Thompson Adds 10 to Baylor Baseball’s 2026 Roster

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Aug. 22, 2025

Thompson Adds 10 to Baylor Baseball’s 2026 Roster
Bears add four from portal, four junior college products and two freshmen
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball head coach Mitch Thompson announced the additions of 10 players to the 2026 roster on Friday, including four from the transfer portal, four from junior college ranks and two freshmen.

The newcomers are made up of five right-handed pitchers, a two-way infielder/right-handed pitcher, an infielder, an outfielder, a first baseman and a utility player. All 10 will join the Bears roster for the fall season. The current roster total now sits at 37, including 20 returners and seven previously announce true freshmen who signed with BU last fall.

“I am super excited to bring these 10 young men into our program,” Thompson said. “We think that this group of six talented arms and four position players all have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program. We expect several of these position players to compete for starting jobs and believe very strongly in the caliber and talent of the arms we have added on the mound. These guys all fit our culture – they are mature, talented players that excel in the classroom and are all driven for success on the field.”

“Summer time is an incredibly busy time for our baseball staff and I can’t thank our coaches and staff enough for their tremendous effort. Assistant coaches Zach Dillon, Jim Blair and Sean Snedeker, along with Director of Pitching and Player Development Brian Furlong and members of our graduate assistant analytics team were relentless in identifying and getting these guys to our campus. These additions, along with our previous recruits and returning players, complete our fall roster and will help make for an incredibly competitive environment around Baylor Ballpark. Our coaches and I can’t wait to get started with them all.”

Tyce Armstrong | 1B | Magnolia, Texas | UT Arlington | R/R | 6-4 | 225
Redshirt senior transfer from UT Arlington where he hit .297 with 17 home runs and 87 RBIs across three seasons … An All-WAC Second Team Designated Hitter in 2025 after posting .319 AVG and hitting a career-high 12 home runs … Drove in 46 runs and scored 46 himself … Slugged .556 with 13 doubles in addition to his dozen homers … Logged 19 multi-hit games and drove in at least two runs 14 times … Went 4-for-6 and hit a home run in two games against Baylor in 2025 … Hit .241 with four home runs and 25 RBIs as a redshirt sophomore in 2024 … In 24 games, batted .354 as a redshirt freshman with one home run and 16 RBIs … Did not play during his true freshman season …  A two-time WAC All-Academic Team member … Prepped at Magnolia High School where he posted a career .395 batting average and 1.230 OPS … Was a first-team All-District third baseman … Mother, Patty, was a national champion diver at the University of Texas … Father, Kenny, dove at the University of Texas, is in the UT Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame, and competed in the 1976 Olympics.

Charlie Atkinson | RHP | Katy, Texas | Dallas Baptist | R/R | 6-5 | 220
A third-year transfer right-handed pitcher from Dallas Baptist … Coming off strong summer in the Appalachian League where he posted 0.50 ERA across 13 relief appearances for the Bristol State Liners … Was named the Appy League’s Pitcher of the Month in June … Earned seven saves this summer … Struck out 22 batters and walked 10 in 18 innings … Made just one appearance in 2025 for DBU, tossing an inning and allowing one earned run on two hits with one strikeout … Posted a 2-0 record and 4.25 ERA as a true freshman in 2024 across 20 appearances, including two starts for the Patriots … Struck out 23 batters and walked 18 across 36 innings … Opposing hitters hit .236 against him … Only allowed two of his 15 inherited runners to score on the season … Collected one save in final outing of 2024 campaign at Middle Tennessee, tossing three scoreless frames and striking out a pair … Earned his first-career win in collegiate debut against SEMO on Feb. 18, 2024, with 1.1 scoreless innings … Picked up win number two against Oklahoma in his second appearance, going 2.1 scoreless with two punchouts … Prepped at Cinco Ranch High School where he was named the District MVP in 2023 after leading the Cougars to a district title … Was tabbed a First Team All-State and All-Area utility player as a junior … Garnered Academic All-District praise in 2021 … Son of Erica and Ben Atkinson, who both played collegiate tennis … Sister, Sophie, runs track at Texas.

Robert De La Garza | INF | Eagle Pass, Texas | Odessa College | R/R | 5-11 | 185
A junior infielder from Odessa College where he led the team with a .415 batting average in 2025 … Was named a JUCO All-American … Earned Region 5 All-Conference honors … Racked up 88 hits, including 39 for extra bases with an eye-popping 26 doubles, seven triples and six home runs in 2025 … Drove in 51 runs and scored 68 … Swiped 20 bases and was caught stealing just five times … Saw limited action as a freshman in 2024, posting a .389 batting average in just eight games … Drove in two runs and scored twice … Prepped at Eagle Pass High School, where he was an All-State player, District MVP and an all-conference selection.

Luke DeVasher | RHP | Mansfield, Texas | Tyler JC | R/R | 6-0 | 185
Junior right-handed pitcher from Tyler Junior College who posted a career 2.22 ERA across 27 appearances in two seasons for the Apaches … Earned a First Team All-Conference nod as a reliever … Went 1-1 in nine relief appearances as a sophomore in 2025, logging a 2.21 ERA in 20.1 innings of work … Struck out 17 and walked just five … Also earned one save … Made 18 appearances, including one start, as a freshman in 2024 and went 4-2 on the year … Worked a 2.23 ERA in rookie season with 38 strikeouts and 21 walks in 36.1 innings … Also earned one save in 2024 … Prepped at Mansfield Legacy High School, where he was an all-district pitcher and voted team’s most valuable pitcher.

Cade Dodson | INF/OF | Gunter, Texas | UT Arlington | L/R | 5-9 | 170
Versatile sophomore transfer from UT Arlington who can play both infield and outfield … Hit .322 as a freshman at UTA with 55 hits, including 14 doubles, one triple and four home runs … Drove in 25 runs and scored 35 … Also stole 12 bases … Posted 21 multi-hit games for the Mavericks … Prepped at Gunter High School … Garnered Hitter of the Year praise in his district … Father, Jeremy, played college baseball at Baylor (1996-98), and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals.

Cade Hansen | RHP | New Braunfels, Texas | Wisconsin-Whitewater | R/R | 6-3 | 200
Senior right-handed pitcher transfer from Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater where he helped the Warhawks to 2025 Division III National Championship … Was named to the WIAC All-Conference First Team … An ABCA All-Region IX First Team selection … Collected D3Baseball All-Region IX Second Team honors … Led the Warhawks with 84 innings pitched and made 15 starts as a junior in 2025 … Posted a 2.68 ERA and went 12-1 on the year … Threw three complete games, including one shutout … Struck out 84 batters and walked just 13 across 84 innings … Went 4-0 as a sophomore in 14 appearances … Posted a 4.59 ERA and racked up 32 strikeouts in 33.1 innings while walking just seven … Made seven relief appearances as a freshman in 2023 and posted a 2.35 ERA … Collected on save … Pitched just 7.2 innings but struck out six and walked just one batter … Prepped at Smithson Valley High School where he was an All-District third baseman.

Brady Janusek | OF | Argyle, Texas | Liberty Christian HS | R/R | 6-3 | 205
True freshman out of Argyle, Texas … Prepped at Liberty Christian High School where he was a four-time all-district honoree … Named the TAPPS Male Athlete of the Year … Garnered First Team All-State praise … Hit .325 in his prep career … Hit 17 home runs and drove in over 100 runs across his prep career … Also stole 54 bases … Was also a standout wide receiver on the football team as a three-time all-district selection and four-time all-state selection at multiple positions … A two-time state champion football player … Also competed in basketball and ran track.

Luke McLeod | INF/RHP | Sour Lake, Texas | Hardin-Jefferson HS | R/R | 6-0 | 185
True freshman product of Sour Lake, Texas … Prepped at Hardin-Jefferson High School where he was named the District’s Offensive MVP and overall MVP … Collected All-State recognition as a third baseman in 2025 … Was an All-State pitcher and third baseman in 2024 … Was named the Beaumont Interprise Super Gold Player of the Year in 2024 … Is the all-time hits leader at HJHS … Hit .463 with three home runs and 20 RBIs … Also stole 19 bases … Posted a 1.03 ERA with a 6-2 record … Pitched 67.2 innings and struck out 85 batters.

Cade Waibel | RHP | Austin, Texas | McLennan CC | R/R | 6-4 | 225
Junior right-handed reliever from Waco’s own McLennan CC … Named a Second Team All-Region relief pitcher in NJCAA Region 5 North … Made 21 appearances, including one start, in 2025 and posted a 2.22 ERA … Collected six saves … Went 2-2 with 1.31 WHIP … Struck out 45 batters and walked just 18 across 28.1 innings … Made 12 appearances as a freshman in 2024, including one start, and worked a 2.55 ERA … Went 2-0 with a 1.25 WHIP … Struck out 12 batters in 17.2 innings … Prepped at Round Rock High School where he was an academic all-state selection … Also earned First Team All-District honors …

Zack Wallace | RHP | Monroe Township, N.J. | Rowan-Gloucester | R/R | 6-0 | 185
Sophomore right-handed pitcher from Rowan-Gloucester College … Helped the Falcons to a Division 3 Junior College National Championship … Went 8-0 on the year after making 15 appearances … Posted a 2.02 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP … Struck out 72 batters across 49 innings … Prepped at Monroe Township High School where he was the 2024 GMC Pitcher of the Year … Also named to the New Jersey All-State Second Team.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.



-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________



Max Calderone | Director of Athletics Communications (Baseball, Football)

Department of Athletics | Baylor University

C: 254-265-1639



[signature_4121937235]<http://baylorbears.com/>


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