Tampa Fall Report: Dynasty in the Sunshine State

The University of Tampa entered the 2025 season with the weight of a legacy on its shoulders, and it responded by cementing its place as the greatest dynasty in Division II history. The Spartans finished the year with a program-record 55 wins against just 10 losses, capturing their ninth consecutive Sunshine State Conference title with a dominant 27-3 league mark. After battling through the loser's bracket in Cary, North Carolina, the Spartans defeated Central Missouri 11-5 in a winner-take-all finale to secure back-to-back National Championships. This victory marked the 10th national title for the program—the most in DII history—and the 7th under the legendary Joe Urso. Now entering his 26th season at the helm with a career record of 1062-297-1, Urso faces the monumental task of replacing a historic senior class that returned only 18.4% of its total production from the championship run.

The Offense

The Spartan lineup will look drastically different in 2026, as the team returns only 25.4% of its plate appearances. Leading the charge of returners is 2B Brayden Woodburn, a Second Team All-SSC selection who anchored the middle of the order last spring. In 214 ABs, Woodburn hit .374 with 16 doubles, 8 HR, and 57 RBI while ranking 6th in the conference in batting average. He is joined by catcher Jhoander Irigoyen, who earned Second Team All-SSC honors after a season where he hit .313 with 15 doubles and 37 RBI in 166 ABs. Outfielder Maddox King also returns to the grass after hitting .266 with 12 doubles and 29 RBI in 139 ABs, providing veteran stability in center field.

To bolster the depleted ranks, Joe Urso hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in high-impact bats like outfielder Jordan Evans from Mississippi College. Evans, a First Team All-Gulf South selection, was an absolute force last year; in 218 ABs, he hit .347 with 12 doubles, 13 HR, and 50 RBI while swiping 26 bases. Another key addition is 1B/OF Jake Books, a transfer from Coastal Carolina who hit .278 with 15 doubles and 11 HR during his time at the D1 level. On the dirt, shortstop Jack Martinez arrives from Hillsborough CC after a season where he hit .327 with 14 doubles and 5 HR in 229 ABs. The Spartans also added C/INF Nik Pereira, who hit .339 with 11 HR and 45 RBI at Florida Southwestern, and Jesse Ponce, who hit .370 with 28 doubles and 107 RBI over two years at NOC-Enid.

The Pitching Staff

The mound sees an even greater turnover, with only 7.2% of the championship innings returning to the roster. Left-hander Robert Satin is the most experienced arm back in the fold, having posted a 2-1 record with a 4.10 ERA in 37.1 IP last season. Satin showed flashes of dominance with a 26.6% strikeout rate, fanning 45 batters.

The newcomers will be expected to carry the bulk of the weekend rotation. John Luke Glanton headlines the group as a transfer from Georgia College, bringing a career 4.17 ERA over 235.1 IP and a 2025 Preseason All-American pedigree. He is joined by B.J. Bailey, a graduate transfer from Clemson who recorded 70 strikeouts in 76.2 IP during his time in the ACC. From the JUCO ranks, Alex Laiche joins the staff following a stellar 6-1 campaign with a 2.13 ERA in 38.0 IP, while Oscar Hernandez adds depth after posting an 8-4 record at State College of Florida. In the bullpen, Josiah Velazquez should be a high-leverage option after going 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 43.0 IP last spring.

Key Departures

The Spartans must say goodbye to several of the most decorated players in program history. C.J. Williams leaves as a First Team All-American and the SSC Pitcher of the Year after an incredible 15-3 record and a 2.72 ERA in 119.0 IP. His battery mate, J.D. Urso, departs with First Team All-SSC honors after hitting .356 with 23 doubles and 67 RBI. The outfield loses Jordan Williams, a Second Team All-American who hit .352 and led the nation with 81 stolen bases before signing with the Washington Nationals. Other notable losses include Jake Stipp (12-0, 3.41 ERA), Jacob Fletcher (6 saves, 2.68 ERA), Brayden Heidel (signed by the Toronto Blue Jays), Kevin Karstetter, and World Series MVP Edgardo Villegas.

Schedule & Outlook

The quest for a three-peat begins on January 30, 2026, as Tampa travels to face Georgia College, a regional contender that won 30 games last season. The home opener at Tampa Baseball Field is set for February 6 against Montevallo, a team that reached the Gulf South Championship game in 2025. March features a heavy dose of conference play and a crucial four-game home stand against Davenport, the reigning GLIAC Champions who won 42 games last year.

The season will likely be decided in April and May during SSC play, particularly an early April home matchup against Florida Southern (April 3-4) mid-April road series against Rollins (April 17-18). While the roster is young in experience, the infusion of high-level transfer talent and the leadership of Joe Urso ensures that the road to the National Championship still runs through Tampa. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball