Ball State University Athletics
Cards in the Pros: Seven Ball State Baseball Alumni Invited to Major League Spring Training
February 12, 2026 | Baseball
Seven Ball State baseball alumni have been invited to Major League spring training in advance of the 2026 season.
Outfielders Alex Call (Dodgers) and Zach Cole (Astros) and pitchers Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks), Ty Johnson (Rays), Chayce McDermott (Orioles), Kyle Nicolas (Pirates), and Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox) will each be looking to make the Opening Day rosters for their respective teams. Johnson and Schweitzer hope to make their Major League debuts this season.
"Tremendously talented group of former Ball State Cardinals," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "These gentlemen had great careers at Ball State and are living their dreams!"
Below is more about how each player fared in the 2025 season. Call, Jameson and Schweitzer are set to compete in the Cactus League in Arizona, while Cole, Johnson, McDermott and Nicolas will be in the Grapefruit League in Florida this spring.
Alex Call (Los Angeles Dodgers) – The outfielder was acquired at the trade deadline from Washington and went on to win a World Series title with the Dodgers. Call slashed .267/.361/.385 in 270 at bats during the regular season with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 31 RBI. The 2016 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year started in Game Four of the World Series and tallied four hits and three walks in 11 at bats during the postseason.
Zach Cole (Houston Astros) – A late season call-up by the Astros, Cole hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues on Sept. 12 at Atlanta and posted an .880 OPS with two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and three steals in 47 at bats to begin his Major League career. The outfielder slashed .279/.377/.539 with 22 doubles, seven triples, 19 homers, 65 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 97 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugarland before being called up and was named Houston's Minor League Player of the Year.
Drey Jameson (Arizona Diamondbacks) – The right-handed pitcher worked in three games for Arizona, including a save in his 2025 MLB season debut at Wrigley Field on April 20. Jameson struck out 22 in 14.0 innings in the minors after having to miss the 2024 campaign due to injury.
Ty Johnson (Tampa Bay Rays) – Named the 2025 Southern League Pitcher of the Year, Johnson struck out 149 in 110.1 innings of work while posting a 7-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 26 games (20 starts) for Double-A Montgomery. The right-handed pitcher has posted a career 2.69 ERA with 269 strikeouts in 194.1 innings in the minor leagues.
Chayce McDermott (Baltimore Orioles) – McDermott punched out nine across 8.2 innings for Baltimore last season, pitching in two games each in May and September. The righthander tallied 63 strikeouts in 59.2 frames in the minors mostly at Triple-A Norfolk.
Kyle Nicolas (Pittsburgh Pirates) – In his third season in Pittsburgh, Nicolas collected 34 strikeouts in 38.0 innings of work and posted a 4.74 ERA. The 2020 draft pick tallied a 3.79 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 35.2 frames at Triple-A Indianapolis as well.
Tyler Schweitzer (Chicago White Sox) – Schweitzer posted an 8-2 record, 4.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 99.2 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year. The left-handed pitcher fashioned a 1.27 ERA for a 6-0 record across 12 games with Birmingham.
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Outfielders Alex Call (Dodgers) and Zach Cole (Astros) and pitchers Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks), Ty Johnson (Rays), Chayce McDermott (Orioles), Kyle Nicolas (Pirates), and Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox) will each be looking to make the Opening Day rosters for their respective teams. Johnson and Schweitzer hope to make their Major League debuts this season.
"Tremendously talented group of former Ball State Cardinals," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "These gentlemen had great careers at Ball State and are living their dreams!"
Below is more about how each player fared in the 2025 season. Call, Jameson and Schweitzer are set to compete in the Cactus League in Arizona, while Cole, Johnson, McDermott and Nicolas will be in the Grapefruit League in Florida this spring.
Alex Call (Los Angeles Dodgers) – The outfielder was acquired at the trade deadline from Washington and went on to win a World Series title with the Dodgers. Call slashed .267/.361/.385 in 270 at bats during the regular season with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 31 RBI. The 2016 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year started in Game Four of the World Series and tallied four hits and three walks in 11 at bats during the postseason.
Zach Cole (Houston Astros) – A late season call-up by the Astros, Cole hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues on Sept. 12 at Atlanta and posted an .880 OPS with two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and three steals in 47 at bats to begin his Major League career. The outfielder slashed .279/.377/.539 with 22 doubles, seven triples, 19 homers, 65 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 97 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugarland before being called up and was named Houston's Minor League Player of the Year.
Drey Jameson (Arizona Diamondbacks) – The right-handed pitcher worked in three games for Arizona, including a save in his 2025 MLB season debut at Wrigley Field on April 20. Jameson struck out 22 in 14.0 innings in the minors after having to miss the 2024 campaign due to injury.
Ty Johnson (Tampa Bay Rays) – Named the 2025 Southern League Pitcher of the Year, Johnson struck out 149 in 110.1 innings of work while posting a 7-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 26 games (20 starts) for Double-A Montgomery. The right-handed pitcher has posted a career 2.69 ERA with 269 strikeouts in 194.1 innings in the minor leagues.
Chayce McDermott (Baltimore Orioles) – McDermott punched out nine across 8.2 innings for Baltimore last season, pitching in two games each in May and September. The righthander tallied 63 strikeouts in 59.2 frames in the minors mostly at Triple-A Norfolk.
Kyle Nicolas (Pittsburgh Pirates) – In his third season in Pittsburgh, Nicolas collected 34 strikeouts in 38.0 innings of work and posted a 4.74 ERA. The 2020 draft pick tallied a 3.79 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 35.2 frames at Triple-A Indianapolis as well.
Tyler Schweitzer (Chicago White Sox) – Schweitzer posted an 8-2 record, 4.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 99.2 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year. The left-handed pitcher fashioned a 1.27 ERA for a 6-0 record across 12 games with Birmingham.
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