Baseball Signs Four to 2026 Class

The Ball State baseball team and head coach Rich Maloney have announced the signings of four student-athletes for the 2026 recruiting class.

The class includes two pitchers, an outfielder and an infielder / right-handed pitcher. Two of the signees are from Indiana, while the other two hail from Florida and Illinois.

"I appreciate the effort assistant coach / recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney made to put this class together, and we are excited to have these four gentlemen join our Ball State Baseball Family," Rich Maloney said. "This is a very talented group, strong academically and oozing with positive leadership traits."

Ray Barwis
Lighthouse Point, Fla. | ESB Academy

Barwis is an outfielder from southeast Florida with national rankings in his recruiting class by Perfect Game.

The left-handed hitter is a student-athlete scholar and plans on majoring in communications with an entertainment and sports communication concentration at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Barwis
"An outfielder / left-handed hitter who is very athletic, has a strong skill set, and is hardworking with outstanding leadership skills and strong academically."

Samuel Chin
La Grange Park, Ill. | St. Laurence HS

Chin is a left-handed pitcher out of the Chicagoland area who posted a 2.20 ERA and was named First Team All-Conference as a freshman at St. Laurence. He followed that up with a 4-1 record, 1.69 ERA and .178 batting average against his sophomore year and 4-2 record and .195 batting average against as a junior.

Chin helped lead St. Laurence to its first baseball state title in 2025 and will be a team captain for his senior season. Academically, he is a National Honor Society and honor roll member who plans on majoring in business management at Ball State.

Coach Maloney on Chin
"Left-handed pitcher with a lean frame and a lot of room to grow. Has feel for three pitches-will benefit greatly from our strength program."

Trey Deckman
Columbia City, Ind. | Columbia City HS

An infielder / right-handed pitcher from nearby Columbia City, Deckman was named First Team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior and honorable mention All-State as a junior. He hit .444 with 43 hits as a sophomore and also plays basketball for the Eagles.

Academically, Deckman is a National Honor Society member with plans to major in business management in college.

Coach Maloney on Deckman
"A shortstop with projection who is athletic and has good actions. He will benefit greatly from our strength program. Outstanding student!"

Kellen Thomson
Greenwood, Ind. | Center Grove HS

A right-handed pitcher from the southern suburb of Indianapolis, Thomson posted a 9-0 record, 2.10 ERA and .209 batting average against in 48.2 innings pitched as a junior for the Trojans. He was named All-County as a sophomore and junior, leading his teams to 27-3 and 27-5 records those seasons.

Thomson is an honor roll member who has received the Academic All-Trojan athlete award each year in high school. Once he gets to college, he wants to study business administration.

Coach Maloney on Thomson
"A physical right-handed pitcher with upside and a strike-thrower with feel. Makings of a good changeup and sinking fastball."

Ball State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos