Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Baseball Alumni Starting Professional Seasons
April 02, 2026 | Baseball
Several Ball State baseball alumni are beginning their seasons at various levels in the professional ranks.
Outfielders Alex Call (Dodgers) and Zach Cole (Astros) and pitchers Drey Jameson (Diamondbacks), Chayce McDermott (Orioles) and Kyle Nicolas (Pirates) played in the big leagues last year, while Ty Johnson (Rays) and Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox) are on the doorstep of their Major League debuts as they start this season at Triple-A for their respective organizations.
"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 former Cardinals fared in the 2025 season and what teams they begin the 2026 campaign on.
Merritt Beeker (Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals; extended spring training rehab) – Beeker boasted a 1.85 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 63.1 innings in his first full professional season with the Washington Nationals organization. The left-handed pitcher struck out 78 in 38 appearances working primarily out of the bullpen a season after being named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Ryan Brown (High-A Great Lakes Loons; extended spring training rehab) – Brown punched out 92 in 48.0 frames between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes in the Dodgers system.
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 (AAA Sugar Land Space Cowboys) – 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.
Hunter Dobbins (High-A West Michigan Whitecaps) – Dobbins posted seven hits including three doubles and a home run with seven walks, four RBI and five runs scored in his first season in the Tigers organization. The former Ball State catcher played in 20 games, with 19 of those on the Florida Complex League Tigers.
Dylan Grego (High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps) – Grego was the Lake Elsinore Storm player of the week late in the season after notching 10 hits, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs, for five RBI and scoring six runs. Drafted in the 13th round by the San Diego Padres, Grego played mostly second base with some work at shortstop early on in his professional career.
Jacob Hartlaub (Low-A Charleston RiverDogs) – Hartlaub struck out seven in 10.0 innings across six appearances and tallied a 3.60 ERA, one win and one save in his first taste of professional baseball. The right-handed pitcher was selected in the 14th round of the 2025 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Drey Jameson (AAA Reno Aces) – The right-handed pitcher worked in three games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 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 (AAA Durham Bulls) – 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 in his first full season in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The right-handed pitcher has posted a career 2.69 ERA with 269 strikeouts in 194.1 innings in the minor leagues.
Chayce McDermott (AAA Norfolk Tides) – McDermott punched out nine across 8.2 innings for the Baltimore Orioles 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 (AAA Louisville Bats) – Nicolas was traded from the Pirates to the Reds back in early March while competing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. 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.
Trennor O'Donnell (Low-A Salem RidgeYaks (Red Sox); extended spring training rehab) – O'Donnell struck out 24 in 23.0 frames while tallying a 4.70 ERA in seven appearances for Low-A Salem before missing the majority of the season due to injury. The right-handed pitcher was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week in late April.
Tyler Schweitzer (AAA Charlotte Knights) – Schweitzer posted an 8-2 record, 4.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 99.2 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox organization 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), Chayce McDermott (Orioles) and Kyle Nicolas (Pirates) played in the big leagues last year, while Ty Johnson (Rays) and Tyler Schweitzer (White Sox) are on the doorstep of their Major League debuts as they start this season at Triple-A for their respective organizations.
"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 former Cardinals fared in the 2025 season and what teams they begin the 2026 campaign on.
Merritt Beeker (Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals; extended spring training rehab) – Beeker boasted a 1.85 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 63.1 innings in his first full professional season with the Washington Nationals organization. The left-handed pitcher struck out 78 in 38 appearances working primarily out of the bullpen a season after being named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Ryan Brown (High-A Great Lakes Loons; extended spring training rehab) – Brown punched out 92 in 48.0 frames between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes in the Dodgers system.
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 (AAA Sugar Land Space Cowboys) – 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.
Hunter Dobbins (High-A West Michigan Whitecaps) – Dobbins posted seven hits including three doubles and a home run with seven walks, four RBI and five runs scored in his first season in the Tigers organization. The former Ball State catcher played in 20 games, with 19 of those on the Florida Complex League Tigers.
Dylan Grego (High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps) – Grego was the Lake Elsinore Storm player of the week late in the season after notching 10 hits, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs, for five RBI and scoring six runs. Drafted in the 13th round by the San Diego Padres, Grego played mostly second base with some work at shortstop early on in his professional career.
Jacob Hartlaub (Low-A Charleston RiverDogs) – Hartlaub struck out seven in 10.0 innings across six appearances and tallied a 3.60 ERA, one win and one save in his first taste of professional baseball. The right-handed pitcher was selected in the 14th round of the 2025 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Drey Jameson (AAA Reno Aces) – The right-handed pitcher worked in three games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 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 (AAA Durham Bulls) – 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 in his first full season in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The right-handed pitcher has posted a career 2.69 ERA with 269 strikeouts in 194.1 innings in the minor leagues.
Chayce McDermott (AAA Norfolk Tides) – McDermott punched out nine across 8.2 innings for the Baltimore Orioles 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 (AAA Louisville Bats) – Nicolas was traded from the Pirates to the Reds back in early March while competing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. 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.
Trennor O'Donnell (Low-A Salem RidgeYaks (Red Sox); extended spring training rehab) – O'Donnell struck out 24 in 23.0 frames while tallying a 4.70 ERA in seven appearances for Low-A Salem before missing the majority of the season due to injury. The right-handed pitcher was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week in late April.
Tyler Schweitzer (AAA Charlotte Knights) – Schweitzer posted an 8-2 record, 4.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 99.2 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox organization 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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