2026 HS/JUCO signees and Portal Additions

As of July 15th the Flames have 9 portal commitments, 3 JUCO Signees and 5 HS Signees and they lost 4 underclassmen to the draft and 1 portal commitment.   

Austin Irby ECU - Irby was a first team freshman All American per Perfect Game in 2025 after his freshman season where he hit .303 with 12 homers and 50 RBI's.  He's a corner infielder that should be a middle of the order bat for the Flames.  Big time acquisition here.  He hit .239 with 5 HR's and 39 RBI's to go along with a .354 OBP in a bit of a down season in 2026.  

Cole Cleveland FIU - Cleveland is a rangy OF from conference mate FIU.  He hit .232 with 4 HR's and 23 RBI's with a .359 OBP and 9 SB's in his sophomore season.  In his true freshman season in 2025 he hit .291 with 5 HR's 32 RBI's and 13 SB's.  He was also named to the All CUSA freshman team.  

Jaeden Carter Longwood - Carter was Longwood's best player and comes in as a utility player that can played OF and Catcher for the Lancers.  He hit .298 with 7 HR's and 44 RBI's and 37 runs scored.  He broke the program record for AB's with 235.  Another huge add from the portal that should plug right into the lineup somewhere.  He has 2 years of eligibility remaining after redshirting at Dayton before transferring in.  

Michael Kalinich ECU - Kalinich could be the front line catcher the Flames are searching for in the portal.  In his freshman year at ECU he played in 35 games and started 14.  He built off that in 2026 with an impressive stat line of .323 BA 7 HR's 33 RBI's and 1.048 OPS.  Kalinich is easily only of the top catchers in the portal. In HS he was the 5th ranked catcher in talent rich FL and 418th overall nationally while being ranked as a 9.5 by PG.  Highly touted and sought after high school Catcher.  

Michael Lane Delaware St.  -Lane is a hard throwing RHP that was up to 96 MPH as a sophomore at Delaware St.  Lane has a big time breaking ball and could be a draft risk for the Flames.  One to keep an eye on when the draft rolls around.  He had a 2.25 ERA in 7 starts and 39 IP while going 1-4 in 2025.  Lane took a step back in 2026 with a 7.12 ERA in 73 IP with 88 K's.  All 14 appearances were starts.  

*Update: Lane was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and is expected to sign.  

Brandt Corley ULM - Corley is a 6'2 LHP that made 14 starts for ULM this past year and will have 1 year of eligibility left.  He struck out 61 in 58 IP while recording an ERA of 7.82 ERA.   Lot of experience and 1 of those arms that the Flames could develop as they have the past couple years.  

Julian Rondon D3 Hartford - Rondon is a LHP from D3 Hartford that has pitched as a reliever and been a 2 way player during his first 3 years in College.  He had a 3.90 ERA in 14 appearances spanning 27 2/3 innings.  What stands out most is that he had 52 K's in 27 2/3 IP while splitting duties.  He's pitching in the NECBL with Upper Valley and has allowed 1 earned run through 6 IP.  Rondon is 90-92 with the fastball and has a solid change.  The breaking ball needs a bit of development but with full time devotion to pitching that could change everything.  He's exactly the type arm you buy low on at the mid major level to see if you can develop something (aka Tyler August).  

Tate Jones NJIT - Jones is a RHP that had a 5.86 ERA in 50 2/3 IP this past year.  The most impressive stat of Jones is just 11 BB's in those 50 2/3 IP.  The strikeouts are fairly low at 33 and OPP BA is elevated at .315 but the Flames love the control.  He's looked better in the Appy league in 22 IP with a 4.03 ERA and just 5 BB's.  The hope is that Jones can be a key piece in the revamped Liberty bullpen.

Bryson Goff New Orleans - 6'4 205 pound LHP that went 6-3 with a 7.98 ERA in 53 IP while punching out 53.  He was up to 93 MPH this past year 3 straight 6 inning outings to end the year and also went 5 2/3 against Southern Miss.  Unique arm slot that provides the Flames another look out of the pen.  

JUCO Additions

Xavier Myles ECCC - Myles is a 6'2 230 pound Corner IF that hit .379 with 6 HR's and 45 RBI's in his Sophomore Juco campaign.  He's primarily a 1B but can also play a little 3B, LF & catch a bit.  Myles another physical right handed hitter with some pop to the mix.  Myles also swiped 15 bags so the big man can move a bit for sure.  Flames were thrilled to add some power/physicality late in the cycle.  

Jackson Ellison Butler CC - Ellison is a JUCO SS from Buter CC that had 2 excellent years at Butler.  He hit .356 with 13 HR's and 66 RBI's to go along with 63 runs and 19 SB's.  He's a versatile left handed hitter that has played some 2B in Summer League ball this year as well.  His swing reminds me of Steve Finley a bit for you old guys.

Ryan Kaitz - Kaitz is a JUCO OF from State College of Florida that hit .366 with 3 HR's and 48 RBI's in his sophomore campaign.  He also scored 52 runs and had 12 SB's to go along with a .446 OBP.  Kaitz is a 6'2 205 lb right handed throwing versatile OF.  

HS Signees

Reid Garrett - Garrett is a 6'6 225 LB RHP from Mississippi.  Garrett is described as a strike throwing machine that took a big jump this Summer and Fall.  Garrett is already a physical specimen as you can see by his measureables.  Garrett punched out 80 hitters to the tune of 1.00 ERA this past season while holding the opposition to a .207 BA. 

Will Hodges - Hodges is a 6'1 195 LB RHP from Mechanicsville, VA.  Hodges has been up to 93 and is another physical kid at this stage and could help the Flames early. 

Camden Blank - 5'10 187 LB SS from Rockingham, VA.  Blank can play all over the infield and really grinds out at bats and has exhibited an advanced hit tool.  He hit .531 with a .661 OBP this past year in HS.  

Tre Miller - 6''1 175 Middle Infielder from Booneville MS.  Miller is an elite defender and also exhibits plus speed and could be a threat to steal 30 plus bags at the collegiate level.  Miller could get draft interest if the bat develops in the Spring.  He hit .330 with a .480 OBP this past year at Booneville.  Miller had a good bit of draft interest from the Royals and others but the Flames got him through the draft.  

Jayden Davis - Davis is a 5'10 190 LB RHP from just down the road in Amherst.  Davis signed with UVA but was released from his commitment and the Flames quickly moved in.  Davis was the 9th ranked player in the state and 5th ranked pitcher per PG in the class of 2026.  Davis has been up to 95 MPH velo wise.  Excellent late add by the Flames.