Central Missouri Fall Report: New Faces, Same Standards in Warrensburg

The Central Missouri Mules enter the 2026 season with the familiar weight of high expectations and the sting of a narrowly missed national title. Coming off a remarkable 48-14 campaign in 2025, a year in which they secured the MIAA Regular Season Championship with a dominant 29-7 conference mark and captured the Central Region title, the Mules saw their season culminate as the National Runner-Up for the second time in five years, playing one of the most competitive best-of-3 series in college baseball history against Tampa.

Under the steady guidance of Head Coach Kyle Crookes, now entering his 12th season at the helm, the program has become a perennial powerhouse, boasting eight MIAA titles and five World Series appearances during his tenure. Crookes currently holds the fourth-highest winning percentage among active head coaches at .752, a testament to the culture of excellence established at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. Despite the recent success, the 2026 squad faces a significant transition, returning only 43.9% of its total production from a year ago.

The Offense

The Mules' offense faces a substantial rebuild after losing the top five hitters from last year's lineup, a group that contributed to the team vacating positions at catcher, third base, and the entire outfield. In 192 ABs, Cole Kreisel hit .328 with 9 doubles and 29 RBI, and he is expected to lead the infield if he can remain healthy following a fall injury. Joining him in the middle infield is Grant Hollister, an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection who, in 177 ABs, hit .333 with 16 doubles and 49 RBI. At first base, senior Chase Wilcox returns after a season where, in 216 ABs, he hit .278 with 11 doubles and 46 RBI, while also earning a spot on the All-MIAA Gold Glove Team. Behind the plate, Kaleb Ceola looks to build on the opportunity he received last season; in 54 ABs, he hit .315 with 4 doubles and 10 RBI.

To replenish the departed power, Crookes has brought in several key transfers. Jackson Bryant, a senior transfer from Missouri Western, brings a career .312 average and 29 doubles over three seasons to the corner infield. Outfielder Kaiden Ashton, a senior transfer from Kansas, joins the program after hitting over .400 in back-to-back seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Another impact newcomer is senior catcher Michael Smosna, a transfer who spent the fall at West Virginia after a stellar 2025 at D3 McMurry, where, in 164 ABs, he hit .439 with 18 doubles, 8 HR, and 58 RBI. Junior outfielder Ryker Edwards also joins the mix after transferring from Louisiana Tech; he posted a .369 average with 12 doubles, 10 HR, and 54 RBI in 203 ABs for Johnson County CC last year. While the coaching staff notes the lineup may be less powerful in terms of home runs this season, the focus remains on finding consistency at vacated spots like third base, which will be settled by a committee including Harrison Bryant, Collin Dobson, and Cole Young.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense retools, the pitching staff remains a primary strength, returning 56.6% of its innings from the previous season. The rotation is anchored by Jack Scott, an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection who posted a 4-1 record with a 4.41 ERA in 85.2 IP. Scott proved to be a reliable workhorse, leading the staff in innings and starts while maintaining a solid K/BB ratio of 2.43. Joining him is fellow junior Jack Kreisman, who finished with a 3-3 record and a 6.06 ERA in 78.2 IP. Kreisman ranked second in the conference with 15 games started, demonstrating his durability as a rotation staple. The staff also benefits from the return of Chris Massey, a lefty who earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors after recording a 3-1 record with a 5.75 ERA in 36.0 IP, primarily as a high-volume reliever.

The bullpen will look to Cale Willson to provide maturity and personality, while the freshman class is noted for its deep talent. The challenge for the staff will be replacing the "high-leverage arms" that departed, but the collective performance this fall suggests the mound will be a foundational piece for the Mules in 2026.

Key Departures

The Mules must find ways to replace several decorated stars who were instrumental in the 2025 run. JD McReynolds, the D2 Baseball Reliever of the Year and a First Team All-American, was drafted in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers after posting an elite 1.41 ERA and 95 strikeouts in just 57.1 IP. Starting pitcher Nathan Hall was also taken in the MLB Draft, going in the 6th round to the New York Mets after a season where he recorded a 3.07 ERA in limited action. Behind the plate, Chase Heath—a D2 Baseball Second Team All-American in 2024—was drafted in the 20th round by the St. Louis Cardinals after hitting .368 with 9 HR and 59 RBI in 152 ABs.

Offensively, the losses are just as steep. Jacob Steele, the MIAA Co-Player of the Year and ABCA First Team All-Central Region selection, leaves a massive void at third base after hitting .373 with 13 HR and 64 RBI in 252 ABs. The outfield loses Vance Tobol, a Second Team All-American who hit .365 with 22 HR and 76 RBI, and Dayvin Johnson, a First Team All-MIAA selection who hit .343 with 16 HR and 64 RBI. Other notable departures include outfielder Isaiah Keller (.304 BA, 63 RBI) and reliable arms Evan O'Toole (5-0, 4.09 ERA) and Jake Wilson (6-1, 2 SV).

Schedule & Outlook

The Mules open their 2026 campaign on January 30th at the Houston Winter Invitational, a premier event held at Daikin Park. Their first contest is a Friday evening matchup against Rollins, followed by games against North Greenville and Ashland. North Greenville and Ashland are both regional powerhouses, with the North Greenville Trailblazers coming off a 45-15 season and Ashland finishing 37-19. This opening weekend in Houston will serve as a "proving ground" for a young roster facing top-tier competition.

Following the tournament, Central Missouri returns to Warrensburg for their home opener on February 6th against Arkansas Tech, a team that finished 32-23 and made a Central Regional appearance last season. The conference schedule will be grueling as always, featuring key matchups against Pittsburg State—who reached the Central Super Regional—and the University of Central Oklahoma, the defending MIAA Tournament Champions. If the Mules can find consistent production from their new-look lineup to support their deep pitching staff, they remain the team to beat in the Central Region.

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