The Hope College baseball team is prepared and eager to take a swing at the 2026 season.
Led by second-year head coach Ryan Dorow, the Flying Dutchmen are determined to improve their play and record after struggling last season.
"We've got a really good group. We have some important returning players from last year and some additions, which is going to help in the long run," Dorow said. "We've had a great fall camp and preseason, too. We're looking forward to seeing how that translates into this weekend."
Hope, which went 12-27 last season, placed fifth in the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association preseason coaches poll. The Flying Dutchmen totaled 27 points in the poll, finishing behind Adrian College (48), Kalamazoo College (43), Alma College (35) and Calvin University (30).
ROSTER
The Flying Dutchmen's roster of 39 features nine seniors, four juniors, 12 sophomores and 14 freshmen.
Hope returns All-MIAA honoree Corbin Bennetts, an outfielder and second-team selection during the 2025 season.
Bennetts, a Jenison, Michigan, native, made an immediate impact as a freshman, leading the team with a .325 batting average in MIAA play. He totaled 26 hits in 20 conference games, including seven doubles and one triple, while scoring 12 runs and driving in seven.
Sophomore infielder Colton Kinnie, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, returns after hitting a team-leading .353 in 2025 with three home runs and 24 RBIs.
Senior outfielder Jace DeMann, of Byron Center, Michigan, batted .300 last season.
Senior first baseman
Cade Seabaugh (Ballwin, Missouri / Ladue Horton) blasted a team-best six home runs in 2025.
Hope's pitching staff returns three pitchers who each made at least 18 appearances last season: senior left-hander Collin Genuise, of Allendale, Michigan; junior right-hander Thomas Bacigalupo, of Midland, Michigan; and sophomore right-hander Josiah Long, of Newaygo, Michigan.
"We're going to hit with the best of them. Our pitching has come a long way. We're better defensively," Dorow said. "We're going to be a scrappy team. We're motivated."
COACHING STAFF
Head coach: Ryan Dorow, second season
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator:
Tom Kort
Outfield coach:
Travis Stricklin
Catching coach:
Ryan Blake Jones
Pitching assistant: Christian Cropper
Offensive assistant: DJ Lepkowski
SCHEDULE
The Flying Dutchmen open the season this weekend with games in Westfield, Indiana: Friday at 2 p.m. vs. Heidelberg and Saturday at 11 a.m. against Ripon and Marian.
Hope will travel to Ohio, Florida and Illinois for nonconference games before opening MIAA play against The University of Olivet on March 27-28.
MIAA series will consist of three games, including six series featuring one single game at one site and a doubleheader at the other. Each team will have one series with three single weekday games; Alma is the Flying Dutchmen's draw this season.
"We're playing teams out of the Ohio Athletic Conference and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. We're going to get tested," Dorow said. "The MIAA is going to be tough, as always. We're looking forward to it."
