The Mid-Major Program That Keeps Producing Pros Liberty University has quietly become one of the more consistent mid-major baseball programs in the country — and the 2026 season provided another reminder that the Flames belong on the national radar. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty finished the 2026 season 43–21 overall and 21–9 in Conference USA, tying the program record for wins in a season. The Flames earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Athens Regional and advanced all the way to the regional final, where their season ended against eventual College World Series participant Georgia. But the postseason run was only part of the story. WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS PROGRAM Liberty has developed into a legitimate player-development program. Four Flames from the 2026 roster were selected in the MLB Draft. Pitcher Ben Blair went in the second round, 49th overall, to the Tampa Bay Rays, making him the second-highest MLB Draft selection in program history. Shortstop Tanner Marsh followed in the ninth round, while pitchers Tyler August and Josh Swink were selected in the 16th and 17th rounds. That gives Liberty 83 MLB Draft selections all-time, and the Flames have had at least one player selected in every MLB Draft since 2000, except for the five-round 2020 draft. The 2026 season also produced significant individual recognition. Marsh was named Conference USA Player of the Year and led the league in runs, hits and defensive assists. Blair was a National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist and finished among the national leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio and WHIP. At the center of it is head coach Scott Jackson, who has led the Flames since 2017. Jackson previously spent eight seasons at North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels reach three College World Series and six consecutive NCAA Regionals before returning to Liberty. Under Jackson, Liberty has established postseason baseball as an expectation rather than an occasional accomplishment. The Flames made three consecutive NCAA Regionals from 2019–2022, with the 2020 season canceled because of COVID-19, and returned to the NCAA Tournament again in 2026.

Saint Mary’s: The Mid-Major Baseball Program That Just Took Down No. 1 UCLA There are mid-major baseball programs that quietly have good seasons, and then there are programs that start forcing the entire college baseball world to pay attention. Saint Mary’s College of California is firmly in the second category. Located in Moraga, California, Saint Mary’s has become one of the fastest-rising programs on the West Coast. The Gaels finished the 2026 season 36–27, won their second consecutive West Coast Conference Tournament Championship, and earned their third NCAA Regional appearance in program history. And then they went to Los Angeles and did something almost nobody saw coming. Saint Mary’s entered the NCAA Los Angeles Regional as the No. 4 seed against No. 1 overall seed UCLA. The Gaels stunned the Bruins 3–2 in the opening game, then came back two days later and eliminated UCLA again with a dramatic 6–5, 10-inning victory. Saint Mary’s became the first No. 4 seed in NCAA Regional history to defeat the No. 1 overall seed in the opening game — and the only team to eliminate the nation's No. 1 seed by beating it twice in the same regional. The run ultimately ended in the regional final, where Saint Mary’s fell 5–2 to Cal Poly. But the significance of the season was already established: the Gaels had reached the first regional final in program history. WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS PROGRAM Saint Mary’s isn't simply having one good season. Head coach Eric Valenzuela has built the Gaels into a legitimate West Coast baseball program. After the 2026 season, Valenzuela had completed his ninth season overall at Saint Mary’s, with the program reaching NCAA Regionals in both 2025 and 2026 and winning consecutive WCC Tournament championships. The development story is just as impressive. Saint Mary’s had four players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, tying the program record for most selections in a single draft. Tanner Griffith went in the 11th round to Kansas City, Diego Castellanos went in the 14th round to the Yankees, and John Damozonio and Jacob Johnson were both selected in the 17th round.

The Mid-Major Program That Just Took the College Baseball World by Storm You may not hear Murray State University mentioned when people talk about college baseball. Maybe you should. The Murray State Racers have quietly transformed themselves into one of the most interesting mid-major programs in the country. After reaching the College World Series in 2025 for the first time in program history, Murray State followed that historic run with another winning season in 2026, proving that the success in Omaha was more than a one-year story. Located in Murray, Kentucky, Murray State University has approximately 8,200 undergraduate students. For the 2026–27 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition is $10,530 per year for Kentucky residents and $15,990 for non-residents, although Murray State also offers regional tuition rates to students from several surrounding states. The Racers compete in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). On the baseball field, Murray State finished the 2026 season 33–27 overall and 15–9 in MVC play. The Racers advanced to the MVC Tournament semifinals after defeating Illinois State and Indiana State before their season ended with a 9–7 loss to Southern Illinois. But here's what makes Murray State especially interesting: this program has gone from mid-major success story to national baseball story in a very short period of time. In 2025, the Racers went 44–17, won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and then went on an incredible NCAA Tournament run. Murray State defeated Georgia Tech and Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional, then defeated Duke in the Super Regional to earn its first-ever trip to Omaha for the College World Series. The Racers ultimately finished tied for seventh nationally after reaching the College World Series, giving the program its highest national finish in school history. And they're developing players. Murray State has produced multiple MLB Draft selections in recent years. In 2024, the Racers had two players selected in the same MLB Draft for the first time since 1994. Pitcher Cade Vernon was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 10th round, while shortstop Drew Vogel was selected by the Houston Astros in the 15th round.

The Mid-Major Program You Probably Aren't Paying Enough Attention To There are more than 300 Division I baseball programs in the country. Some have massive stadiums, national television exposure and rosters filled with highly recruited players. Others quietly develop talent, compete in their conference and give players a legitimate opportunity to build their careers. Radford University is one of those programs—and it deserves more attention. Located in Radford, Virginia, Radford University is home to 6,206 undergraduate students. For the 2026–27 academic year, undergraduate tuition is $8,894 for in-state students and $22,892 for out-of-state students, before mandatory fees. The Highlanders compete in the Big South Conference, giving players the opportunity to play Division I baseball in a conference with a strong regional presence. On the baseball field, Radford finished the 2026 season 25–26 overall and 12–12 in Big South play. The Highlanders advanced to the Big South Tournament before their season came to an end with a loss to Longwood. But here's what makes Radford particularly interesting: the program has a history of developing players who get professional opportunities. Radford's baseball program has produced numerous MLB Draft selections over the years, including Spencer Horwitz, who was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 24th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. The program's all-time draft history also includes former first-round selection Eddie Butler, who was selected 46th overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2012. The 2026 season added another interesting chapter. Raymond Ladd, one of the Highlanders' top arms, entered the season as the Big South's top MLB Draft prospect for the 2026 class. After returning from injury, Ladd became Radford's Friday-night starter and delivered a strong season, helping establish himself as one of the program's premier recent pitching prospects. The Highlanders also had several players recognized by the Big South following the season. Trey Ludy earned First Team All-Conference honors, while Ladd and Junho Son were named to the Second Team.

Fairfield University: The Mid-Major Baseball Program You Should Know You may not hear Fairfield University mentioned when people talk about college baseball. Maybe you should. The Fairfield Stags have quietly built one of the more consistent mid-major baseball programs in the Northeast, and they're continuing to produce players who get noticed. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, Fairfield University has an undergraduate enrollment of 5,464 students. Tuition is $61,390 per year. As a private university, Fairfield does not have separate in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. The Stags compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). On the baseball field, Fairfield finished the 2026 season with a 31–23 overall record and went 20–10 in MAAC play. But here's what makes Fairfield especially interesting: this program has been winning. The Stags recorded their seventh consecutive 30-win season in 2026 and made their fourth straight appearance in the MAAC Championship Series. The program has also won two MAAC regular-season championships and captured the 2025 MAAC Tournament Championship, earning an NCAA Regional appearance. And they're developing players. Matthew Bucciero just became the latest Fairfield player to hear his name called in the MLB Draft. The 2026 MAAC Player of the Year was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round of the 2026 MLB Draft. Bucciero finished his Fairfield career as the program's all-time leader in home runs with 55, RBI with 225, total bases with 494, runs with 221, and walks with 153. His selection made him the 22nd Fairfield player ever selected in the MLB Draft. And he's not the only recent example. Charlie Pagliarini was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, becoming Fairfield's 21st all-time draft pick. The program is also entering a new chapter under head coach Brian Fay. Fay spent the previous eight years within the Fairfield baseball program before taking over as head coach following the 2026 season, giving him extensive familiarity with the players, program and culture he now leads.