CONWAY, S.C. –– Coastal Carolina enters the 2026 season with a pitching and catching group that blends significant returning production on the mound and behind the plate with new pieces. The Chanticleers must replace key contributors from last season's staff, including Buster Posey Award winner Caden Bodine. Coastal also will need to replace the arms of Jacob Morrison, the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and a First-Team All-American, along with Matthew Potok and Riley Eikhoff. All four were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. Even so, the foundation remains strong with experienced arms returning on the mound and a competitive group behind the plate.
On the mound, Coastal returns one of the nation's premier pitchers while adding depth through proven bullpen arms, experienced transfers, and a talented group of newcomers.
Cameron Flukey (RHP) — a junior and one of college baseball's top pitchers entering the 2026 season. Flukey has been named a 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason First-Team All-American, the 2026 Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and a unanimous Baseball America Preseason First-Team All-American. He was also selected as a D1Baseball Preseason First-Team All-American, the 2026 Perfect Game Preseason Pitcher of the Year, a Perfect Game Preseason First-Team All-American, and earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year honors along with Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference recognition by both the league and Perfect Game. During his sophomore season in 2025, he appeared in 18 games with 17 starts, posting a 7–2 record while logging 101.2 innings. He struck out 118 batters while facing 414 hitters and threw a complete-game shutout against Marshall on April 18. Flukey earned First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, was named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, and garnered D1Baseball Third-Team All-American recognition.
Hayden Johnson (LHP) — a junior who emerged as a key arm during the 2025 season. Johnson appeared in 24 games and pitched 38.1 innings, posting a 5–0 record with one save. He struck out 55 batters while facing 167 hitters, providing consistent middle- and late-inning depth. Entering the 2026 season, Johnson has been named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference and earned Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team honors.
Luke Jones (RHP) — a sophomore who logged valuable innings as a freshman in 2025. Jones appeared in 17 games, pitching 48.2 innings with a 4–2 record and one save. He struck out 38 batters while facing 213 hitters and showed versatility in multiple roles.
Ryan Lynch (RHP) — a graduate student who returns after one of the most dominant relief seasons in program history and has been named to the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. Lynch posted a 0.56 ERA across 32.0 innings in 28 appearances, recording nine saves and a 2–1 record while striking out 36 batters against 134 hitters. Entering the 2026 season, Lynch has been named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason First-Team All-American, earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors, and was selected as a D1Baseball Preseason Second-Team All-American.
Darin Horn (RHP) — a redshirt senior who brings veteran experience to the bullpen and has been named to the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. Horn posted a 5–1 record in 19 appearances during the 2025 season, striking out 34 batters over 26.1 innings.
Dominick Carbone (LHP) — a junior who played a major role out of the bullpen during the 2025 season and has been named to the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. Carbone appeared in 28 games and logged 41.0 innings, posting a perfect 6–0 record while recording five saves. He struck out 52 batters while facing 174 hitters, providing Coastal with another reliable late-inning option. Carbone enters 2026 after being named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason Second-Team All-American and a D1Baseball Preseason First-Team All-American.
Scott Doran (RHP) — a sophomore who contributed as a freshman in 2025. Doran appeared in 18 games, recording a 1–0 record with two saves. He struck out 25 batters in 17.1 innings while facing 81 hitters.
Connor Kane (RHP) — a senior who returns after an injury-limited 2025 season. Kane made eight appearances before missing time and brings proven Division I experience after pitching at UNCW in 2024, where he appeared in 20 games with three saves and 26 strikeouts.
Ross Norman (RHP) — a junior transfer from Georgia State who adds starting experience. Norman made 16 appearances with 12 starts during the 2025 season, logging 68.0 innings while ranking second on his team in strikeouts with 68.
Jaxon Appelman (RHP) — a sophomore who appeared in three games during the 2025 season, striking out eight batters across five innings following a decorated high school career at Edison High School.
Coastal's freshman pitching class features Dalton Bisbano (LHP), Case Bosch (LHP), Kellen Karr (LHP), Jackson Smallets (RHP), Daniel Parker (RHP), Colby Richardson (LHP), and Jackson Winer (LHP), each arriving with accomplished prep resumes and long-term developmental upside.
Behind the plate, Coastal returns multiple options who gained experience in 2025 and will be tasked with filling the void left by Bodine.
Domenico Tozzi (C) — a sophomore who emerged as a key contributor during his true freshman season in 2025. Tozzi appeared in 49 games with 42 starts, batting .264 while providing power from the catching position. He hit seven home runs, drove in 39 runs, and posted a .453 slugging percentage, offering consistent run production throughout the year.
Brice Estep (C) — a junior who appeared in 13 games with four starts during the 2025 season. Estep hit .227 with five hits, added five RBIs, two doubles, and finished with a .346 on-base percentage.
Cole Chamberlain (C) — a sophomore who joined the Chanticleers after spending his freshman season at Texas. Chamberlain appeared in 22 games with 10 starts, posting a .407 on-base percentage while drawing 15 walks and scoring nine runs. He earned a spot on the 2024–25 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. Defensively, he recorded 42 putouts, seven assists, and zero errors for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Josh Toole (C) — a freshman catcher who lettered four years at Hempfield High School and earned First Team All-League honors from 2022–25. His prep career was highlighted by winning the 2024 PIAA 6A State Championship.
Coastal Carolina enters the 2026 season ranked among the nation's top teams, including a No.6 ranking in the D1Baseball Preseason Top 25. The Chanticleers open the year at home against Fairfield on Friday, Feb. 13, at Springs Brooks Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
