 3, lost 18-10. Box score.
Wasted an encouraging start by pitcher Robert Sanford, 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs.
Braves go 1-2 on the road at Indiana State.
Game 1, won 10-8. Recap. Box score.
Game 2, lost 3-8. Recap. Box score.
Game 3, lost 18-10. Box score.
Bradley led this game 9-0 in the 5th inning...then it was all Indiana State after that...as they scored 18 runs in their final 4 at-bats
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
Tough way to lose
Tobias S Bradley
Member
Braves play at Western Illinois today, Tuesday, for a single midweek game, 3 p.m. CT on ESPN Plus.
These two teams have identical records: 5-18 (1-2).
The home opening series at Dozer is Friday-Sunday against Murray State.
Murray State and Illinois State seem to be clearly the best teams in MVC so far.
Bradley Baseball Travels to Macomb
These two teams have identical records: 5-18 (1-2).
The home opening series at Dozer is Friday-Sunday against Murray State.
Murray State and Illinois State seem to be clearly the best teams in MVC so far.
Another tough loss for the Braves today against Western Illinois. Bradley lead 5-4 through 6 innings, but then things fell apart as WIU scored 4 runs in the 7th and 4 more in the 8th to blow the game open.
Final score- WIU 12 Bradley 7- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026/western-illinois-university/boxscore/22806
It appears that pitching is the big problem again for the Braves, and it's not getting better.
The Bradley team ERA is now 10.28 which ranks 296th out of 300 Division I baseball programs.
NCAA ERA stats from prior to today's game- https://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1/current/team/211/p6
Tobias S Bradley
Member
Bradley Baseball Hosts Murray State in 2026 Home Opener Series
First home games of the season against the defending MVC champs.At Dozer:
Friday at 4 CT (moved up because of cold weather).
Saturday at 2.
Sunday at 1.
Only games two and three are on ESPN +.
Last edited:
The pitching continues to fail the Braves.
Friday's game- Murray State 18 (10 earned runs) Bradley 10 - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026/murray-state/boxscore/22807
Saturday's game- Murray State 11 (11 earned runs) Bradley 0 - https://bradleybraves.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026/murray-state/boxscore/22808
Bradley's record now 5-21, 1-4.
ollienanyes
Member
I made games 2 and 3: 11-0 and 14-3 losses. BU was outscored by 30 runs over the 3 game series.
President Shadid threw the first pitch in game 3, and looked good in his jersey.
President Shadid threw the first pitch in game 3, and looked good in his jersey.
Tobias S Bradley
Member
The record is 5-22, and at this stage last year, the record was 3-24.
This season is shaping up about how anyone would have expected. New coaching staff has to do what it can to throw a roster together in the summer, after most of last year's players transferred out as soon as the exit of the previous coach was announced.
Some things are going right -- it is an exciting style of baseball, with a running style. A lot of players are not performing well yet, with pitching being the main weakness, as it was the main weakness for the past two-plus years.
By this time next year, with a new group of players added in, it will be a competitive team. They have experienced coaches and recruiters to make it happen.
Tuesday the Braves play at Dozer against the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-11), at 3 p.m. CT -- weather permitting.
This season is shaping up about how anyone would have expected. New coaching staff has to do what it can to throw a roster together in the summer, after most of last year's players transferred out as soon as the exit of the previous coach was announced.
Some things are going right -- it is an exciting style of baseball, with a running style. A lot of players are not performing well yet, with pitching being the main weakness, as it was the main weakness for the past two-plus years.
By this time next year, with a new group of players added in, it will be a competitive team. They have experienced coaches and recruiters to make it happen.
Tuesday the Braves play at Dozer against the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-11), at 3 p.m. CT -- weather permitting.
Last edited:
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
It takes time to build a program backup. I am sure they will make it happen
The game can be watched on ESPN+
Iowa vs. Bradley 3/31/26 - Stream the Game Live - Watch ESPN
Stream the NCAA Baseball Game Iowa vs. Bradley live from ESPN+ on Watch ESPN. Live stream on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Bradley ties the game 5-5 after a grand slam in the bottom of the 1st inning by DH Michael Quick.
bradleybraves.com
SIDEARMLiveStats
Real time live stats for your favorite team powered by SIDEARM Sports. One location for your team's Stat summaries, Individual stats, Team stats, Team leaders, Play by plays, Split Box scores and more.