Each game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at Huskystats.com.
DAWG BITES
- Ethan Swidler and Mic Paul each hit a home run in Washington’s game against Houston, the first home runs of the season for the Huskies.
- Wilson, Swidler, Paul, and Porras each had a multi-hit game on Monday.
- Mic Paul leads the team with a .400 batting average (2-5 in in two starts).
- Ethan Swidler leads the team with five total hits (5-15).
- Bryce Johnson and Tyler Walker made their Husky debuts on Monday, making it 17 Huskies who have made their debut this season
- The Huskies feature a team comprised of 13 returners from last year and 23 incomers. Of those new players, 16 are transfers and seven are freshmen.
- Three players were named Big Ten Players to Watch ahead of the 2026 season. Hayden Lewis, Jackson Thomas, and Casen Taggart were each named.
- Three Diamond Dawgs were named to the D1Baseball Preseason Player Rankings. Sam DeCarlo was named a top-50 shortstop, Casen Taggart came in as a top-50 first baseman, and Jackson Thomas was named a top-200 starting pitcher in the nation.
- Washington welcomed four new staff members to Montlake ahead of the 2026 season. Kade Kryzsko joins as an assistant coach, Justin Jacobs is the new recruiting coordinator, Scott Junck serves as the director of baseball operations, and Jake Rook is the director of baseball analytics.
- The Huskies were picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten conference by D1Baseball.
- Sam DeCarlo was named a star power standout by D1Baseball after his impressive .971 fielding percentage over the last three seasons and 57 games started as a shortstop a season ago.
- Colton Bower, Casen Taggart, and Jackson Thomas were listed as glue guys by D1Baseball while Mic Paul and Ethan Swidler were tabbed as top newcomers for the Diamond Dawgs.
SECOND SEASON UNDER SMITH
On July 9, 2024, Eddie Smith was named the 25th head coach of University of Washington baseball, announced by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun. Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley. Smith begins his second season at the helm of the Huskies in 2026.
UP NEXT
The Diamond Dawgs continue the 2026 start on the road, facing LMU in Los Angeles from Friday to Sunday this weekend. The Huskies hold the edge in the all-time series 7-6, with the last matchup coming in 2021.
OPENING WEEKEND
The Diamond Dawgs opened the season at the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge, facing stiff competition in their four contests in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Huskies faced two ranked teams in No. 17 NC State and No. 21 Wake Forest before facing Boston College and finally Houston. The Huskies bats came alive against Houston with two home runs, seven total runs and 11 total hits, eight more than their opponent. Washington will look to build on the offensive momentum in Los Angeles.
BOMBS AWAY
The Huskies recorded their first multi-home run game of the season on Monday against Houston. Mic Paul sent out a solo shot to get things started before Ethan Swidler tagged a two-run homer later in the contest. It was Paul’s first career home run and the 19th of Swidler’s career. Both players recorded multi-hit games on Monday as well.
Swidler currently leads the team with five total hits on the season and 15 at bats while Paul leads the team in batting average at .400.
STREAKY DAWGS
Ty Cowan and Blake Wilson are off to quick starts for the Huskies. The pair both reached base safely in all four games of the opening weekend in Puerto Rico. In addition, Cowan hit safely in all the games and owns the Huskies second-best OBP (.467) with only two strikeouts. The only Husky with a better on base percentage is Aidain Dougherty, who has a 2:1 walk to strikeout ration and a .500 OBP.
BRYCE JOHNSON DEBUT START
Bryce Johnson made his first appearance for Washington, starting the game against Houston. It was also his first career start. The sophomore performed well, throwing 5.0 frames, the most of any Husky starter over the opening weekend. He fanned three batters while allowing four hits and two runs.
DAWG DEBUTS
17 Diamond Dawgs made their first career appearance in Puerto Rico. Position player debuts included Ian Draper, Ty Cowan, Aidan Dougherty, Drew Johnson, Mic Paul, Daniel Porras, Kevin Spear, Ethan Swidler, and Landon Young. Pitching debuts include Carson Boesel, Bryce Johnson, Noah Kenney, Hayden Lewis, Liam Lierman, Jay Miller, Jack Wade, and Tyler Walker.
FRESH FACES
Washington features a new-look team in 2026, including 23 newcomers, 16 of whom are transfer players. The Huskies return 13 letterwinners from a season ago, including nine position player starters.
FOUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS
The Huskies welcome four new members to the Diamond Dawg staff. Kade Kryzsko has joined as an assistant coach, Justin Jacobs is the team’s new recruiting coordinator, Scott Junck is the Director of Baseball Operations, and Jake Rook is the director of baseball analytics.
THREE DAWGS NAMED CONFERENCE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hayden Lewis, Casen Taggart, and Jackson Thomas have each been named Big Ten Players to Watch, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Hayden Lewis, the newest of the three Huskies, joins Washington after two seasons and 22 appearances with New Mexico State. The senior right-handed pitcher tossed a career-high 28.2 innings last season in seven starts. He struck out 25 batters while allowing a .312 batting average.
Casen Taggart figures to again be a focal part of the Husky offense after leading the the team in batting average (.331), on base percentage (.471), and walks (46). The senior firstbaseman started in 50 games a season ago and had the longest reached-base streak on the team, totaling 31 straight games. His 0.92 walks per game had him ranked No. 33 in the nation, and he also launched six home runs, 11 doubles, and drove in 32 runs.
Jackson Thomas looks to be a key returning pitcher for the Diamond Dawgs after a strong debut on Montlake last season. Thomas threw 71.2 innings last season while making 15 appearances and 13 starts. He became the Huskies’ Saturday starter and collected a 5-4 record while holding teams to a .276 average and 48 strikeouts. He tossed a career-best seven frames at Nebraska (March 8), allowing just four hits and two runs. In his 13 starts, Thomas allowed two or less runs on eight occasions.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Despite Washington’s rise from 17th place in last season’s poll to a fifth place finish, the Huskies have been left out of this season’s Big Ten Preseason Poll. This year, the conference announced the voted top-six finishing programs.
1. UCLA
2. Oregon
3. USC
4. Nebraska
5. Indiana
6. Iowa
PRESEASON PLAYER RANKINGS
Sam DeCarlo, Casen Taggart, and Jackson Thomas were each named in the D1Baseball Preseason Player Rankings.
DeCarlo was named a top-50 shortstop, Taggart was tabbed a top-50 first baseman, and Thomas was named a top-200 starting pitcher.
D1 BASEBALL WASHINGTON OUTLOOK
Strengths
Washington’s greatest strength heading into 2026 is its defensive ability, particularly from the inside out. With most of the rotation and lineup regulars returning, the team boasts experience and cohesion across the diamond.
Question Marks
The Huskies will miss the power production that all-time program home run leader AJ Guerrero provided. While there are several guys in the lineup who can hit it deep, this year’s iteration is encompassed with more gap-to-gap hitters.
Star Power
Shortstop Sam DeCarlo is a defensive standout for Washington, having started 147 games over three years and posting an impressive .971 fielding percentage with just six errors in 57 starts at shortstop last season. After overcoming minor injuries sustained on the Cape, DeCarlo enters his senior year looking to follow-up a career-high .825 OPS in 2025. He could stand to improve his bat-to-ball skills, but he’s undeniably a reliable and winning presence in the Huskies’ lineup.
Glue Guys
Catcher Colton Bower is a defensive asset for Washington, known for his excellent receiving skills and toughness behind the plate. Despite playing through minor injuries in 2025, his grit and leadership made a positive impact on the pitching staff. First baseman Casen Taggart stands out as Washington’s statistically best returning hitter, combining plate discipline with the ability to hit for both average and power. Taggart led the team in hitting at .325 last season, posting a .963 OPS and drawing 50 walks in 226 plate appearances, while also showing athleticism with 10 steals. Presumptive Friday guy Jackson Thomas (5-4, 4.10) returns as a starting arm with the ability to induce weak contact, featuring a fastball in the mid-90s and multiple off-speed pitches he can land for strikes. His best offering is a 78-80 mph slider that held batters to a .230 average.
Picks to Click
Transfer Mic Paul joins Washington after seeing action in 25 games for 2025 National Champion LSU, bringing high-end center field defense thanks to his outstanding reads and closing speed. With two national championship rings and a reputation as a clubhouse leader, Paul’s winning mentality is expected to make an immediate impact in his first year with the Huskies. While his bat still has room to develop, his defensive prowess is critical for Washington.
Top Newcomers
Transfer Ethan Swidler brings high motor energy and proven leadership to Washington, where he will catch and DH after posting a .956 OPS for Lafayette in 2025. Offensively, he’s a middle-of-the-order run producer with exceptional bat control, consistently drawing more walks than strikeouts over the past two seasons. His defensive skills, experience managing pitching staffs, and ability to barrel pitchers make for a nice fit in Seattle.
2026 Outlook
The Huskies are one of the better coached programs in the conference and they return the bulk of a team that finished fifth in the Big Ten with a 17-13 record. There’s no reason to think they’re not capable of repeating the success they experienced in 2025.
