Ball State University Athletics
Cardinals in the Pros
June 30, 2026 | Baseball
Midseason Update
Ball State baseball alumni are competing at various levels of professional baseball, including six Cardinals who have played in Major League Baseball so far this year. Below is a look at how former Ball State baseball players have fared in the first half of the 2026 season.
Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – The 2024 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year and 11th round pick by Washington, Beeker is currently on the 60-day injured list a season after posting a 3-2 record, 1.85 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched across 38 games for the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals in 2025.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – Brown is on the 60-day injured list as well but tallied 92 strikeouts in 48.0 innings across 37 games in his first professional season in 2025. The right-handed pitcher who was selected in the ninth round by Los Angeles in 2023 boasted one of the top strikeouts per nine innings pitched (17.25) ratios in the minor leagues last year.
Alex Call (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Call has been a steady contributor to the reigning World Series champions, including recently hitting his first home run of the year in a 12-3 win on June 23 at Minnesota. The outfielder has produced a .267/.373/.343 slash line with 28 hits, five doubles, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored while playing in 51 games so far this season.
Zach Cole (Astros system) – Cole has mainly split time between Houston and the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys this season, and he's tallied three home runs and eight RBI in 51 at bats with the Astros including a homer in his first MLB game of the season on May 4 against the Dodgers.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – A catcher who was signed by Detroit in 2024, Dobbins has split time between Low-A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan this year. The right-handed hitter has been productive in power categories as of late, as he's produced five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBI and a .585 slugging percentage in the month of June for the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Dylan Grego (Padres system) – Grego has made stops at High-A Fort Wayne, Low-A Lake Elsinore and even Triple-A El Paso in his first full professional campaign. The switch-hitting shortstop went 9-for-18 with three doubles, two RBI and four runs scored in a five-game stint with the El Paso Chihuahuas in mid-June and has posted a .314/.379/.431 slash line in 51 at bats during the month of June between El Paso and Lake Elsinore.
Jacob Hartlaub (Rays system) – A 14th round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2025 draft, Hartlaub has struck out 28 in 23.2 innings pitched this year for the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs. The right-handed pitcher holds a 3-1 record with three saves and 35 strikeouts in 33.2 innings pitched so far in his professional career.
Drey Jameson (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Jameson got called back up to the big leagues on June 6 and has eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings across six appearances with Arizona. The former first round pick by the Diamondbacks boasts a career 6-2 record and 2.99 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched in Major League Baseball.
Ty Johnson (Rays system) – Johnson has collected the May International League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Week (June 29 after 5.0 no-hit innings with nine strikeouts) accolades recently. The right-handed pitcher has posted 56 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched with a 3-1 record, 2.64 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across nine starts so far this year.
Chayce McDermott (Dodgers system) – Acquired by Los Angeles in an April 16 trade from Baltimore, McDermott has worked 2.1 innings in two games this season with the Dodgers. The former fourth round pick has a 4.95 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 20.0 innings pitched across 20 appearances with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
Kyle Nicolas (Orioles system) – Nicolas was traded from Cincinnati to Baltimore on June 4 after appearing in seven games with the Reds. The right-handed pitcher has posted 26 strikeouts in 20.0 innings between stints with the Triple-A Louisville Bats and Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – The eighth round pick in the 2023 draft by Boston, O'Donnell has pitched in three games in recent weeks after missing much of the 2025 season due to injury. O'Donnell struck out five in 3.0 shutout frames on June 27 and has 10 punchouts in 7.1 innings pitched so far this season.
Tyler Schweitzer (Chicago White Sox) – Schweitzer made his major league debut on April 8, getting four outs in relief against the Orioles. The left-handed pitcher has made three more appearances with the White Sox since then along with a 2-2 record and 33 strikeouts in 40.2 frames with Triple-A Charlotte this year.
Merritt Beeker (Nationals system) – The 2024 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year and 11th round pick by Washington, Beeker is currently on the 60-day injured list a season after posting a 3-2 record, 1.85 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched across 38 games for the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals in 2025.
Ryan Brown (Dodgers system) – Brown is on the 60-day injured list as well but tallied 92 strikeouts in 48.0 innings across 37 games in his first professional season in 2025. The right-handed pitcher who was selected in the ninth round by Los Angeles in 2023 boasted one of the top strikeouts per nine innings pitched (17.25) ratios in the minor leagues last year.
Alex Call (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Call has been a steady contributor to the reigning World Series champions, including recently hitting his first home run of the year in a 12-3 win on June 23 at Minnesota. The outfielder has produced a .267/.373/.343 slash line with 28 hits, five doubles, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored while playing in 51 games so far this season.
Zach Cole (Astros system) – Cole has mainly split time between Houston and the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys this season, and he's tallied three home runs and eight RBI in 51 at bats with the Astros including a homer in his first MLB game of the season on May 4 against the Dodgers.
Hunter Dobbins (Tigers system) – A catcher who was signed by Detroit in 2024, Dobbins has split time between Low-A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan this year. The right-handed hitter has been productive in power categories as of late, as he's produced five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBI and a .585 slugging percentage in the month of June for the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Dylan Grego (Padres system) – Grego has made stops at High-A Fort Wayne, Low-A Lake Elsinore and even Triple-A El Paso in his first full professional campaign. The switch-hitting shortstop went 9-for-18 with three doubles, two RBI and four runs scored in a five-game stint with the El Paso Chihuahuas in mid-June and has posted a .314/.379/.431 slash line in 51 at bats during the month of June between El Paso and Lake Elsinore.
Jacob Hartlaub (Rays system) – A 14th round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2025 draft, Hartlaub has struck out 28 in 23.2 innings pitched this year for the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs. The right-handed pitcher holds a 3-1 record with three saves and 35 strikeouts in 33.2 innings pitched so far in his professional career.
Drey Jameson (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Jameson got called back up to the big leagues on June 6 and has eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings across six appearances with Arizona. The former first round pick by the Diamondbacks boasts a career 6-2 record and 2.99 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched in Major League Baseball.
Ty Johnson (Rays system) – Johnson has collected the May International League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Week (June 29 after 5.0 no-hit innings with nine strikeouts) accolades recently. The right-handed pitcher has posted 56 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched with a 3-1 record, 2.64 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across nine starts so far this year.
Chayce McDermott (Dodgers system) – Acquired by Los Angeles in an April 16 trade from Baltimore, McDermott has worked 2.1 innings in two games this season with the Dodgers. The former fourth round pick has a 4.95 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 20.0 innings pitched across 20 appearances with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
Kyle Nicolas (Orioles system) – Nicolas was traded from Cincinnati to Baltimore on June 4 after appearing in seven games with the Reds. The right-handed pitcher has posted 26 strikeouts in 20.0 innings between stints with the Triple-A Louisville Bats and Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
Trennor O'Donnell (Red Sox system) – The eighth round pick in the 2023 draft by Boston, O'Donnell has pitched in three games in recent weeks after missing much of the 2025 season due to injury. O'Donnell struck out five in 3.0 shutout frames on June 27 and has 10 punchouts in 7.1 innings pitched so far this season.
Tyler Schweitzer (Chicago White Sox) – Schweitzer made his major league debut on April 8, getting four outs in relief against the Orioles. The left-handed pitcher has made three more appearances with the White Sox since then along with a 2-2 record and 33 strikeouts in 40.2 frames with Triple-A Charlotte this year.
Players Mentioned
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