For the first time in over 30 years, Gonzaga will play baseball under the Pac-12 hood, now in a conference with some spice thanks to the likes of Tulane, Fresno State, Dallas Baptist, and Oregon State. The ‘Zags had a terrific 2026 season, with a 22-5 record in conference play, and will look to build in the school’s first season in a new world.
The Returnees
The big name on the 2027 Gonzaga baseball roster is Karsten Sweum, the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year from 2026. Sweum earned that award, as he struck out 110 batters over 78.2 IP to finish in the top 40 of Division I in that category.
Sweum also diced up Cape Cod League hitters in a brief spell. The left-hander struck out 13 over seven innings and had the highest Whiff% (49.2%) among pitchers who induced at least 50 swings in the circuit last summer. The bread-and-butter for the left-hander is his slider and four-seamer, the latter of which ran into the mid-90s in the WCC tourney last May.
There is likely room to expand that arsenal.
The other Gonzaga standout pitcher from the Cape was Finbar O’Brien, now entering his senior season. During the regular season, O’Brien struck out 54 but walked 32 and hit 11 over 47 frames. O’Brien struck out 19 over 13 innings with Brewster this past summer, plus a 41.5% Whiff%. But he also walked six and hit five.
Aside from those two, senior Erik Hoffberg is back, along with Joseph Thornton, Mickey McClaskey, Zach Bowman, and Gabe Brabec.
Moving to the offense, Ryder Young is back for his senior season. Young hit a team-high 12 home runs for the Bulldogs, while now-fifth-year player Maddox Haley hit .351 with 10 home runs. Those two headline an offense that will also have Jacob Wrubleski and Bo Shinkle back.
The Newcomers
Gonzaga took some big hits in their first summer back as a Pac-12 school.
Standout 2026 freshman pitcher Landon Hood is now with LSU. Mikey Bell could have gone pro last July but opted against signing with the Giants. However, Bell won’t return to Gonzaga, as the offensive leader from 2026 joined Georgia.
Gonzaga’s roster has nine new freshmen: pitchers Zach Vega, Jackson Ashley, Hudson Ciulla, Caleb Campbell, and Dexton Otton, plus infielder Isaac Holder, outfielder Will Cooley, and two-way player Caleb Zawadzki.
Additionally, the JC/CC circuit provided more help. Infielder/outfielder Quinton Olson joined Gonzaga after playing previously with Lane CC. Clint Beck, Quinn Hubbs, and David Barnes are also fresh arms.
Catcher Jayton Greer came over from San Diego. As a freshman, Greer slashed .280/.417/.419 with two home runs and nine extra-base hits. He played 34 games for the Toreros in 2026.
Senior Micah Coleman played just 10 games for USC Upstate in 2026. It was Coleman’s only season with the school.
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