Eastern Michigan Athletics
Built on Belief, EMU Baseball Steps Into 2026 Ready to Compete
2/11/2026 3:22:00 PM | Baseball
Veteran leadership, new voices, and a transformed Oestrike Stadium fuel growing expectations
Watch the 2026 EMU Baseball Preview Show.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan baseball enters the 2026 season with energy and expectation, a team forged through shared experience, challenges, and a quiet confidence that has been building all winter. In the renovated Oestrike Stadium, with full turf underfoot and padded fences surrounding the field, the Eagles are ready to show how far they've come.
Devan Zirwas remembers the first time he felt truly comfortable in an Eagles uniform. Transferring from VCU, he had hoped for stability. What he found was belief. "Being able to come here and giving me the confidence, believing in me, it felt like something that I didn't have in my previous school," he said. That belief carried him through a breakout 2025 season and guided his offseason work. His focus was clear: refine his swing, perfect his launch angle, and stay consistent. "Being able to be at a consistent spot and have good direction, be able to stay on a pitch for as long as possible was something that I really worked on a lot this fall," he said.
Zirwas' growth is inseparable from the veterans around him. Logan Hugo and Harrison Travis offered guidance on and off the field, while Ty Stecko has been a constant presence in the infield and in the locker room. "We had a lot of older guys who were very good," Zirwas said. "It was awesome hitting with Logan. And Harry, I'd throw in there, too, with just guys that have been around who have had success at this level." Stecko, who enters his senior season, has refined his own swing while embracing the role of mentor, especially as Eastern navigated a coaching change. With Head Coach Robbie Britt leaving for the Boston Red Sox, assistant Trevor Beerman stepped in as interim head coach. "It's definitely tough when the top guy that you're used to responding to or going to is gone," Stecko said. "And I think he stepped up in the way that we needed. Now we see him as our guy."
Beerman's approach emphasizes fundamentals, preparation, and mental toughness, particularly on the mound. He has worked closely with the pitching staff to replace lost workhorses while fostering new arms. "We've shifted the mindset to be the pitchers on offense. You are attacking the zone. You are the one with the ball. The guys have worked really hard. It's exciting to finally see the hard work pay off," he said. Ethan Davis, a senior right-hander, embodies that philosophy. "Getting a good start from your Friday and Saturday guy helped us a lot, especially on the bullpen side," Davis said. He also stresses the importance of building trust with new catchers. "Being able to trust them and they trust you. Being able to hit a spot. Them being able to call the pitches. I think that's one of the biggest things."
Into this mix arrives Leewood Molessa, a transfer with a track record of production in the America East. With 11 home runs and 44 RBIs last season, he brings a disciplined approach and a fresh perspective to the lineup. "Anytime you got Stack around you or Ty or Dev close to you, that makes me feel all the more confidence in the world," he said. For Molessa, the MAC represents a step up in competition, but he relishes the challenge. "I want to see better people," he said. "It should be a step up in competition. That's exciting for me."
The Eagles' preparation this offseason has extended beyond hitting and pitching drills. Many players live near each other, creating a natural environment for camaraderie, teamwork, and shared routines. "This is about as best of a brotherhood that we've had that I've seen here in my two years," Zirwas said. That brotherhood extends to mentorship, with veterans guiding newcomers and younger players learning the nuances of preparation and execution.
Oestrike Stadium, meanwhile, has evolved into more than just a playing surface. Its new turf and expanded dugouts reflect the program's growth and ambitions. "The new field's awesome. The guys can't thank the donors and the people enough who made it happen," Stecko said. Zirwas echoed the sentiment, noting that safety and space improvements make a difference. "Having the padded fence is something people sleep on a lot."
As the Eagles open the season with a road stretch that includes Little Rock and Vanderbilt, the team's focus will be tested against top competition. Zirwas welcomes the challenge. "Those are the games that are easy when you're playing a team like that. Hopefully, we can just carry that momentum," he said. Stecko added that the slate will reveal which players can rise to the occasion. "Whether we can fight through some adversity or show teams that we can close out games," he said.
The season's narrative is rooted in belief, consistency, and adaptability. Davis described how confidence transformed the pitching staff over the past year. "A lot of it is believing you can do it. And I think by the end of the year, you kind of started seeing and feeling that belief," he said. Zirwas looks to carry that mindset into a MAC title pursuit. "Everyone kind of feels the buzz and the confidence that we have that we're able to make that next step and hopefully win it this year," he said.
Molessa sees opportunity in execution and maturity. "I think Eastern Michigan will be successful if our older guys execute the way we should. If we show up, play our game, and play maturely, we've got nothing to lose," he said. Stecko summed up the team's readiness: "Everyone's really excited."
Beerman emphasizes that success is measured beyond wins and losses. "Winning on the field, in the classroom, and in the community — that's the three most important pieces in our program," he said. Yet he is equally focused on performance. The combination of returning leadership, incoming talent, and young pitchers creates a dynamic roster capable of navigating the early tests and sustaining momentum into MAC play.
As the Eagles step onto the turf this season, they carry with them a sense of purpose shaped by mentorship, shared adversity, and preparation. Players like Zirwas, Stecko, Davis, and Molessa lead by example, while Beerman's guidance ensures the team remains cohesive and focused. The 2026 season will test their resilience, but the foundation is strong. Belief, preparation, and execution will define Eastern Michigan baseball as the Eagles chase a MAC championship and aim to extend their success beyond conference play.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan baseball enters the 2026 season with energy and expectation, a team forged through shared experience, challenges, and a quiet confidence that has been building all winter. In the renovated Oestrike Stadium, with full turf underfoot and padded fences surrounding the field, the Eagles are ready to show how far they've come.
Devan Zirwas remembers the first time he felt truly comfortable in an Eagles uniform. Transferring from VCU, he had hoped for stability. What he found was belief. "Being able to come here and giving me the confidence, believing in me, it felt like something that I didn't have in my previous school," he said. That belief carried him through a breakout 2025 season and guided his offseason work. His focus was clear: refine his swing, perfect his launch angle, and stay consistent. "Being able to be at a consistent spot and have good direction, be able to stay on a pitch for as long as possible was something that I really worked on a lot this fall," he said.
Zirwas' growth is inseparable from the veterans around him. Logan Hugo and Harrison Travis offered guidance on and off the field, while Ty Stecko has been a constant presence in the infield and in the locker room. "We had a lot of older guys who were very good," Zirwas said. "It was awesome hitting with Logan. And Harry, I'd throw in there, too, with just guys that have been around who have had success at this level." Stecko, who enters his senior season, has refined his own swing while embracing the role of mentor, especially as Eastern navigated a coaching change. With Head Coach Robbie Britt leaving for the Boston Red Sox, assistant Trevor Beerman stepped in as interim head coach. "It's definitely tough when the top guy that you're used to responding to or going to is gone," Stecko said. "And I think he stepped up in the way that we needed. Now we see him as our guy."
Beerman's approach emphasizes fundamentals, preparation, and mental toughness, particularly on the mound. He has worked closely with the pitching staff to replace lost workhorses while fostering new arms. "We've shifted the mindset to be the pitchers on offense. You are attacking the zone. You are the one with the ball. The guys have worked really hard. It's exciting to finally see the hard work pay off," he said. Ethan Davis, a senior right-hander, embodies that philosophy. "Getting a good start from your Friday and Saturday guy helped us a lot, especially on the bullpen side," Davis said. He also stresses the importance of building trust with new catchers. "Being able to trust them and they trust you. Being able to hit a spot. Them being able to call the pitches. I think that's one of the biggest things."
Into this mix arrives Leewood Molessa, a transfer with a track record of production in the America East. With 11 home runs and 44 RBIs last season, he brings a disciplined approach and a fresh perspective to the lineup. "Anytime you got Stack around you or Ty or Dev close to you, that makes me feel all the more confidence in the world," he said. For Molessa, the MAC represents a step up in competition, but he relishes the challenge. "I want to see better people," he said. "It should be a step up in competition. That's exciting for me."
The Eagles' preparation this offseason has extended beyond hitting and pitching drills. Many players live near each other, creating a natural environment for camaraderie, teamwork, and shared routines. "This is about as best of a brotherhood that we've had that I've seen here in my two years," Zirwas said. That brotherhood extends to mentorship, with veterans guiding newcomers and younger players learning the nuances of preparation and execution.
Oestrike Stadium, meanwhile, has evolved into more than just a playing surface. Its new turf and expanded dugouts reflect the program's growth and ambitions. "The new field's awesome. The guys can't thank the donors and the people enough who made it happen," Stecko said. Zirwas echoed the sentiment, noting that safety and space improvements make a difference. "Having the padded fence is something people sleep on a lot."
As the Eagles open the season with a road stretch that includes Little Rock and Vanderbilt, the team's focus will be tested against top competition. Zirwas welcomes the challenge. "Those are the games that are easy when you're playing a team like that. Hopefully, we can just carry that momentum," he said. Stecko added that the slate will reveal which players can rise to the occasion. "Whether we can fight through some adversity or show teams that we can close out games," he said.
The season's narrative is rooted in belief, consistency, and adaptability. Davis described how confidence transformed the pitching staff over the past year. "A lot of it is believing you can do it. And I think by the end of the year, you kind of started seeing and feeling that belief," he said. Zirwas looks to carry that mindset into a MAC title pursuit. "Everyone kind of feels the buzz and the confidence that we have that we're able to make that next step and hopefully win it this year," he said.
Molessa sees opportunity in execution and maturity. "I think Eastern Michigan will be successful if our older guys execute the way we should. If we show up, play our game, and play maturely, we've got nothing to lose," he said. Stecko summed up the team's readiness: "Everyone's really excited."
Beerman emphasizes that success is measured beyond wins and losses. "Winning on the field, in the classroom, and in the community — that's the three most important pieces in our program," he said. Yet he is equally focused on performance. The combination of returning leadership, incoming talent, and young pitchers creates a dynamic roster capable of navigating the early tests and sustaining momentum into MAC play.
As the Eagles step onto the turf this season, they carry with them a sense of purpose shaped by mentorship, shared adversity, and preparation. Players like Zirwas, Stecko, Davis, and Molessa lead by example, while Beerman's guidance ensures the team remains cohesive and focused. The 2026 season will test their resilience, but the foundation is strong. Belief, preparation, and execution will define Eastern Michigan baseball as the Eagles chase a MAC championship and aim to extend their success beyond conference play.
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