AUSTIN, Texas — Entering head baseball coach Ryan Femath's third season at the helm, the Hilltoppers have embraced an old sports mantra that carries new weight in the transfer portal era: play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.
With heavy roster turnover following graduation, the team might as well have worn name tags at Media Day.
"We lost about 1,100 at-bats and 330 innings on the mound from last year," Femath said. "That's a lot of names people were used to seeing in the lineup."
Rather than rebuild, St. Edward's reloaded — bringing in 24 transfers to blend with a core group from last year's 37–23 team, emerging depth developed internally, and a handful of freshmen. After a fall focused on culture, competition, and clarity, Femath believes the Hilltoppers are ready to take the next step after knocking on the door of an LSC Championship a season ago and earning multiple NCAA Regional bids.
Even with significant turnover, St. Edward's consistency and the coaching staff's track record in recruiting and player development have the Hilltoppers ranked fourth in both the Lone Star Conference and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason polls, along with a No. 26 ranking in the American Baseball Coaches Association national poll. But consistency is merely the baseline for a program expecting more.
"Bottom line: we've been knocking at the door of an LSC Championship and NCAA Regionals for a while," Femath said. "We want to kick that door down and get back to the College World Series."
Senior first baseman CONNOR COX anchors the Hilltopper lineup and championship aspirations as one of the most dangerous bats in the Lone Star Conference — and one of the most complete hitters in program history.
Cox set single-season program records for hits (98) and RBI (75) last season, batting .419 with 12 home runs, a .504 on-base percentage, and a .667 slugging percentage in an All-American campaign.
"Connor has had a phenomenal career up to this point," Femath said. "He's been an all-conference-level player since his first year, and you know exactly what you're going to get from him in the middle of our lineup."
Cox is joined by fellow four-year starter TREVOR SEBEK at the corners. Sebek posted a .417 on-base percentage last season and has spent most of his career as the team's leadoff hitter, establishing himself as one of the conference's toughest outs.
"He grinds out at-bats, works deep into counts, and sees a ton of pitches," Femath said. "This year, we want to let him be more aggressive early. He's earned that trust."
Senior DYLAN TATE rounds out the core returning hitters after moving from right field to center, where his speed and arm strength should be on full display. Tate hit .287 in his first season on the Hilltop, showcasing range, gap power, and the ability to impact the game on the bases.
"He's an ultra-athlete who came through with clutch at-bats in a lot of early wins," Femath said. "He can execute the small ball game, pressure defenses on the bases, and has enough juice to leave the yard. He's dynamic."
That trio reflects Femath's emphasis on versatility and adaptability at the plate.
"We can bang it when the wind's blowing out, hit into the gaps, or play small ball and execute," Femath said. "We emphasize the little things that win games — working counts, moving runners, and capitalizing with men in scoring position. It's an offense that can adjust to the situation."
Among the newcomers, BEN MERRIMAN stood out offensively during the fall, while shortstop NICO RUEDAS provides a steady presence up the middle. Femath also expects several members of last year's freshman class to take on expanded roles.
On the mound, St. Edward's will lean on depth after graduating multiple all-conference arms from a staff that logged more than 470 innings and struck out 352 batters in 2025.
"It's too early to tell if we'll have the same workhorses who go six or seven innings every start," Femath said. "But I love our bullpen depth. We have more guys we trust when their number's called."
CAMDEN WHITE and CONNOR FREEMAN impressed during the fall and January workouts, while NIC LUNA took steps forward in relief after key moments last season. JACOB GLAZENER and WILSON KRUSE add competition out of the bullpen, and Carson Blakely returns after logging meaningful innings as the team's fourth starter a year ago.
Defensively, Femath is confident in the group.
"Our defense should be a strength," he said. "We're solid up the middle — from catcher through the infield and into center field."
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the fall wasn't statistical, but cultural.
"First and foremost, we have a lot of quality human beings," Femath said. "Yes, we have talent, but we also have team players who've bought into our standards and gelled quickly."
In a college baseball landscape defined by constant roster change, St. Edward's culture continues to anchor the program near the top of the Lone Star Conference — with a style of play that remains unmistakably Hilltoppers, no matter who wears the jersey.
