The Kansas State Wildcats baseball program has enjoyed success over the past three campaigns. A tourney berth in 2025 and a Super Regionals appearance in 2024. However, KSU went just 11-19 in Big 12 play last season, a key reason the Wildcats missed out on a tournament berth in 2026. Now, a retool begins in 2027.
The Returnees
Arguably, the most notable returning hitter was Ty Smolinski, now entering his junior season. Smolinski had a strong sophomore campaign for KSU, as he slashed .339/.440/.619 with nine home runs and 28 extra-base hits. He took on a significant role in 2026, one year after Smolinski accumulated 16 total at-bats in the ’25 campaign.
Now-fifth-year outfielder Cadyn Karl is also back for the Wildcats. Karl hit seven home runs and 18 extra-base hits during the 2026 season for Kansas State. His 14 stolen bases were the second-most on the team.
Senior Nick English played just 28 games in 2026 but was a power source for KSU when he was in the lineup. English hit six home runs and six doubles.
Robby Bolin and two-way player Donte Lewis also came back for the 2027 season.
As for the pitching staff, it will be, essentially, a brand-new group for 2027. Kansas State will have reliever Adam Arther back for his senior season. Arther had a 7.39 ERA and struck out 27 over 28 innings last year.
The Newcomers
We’ll start with the new pitchers — and there are a lot of them. The Wildcats had a pitching staff made up almost exclusively of juniors and seniors last season. Donte Lewis, a sophomore last season, was the only player to pitch for the team who didn’t meet that criterion.
Tazwell Butler and Lincoln Sheffield, both of whom were seniors last season, are off the roster. James Guyette, the ace of KSU last spring, was drafted and signed by the Padres in the summer.
Kansas State also lost their top two hitters from 2026. Dee Kennedy was selected by the Cardinals this past July, while AJ Evasco transferred to Arkansas.
As far as pitchers from four-year schools, the club picked up Grady Westphal from Texas. Westphal redshirted during the 2026 season. Grant Meert (Johns Hopkins), Jackson Baker (Houston), and Jackson Hulcher (Delaware) also came over to Kansas State.
Meert did not pitch in 2026. But in 2025, the left-hander had a strong year out of the bullpen with 42 strikeouts over 22 innings in D3.
Kansas State also added Jacob Harris from Johns Hopkins. Harris hit 16 home runs as a junior for the Blue Jays last year.
Hulcher was the strikeout leader for the Blue Hens in 2026. Now a senior, the right-hander punched out 43 over 37 innings as a primary reliever.
Baker was one of several players to depart the Houston baseball program this past summer. He was hit around last season, as Baker conceded four home runs and also walked eight over 10 innings. The senior struck out nine for the Cougars.
As for the offense, KSU grabbed Ohio State infielder Maddix Simpson. Simpson was a regular for the Buckeyes, batting .283/.372/.402 with four home runs and 13 extra-base hits, plus 24 walks in 53 games.
Landon Schaefer didn’t get a chance to play much with the Arkansas Razorbacks last season. As a freshman, Schaefer played in eight games and received just five at-bats.
Catcher Connor Capece was a two-year starter with Creighton. Last season, the now-senior slashed .304/.383/.397 with three home runs and 14 extra-base hits over 57 games for Bluejays.
Jalen Evans was one of the best hitters on a deep Wingate club last year. Evans batted .420 with 10 home runs and 30 extra-base hits, plus 39 stolen bases in 58 contests.
Kansas State added a lot of talent from the JC/CC scene. Pitchers Griffin Lewis and Stewie Doty from McLennan CC, and Stockton Timbrook (Cloud County CC) are among the new faces.
Lastly, the roster includes seven new freshmen: Kaden Dean, Cordell Clikingbeard, Jett Vindiola, Zander Bratspis, Joseph Pereira, Colin Driffill, and Max Nantis-Vlahovich.
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