Season Preview Video

Grand Valley State third-year head baseball coach Jordan Keur is looking for continued growth from his Laker Baseball program and wants to build on the 2025 campaign. GVSU hosted an NCAA Midwest Regional for the first time since 2006 and won 43 games. The Lakers return six positional starters and five pitchers that have a considerable amount of experience. In addition, the GVSU added some key transfers and a freshman recruiting class that will see action on the diamond.

 Senior RHP Collin Bradley is a preseason NCBWA All-American and garnered all-region honors in 2025. Bradley was 7-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 76.0 innings. Junior RHP Owen Avery was 6-3 with a 4.13 ERA and led the team in strikeouts with 87. Senior RHP Ethan Houghtaling and junior LHP Mike Morawski return after missing the 2025 season due to injury. Senior RHP's Jovan Gill and Ayden VanEnkevort saw spot duty last season and are expected to see more action on the mound in 2026. Transfers Duncan McLaughlin (SIU-Edwardsville), JJ Manion (Kalamazoo Valley) and Keagan Bobbitt (Roosevelt) will also contribute. A slew of freshman pitchers are expected to have roles on the pitching staff.

The Lakers return all four starters on the infield, including three All-GLIAC performers. SS Evan Morrison was an all-region performer last season, hitting .341 with 76 hits, a GVSU single-season record 73 runs scored, 17 doubles and 43 RBI. 1B Jovan Gill hit .317 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and a league-leading 62 RBI, while 3B Caleb Estrada ended the 2025 season as one of the most productive hitters in the GLIAC the final 15 games of the season and hit .306 with 63 hits, 13 doubles and 45 RBI overall. Senior 2B Ayden VanEnkevort hit .328 with 59 hits, 43 runs and 35 RBI, while becoming one of the top fielders in the region. 

Sophomore LF Caleb Thelen came on at the midway point of the season and hit .327 with 32 hits and 26 runs scored, while junior RF Ryan Stimac hit .308 with 49 hits and 44 runs scored. Senior CF Jake Skaggs is a proven outfielder from Pitt State, hitting .287 with 45 hits, 37 runs scored, 11 doubles and 41 RBI in 2025. Senior transfer OF Will Bowen will also play a role in the lineup. 

Senior catcher Nick Krstich saw action last season and freshman backstop Noah Brandt has been impressive since arriving on campus.