After a season marked by both achievements and setbacks, the Miami Hurricanes baseball team is preparing for a new campaign with renewed determination. Last year, the Hurricanes advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Hattiesburg Regional, where they defeated top-seeded Southern Miss and reached the Super Regionals for the first time since 2016. Their postseason run ended narrowly against Louisville, falling just one run short of reaching the College World Series.
Reflecting on last season, fifth-year senior outfielder Derek Williams said, “Last year was super cool. I mean, the team that we had last year, we had a lot of great guys. From the outside, everybody probably thought that we weren’t going to go as far, but from the inside, we knew what the team was capable of. Going to the regional and the super regional was by far the best baseball and the most fun I’ve had. But it kind of left a little dirty taste in my mouth, not making it [and] going all the way. So, this year, the main goal has been to go to Omaha and that’s been our talks from day one, to go all the way this year. That’s been our main focus. That’s the goal this year.”
Head coach J.D. Arteaga echoed those sentiments: “It’s an exciting time. To build off last year’s season and the run we went on at the end there, with the super regionals and really being one run away from getting to Omaha was great, but now it’s about taking that next step and winning that super regional to get where we want to be.”
The Hurricanes open their 2026 season Friday night at Mark Light Field with a three-game series against Lehigh. Miami finished last season with a 35-27 record.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher AJ Ciscar will start in Friday’s opener after an impressive freshman campaign in which he posted a 6-2 record with a 4.46 ERA and earned Freshman All-America honors from D1 Baseball as well as selection to ACC’s All-Freshman Team.
“It’s something I didn’t really expect to happen my sophomore year, but just kind of trusting the process and just going about my business the same way every day,” Ciscar said regarding his Opening Day role. “It’s a blessing to be here … And opening weekend, we’re going in here [to] make a statement, right? We have a new identity, new team, new guys, put together new lineups, a new weekend rotation. We’re going to go in there; we’re going to set a tone… We’re going to play our brand of baseball and continue to play that game for the rest of the year.”
Sophomores Lazaro Collera and Tate DeRias will round out Miami’s starting rotation for opening weekend.
Coach Arteaga noted some uncertainty around pitching depth due to key departures: “The big question mark obviously is pitching and [it’s] really more because of amount of innings that we lost… We lost entire bullpen and two out of our four starters… I think it’s just unknown… I wouldn’t say I’d call it weakness but just unknown of it is our biggest concern right now.” The addition of transfers Ryan Bilka and Frank Menendez (joining in March) is expected help bolster staff.
Offensively, Miami brings back several experienced hitters including third baseman Daniel Cuvet who led last year’s squad with .372 batting average along with 18 home runs and 84 RBI; he has received multiple preseason accolades such as first-team All-American honors from Perfect Game,D1Baseball,and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Cuvet also appears on Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.Other returning contributors include Williams (.372), Jake Ogden (.336), Max Galvin (.313),and transfer catcher Alex Sosa(.291 at NC State).
“I think this is most potent offense we’ve had since I’ve been here,and by lot,”Cuvet said.“I’m excited for that,and I think we’re going swing it really well,and there’s going be lot guys besides me just producing lot for us,and it’s going be huge.”
Williams added,“The offense is definitely going hit for sure.We’ve got lot guys coming back from last year who had lot offense going with me Max Ogden[Cuvet],and then we’re also plug some new guys like Sosa,Vance[Sheahan],Brylan West,and Cian Copeland…so we’re going have lot experience…and balanced.”
Despite changes in roster,the team’s expectations remain unchanged—reaching Omaha remains central aim.“I don’t think amount wins regular season something kind judge ourselves by here,”Arteaga said.“It’s putting another banner wall getting Omaha getting[College]World Series.So,to me,we got hot right time last year won some big games then things came together right time.We could win 45 games,[but if]we’re not Omaha,it’s not great season here.So our goal still same.It’s being one those final eight College World Series.”
