The baseball world is buzzing with Hall of Fame speculation, preseason polls, and media announcements as teams prepare for the 2026 season. From potential Hall of Fame inductees to college teams gearing up for their seasons, here's a snapshot of the latest happenings [9].
Hall of Fame Discussions Heat Up
Debates are already swirling around potential inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2027 [7, 9]. Buster Posey, a three-time World Series champion, is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer [9]. The merits of Jon Lester are also being weighed, with his impressive .631 career winning percentage, surpassing legends like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, and a solid postseason resume [8]. However, some analysts are comparing him to Roy Oswalt, placing him in the "Great But Not Hall of Fame Great" category, making his election far from a certainty [7]. Andy Pettitte enters his ninth year of eligibility [7].
College Teams Primed for Action
Several college baseball programs are setting their sights on the upcoming season. St. Cloud State Baseball was selected third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll [4]. Augustana University tabbed Ashton Michek as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, with the team picked second in the NSIC Preseason Poll [5]. The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the NSIC [10]. Minot State's baseball team is preparing to start their season in Arizona [6]. Maryland Baseball single-game tickets are now available as of Thursday, Jan. 22 [3]. Oklahoma State will induct Dave Holliday, Rex Holt, Tyler Lyons, and Freddie Moulder into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame [2]. Tyler Lyons is fourth in program history with 308 innings pitched and is sixth with 41 starts and 266 strikeouts [1]. Coastal Carolina is debuting a new mini-series, "The Road to Omaha," offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the program [11].
Costas Returns to the Diamond
Bob Costas is making a return to NBC Sports to host the *Sunday Night Baseball* pregame show [12]. Costas, honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, previously served as a play-by-play voice and host for NBC Sports’ MLB coverage for 15 seasons [12]. He will also contribute to NBA coverage on NBC [12].
TL;DR
* Buster Posey is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2027, while Jon Lester's candidacy sparks debate [9, 8]. * Several college baseball teams, including St. Cloud State and Augustana, are ranked in their respective preseason polls [4, 5]. * Bob Costas will return to NBC Sports to host the *Sunday Night Baseball* pregame show [12].