Even though the Duke Blue Devils were fresh off a Super Regionals berth in 2026, it was a very different year for the school. Head coach Corey Muscara was tasked with rebuilding the program after Chris Pollard left, and the first season under him resulted in a 26-31 record. The good news is that there will be some continuity for 2027.
The Returnees
The Duke Blue Devils retained three notable hitters from the 2026 season: RJ Hamilton, Jake Lambdin, and Michael DiMartini.
Hamilton, a Vanderbilt transfer, was, statistically, the best hitter on the 2026 Duke team. He batted .333 with a team-high 63 hits, plus 23 walks and 17 hit-by pitches. Not to mention a club-high 29 stolen bases.
The redshirt junior was one of several Blue Devils to play in the Cape Cod League this past summer. Hamilton hit well, as he slashed .286/.367/.411 with seven extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases.
Jake Lambdin finished second on the club in hits last season (56), plus 21 stolen bases. Can pull the ball a lot and did in the Cape Cod League in 2026, although he didn’t have too much statistical success with Brewers. Lambdin slashed just .162/.263/.235 with a home run.
Michael DiMartini was a big get for Duke during the summer of 2025. DiMartini came off a great year with Dayton two seasons ago. But the now-senior didn’t tear the cover off the ball in the ACC. Last season with Duke, DiMartini slashed .250/.281/.457 but did hit nine home runs.
Collin Anderson, who played 44 games as a freshman and hit six home runs, is also among the notable returning hitters. Additionally, Adin Zorn, Cider Canon, and Adam Troch are among other bats back for Duke.
As for the pitching staff, the big name back on campus is junior Ben Dean. Dean worked as a reliever for the most part in 2026 and was a monster for the Blue Devils. The right-hander struck out 60 over 34.2 IP, and then rolled his way right into a great summer with the Cape Cod League.
Dean punched out 22 over 18 innings pitched. His Whiff% of 39.7% was rubbed up right against Rice pitcher Brayden Sharp for the top spot in the Cape last summer. Riding fastball that can run into the mid-90s, plus a split-changeup, and downer breaking ball.
Peter Lemke, who started eight games for the Blue Devils last year, is also back. Lemke struck out 50 over 55 innings for Duke in 2026.
Marcello Mastroianni, Nate Brittain (did not pitch in 2026), Aiden O’Connell, Bennett LaPalm, Jack Hedrick, and Jordan Regulski are among the other pitchers back for Duke in 2027.
The Newcomers
The Blue Devils picked off sophomore Caden Cooper, who’s over from Houston after the school underwent a coaching change last summer. Cooper saw a lot of work with the Cougars in 2026, as he struck out 41 over 45 innings. Heavy groundball pitcher.
Another sophomore, Cooper Maher, is also among the top new adds for Duke. Maher worked mostly as a reliever for Northeastern last season, although he did make two starts for the Huskies. The right-hander struck out 35 over 43 innings in 2026. Fastball that pushed up to the mid-90s.
Duke’s 2027 freshman class includes 14 new freshmen, plus one redshirt (Cooper Rummel). Rummel is over from the University of Texas.
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