The Middlebury baseball team opens its 2026 campaign on Saturday, February 28 with a home doubleheader against Colby-Sawyer from the Baseball & Softball Complex. Last season, the Panthers earned 28 wins en route to their fourth NESCAC title and fifth berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Aiden Han and Gus Parker headline the returners to the outfield. Appearing in 29 contests, Han was second on the team in batting average (.345) and walks (26). He added 29 hits and 13 runs batted in (RBI) while compiling a .513 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .983 fielding percentage. Parker logged a .302 batting average over 30 contests with 29 starts, collecting 29 hits and 17 RBI.

Leading the Middlebury infield are Will Ashley and Carter Chi. Appearing in all 41 contests, the corner infielder leads all returners with 45 hits and 31 RBI, including a program-record 10 driven in at Rutgers-Newark. Defensively, Ashley had a team-high 220 putouts and contributed to 20 double-plays as the primary first baseman. Chi comes off a season that saw him finish third in runs (31) and fourth in both RBI (27) and hits (34). The middle infielder added a team-high 114 assists and 25 double plays while sharing the top spot with 11 stolen bases.  Brayden Matthews posted a .325 batting average and a .409 on-base percentage alongside turning 16 double plays.

The Panthers return multiple pitchers to the rotation. An All-NESCAC Second-Team selection, Stefano Yozzo logged a 1.42 earned run average (ERA) and struck out 26 batters while tying for the top spot with 19 appearances. Christian Zebrowski paced the team in innings pitched (45.1) over 10 starts, earning four victories and tallying 35 strikeouts. Dylan Knightly enjoyed a strong year for the navy and white, leading the squad with a 5-0 mark over 31.2 innings pitched. Emmet George paced the Middlebury staff in strikeouts (44) and logged 40.1 innings on the mound.

Leonard begins his 10th year at the helm of the program and welcomes 13 new players to the roster. Mike Phelps and Devin Burke return to the staff, while Henry Gustavson ‘25.5 joins the squad.