UT Dallas Fall Report: New Era, New Challenge

The UT Dallas baseball program enters the 2026 campaign facing a landscape defined by transition and momentum. Coming off a stellar 2025 season where the squad posted a dominant 32-6 record, the Comets are now embarking on their first full year as a Division II institution. This move up from Division III brings them into the rugged Lone Star Conference, a league renowned for its baseball prowess. Leading the charge into this new territory is Head Coach Travis Graves, entering his first season at the helm and serving as just the second head coach in program history. While the previous year saw the Comets string together impressive winning streaks, including opening the season with seven straight victories, the focus now shifts to proving they can compete at the next level.

As a note, UT Dallas is ineligible for the NCAA postseason in 2026.

UT Dallas Returning Production (Team Sheets page, join our Patreon to get full access to every school, plus how schools stack up in production relative to their conference. patreon.com/diviibaseball)

The Offense

The Comets retain a solid offensive core, returning 51.9% of their plate appearances from last year's successful run. Anchoring the lineup is senior outfielder and first baseman Trent McCown, who delivered a monster statistical performance in 2025. McCown terrorized opposing pitching in 122 ABs, hitting .418 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and 45 RBI. His production was elite, posting a staggering 1.42 OPS.

Providing crucial support and versatility is senior second baseman Albert Garza. A switch-hitter, Garza proved to be a tough out, hitting .402 in 102 ABs with 30 RBI and swiping 10 bases, making him a reliable catalyst for the offense. At first base, sophomore switch-hitter Kole Kinnison looks to build on a breakout debut where he hit .391 in 92 ABs with 25 RBI and a 1.090 OPS. Behind the dish, senior catcher Nico Fernandez manages the staff while contributing significantly with the bat; the left-handed hitter finished the year hitting .316 in 114 ABs with 34 RBI.

To bolster the lineup for the D2 grind, the coaching staff has brought in seasoned transfers. Senior outfielder Chris Benavidez arrives from Division I Sam Houston State, bringing power potential demonstrated by his 15 home runs and .406 average at Amarillo College in 2024. Junior first baseman Alex Miller, a transfer from Division III Centenary, adds a proven track record after hitting .326 with 76 RBI over two seasons. The Comets also added high-ceiling youth in freshman shortstop Gavin Barker, a First-Team Texas High School All-American who decimated pitching with a .429 average and 1.092 OPS.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense enjoys continuity, the pitching staff faces a massive overhaul, returning only 18.8% of its innings pitched from 2025. The roster turnover decimated the rotation, as the team lost every arm that threw more than 17 innings the previous season. This necessitates an almost entirely new look on the mound, heavily reliant on incoming transfers to fill the void left by the departures.

The staff will look to newcomers like junior left-hander David Dean to stabilize the rotation. A transfer from Division I A&M Corpus-Christi who also redshirted at Oklahoma, Dean brings upper-level experience, having posted a 4.78 ERA in 52.2 IP last season. Joining him is graduate student right-hander Tag Pacot, an impact transfer from Ouachita Baptist where he earned 2nd-team All-GAC honors. Pacot offers swing-and-miss stuff, recording a 5-3 record with a 4.40 ERA in 45 innings, racking up 68 strikeouts.

Further depth comes from junior right-hander Landry Powell, a transfer from Division III East Texas Baptist who compiled a career 3.64 ERA in 64.1 IP and earned All-ASC Tournament Team honors. The bullpen and midweek innings may see contributions from Christian Robb, a senior right-hander transferring from Division I UT Arlington who previously pitched 24.1 innings at Division I Charleston Southern.

Key Departures

The transition to a new division is made more difficult by the graduation of key contributors who defined the team's recent success. The offense loses Lucas Rexin, a potent outfielder who hit .373 with 6 home runs and 49 RBI, leaving a hole in the middle of the order. However, the most significant losses are on the mound, as anyone who threw 18 or more innings last season departed. The staff bid farewell to ace Dylan Collins, who posted a 5-1 record with a 4.02 ERA in 56 IP. They also lose the reliable arms of Trevor McGrath, who went 5-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 36.1 IP, and Apollo Cassimatis, who was flawless with a 6-0 record and a 3.58 ERA in 32.2 IP.

Schedule & Outlook

The Comets’ inaugural tour through the Lone Star Conference presents a relentless 50-game conference schedule. The season opens on the road against Oklahoma Christian for a three-game set beginning January 30th, providing an early litmus test. The home opener follows quickly with a marquee series against West Texas A&M starting February 6th, a matchup that will immediately gauge UT Dallas's readiness for D2 competition.

The slate remains demanding through March and April, featuring a road trip to Angelo State (Mar 13-15). Critical home stands include series against UT Tyler in early April (April 2-4) and St. Edward's to close out the regular season.

With a reloaded roster and a new head coach, UT Dallas is set for a season of discovery, aiming to translate their Division III dominance into immediate Division II relevance. 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