The 2025 season did not go how the Cougs expected. Despite being projected to finish third in the Mountain West Conference, the Cougs ended the year with an overall record of 18-36 and a conference record of 11-10, ranking dead last in the division.
What stuffed the Cougs at the bottom of the standings? Most likely a 3-12 record in their last 15 games of the season.
To add insult to injury, redshirt-junior Logan Johnstone entered the transfer portal and made his way to Vanderbilt University for his last year of eligibility.
In 2025, Johnstone led the team in OPS, slugging percentage, hits, home runs and doubles. He was the heart of the offense for much of the year.
But, the new year brings new faces to the Palouse. Eighteen new Cougs will don the Crimson and Gray in 2026.
Six of these 18 additions are infielders and outfielders, each helping to replace the various graduations and transfers suffered this offseason.
Who are these new Cougs? Let us take a look…
Infielders:
Dane Chavez (Freshman)
Fresh out of high school, the Cougs picked up the No. 27-ranked player and No. 6-ranked shortstop in the state of Washington. The middle infielder clocks in at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds from Kennewick, Wash.
In his senior year at Kennewick High School, Chavez helped lead the Lions to a state championship appearance in the 3A state playoffs. Through the first three rounds, Kennewick put up 21 combined runs to power its way to the championship game. However, the Lions came up short when they were blown out by Mount Vernon High School 14-6 in the championship bout.
Chavez joins a Cougar infield that already has depth. Chances are the infield will feature sophomore Kyler Northrop at third base, senior Gavin Roy at shortstop and senior Ryan Skjonsby at first base.
What role Chavez will play is unknown. Second base may be his best shot to find a place in the lineup.
Second base was a slight revolving door last season, with freshman Ollie Obenour getting injured midway through the season and redshirt senior Luke Thiele cycling in occasionally.
Although Chavez’s opportunities to play may be slim, he should make a few cameos throughout the year when called upon.
Outfielders:
Joey Hecker (Freshman)
A Pullman native, the Cougs snagged a hometown kid right off the Palouse. He is the No. 30 overall prospect in Washington, and could be one of the long-term solutions to the Johnstone void.
Although his senior year stats are not available, his previous three seasons show just how impactful of a hitter he is. Hecker never once played at the JV level, joining the Pullman High School varsity roster as a freshman. In his Greyhound career, excluding his senior year, he batted 0.324, had a 0.924 OPS, 67 hits, 51 RBIs and 15 doubles.
Being among the five outfielders brought in this offseason, Hecker has his work cut out for him. However, Johnstone leaving and left field being a question mark leaves two open spots in the outfield. If Hecker’s bat tool shows up like it did in high school, then he could wind up winning an everyday spot in the corner outfield.
Mason Pirello (Freshman)
Out of Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., the Cougs signed a red-hot bat. In his three years at the varsity level, Pirello batted 0.315, had a 0.953 OPS, drove in 48 runs, 58 hits, 16 doubles and three home runs.
The No. 4-ranked outfielder and No. 17 overall player in the state may only be 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, but his production at the plate speaks for itself.
Similar to Hecker, Pirello has a number of other suitors bidding for a corner outfield spot. How much he will be utilized is unknown, but much like the other freshman joining the roster, he could make some sporadic appearances throughout the season.
Matt Priest (Transfer – Redshirt freshman)
The Cougs add a speedster to the roster via the transfer portal. The 6-foot, 190-pound former USC Trojan was not only a baseball player in his high school days, but a standout track and field competitor as well.
On the track, Priest recorded a 10.94-second 100-meter dash, as well as a 23.16-second 200-meter dash. USC never witnessed that speed last year, given Priest did not play a single game.
This lack of college stats makes his high school ledger the only available reference for the then No. 3 outfielder and No. 15 overall player in California. In his varsity career, Priest batted 0.281, had a 0.926 OPS and two home runs in just 13 games played. He played flawless defense in these 13 games, recording a 1.000 fielding percentage.
His speed, power at the plate and lights out defense make Priest a top candidate for the everyday corner outfield slot.
Dustin Robinson (Transfer – Redshirt sophomore)
In his two JUCO years, Robinson recorded 82 hits, 59 RBI’s, 15 doubles, 11 home runs, a 0.366 average and 1.056 OPS. The Cougs fished a certified slugger out of the transfer portal when they signed Robinson from Cypress Community College.
While he only played 12 games in his freshman year, his redshirt freshman season had the ball popping off his bat, making up the bulk of his JUCO numbers.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, the southpaw and lefty hitter is a prototypical outfielder, which includes speed as well. Robinson swiped nine bases last year, which would have led the Cougs, whose base thief leader was Roy with eight. His glove also shined, recording a 0.980 fielding percentage with only four errors all time.
With power, speed and quality defense, Robinson has everything the Cougs may be looking for in a three-year outfield solution.
Trevor Smith (Freshman)
Rounding out the Cougs’ outfield recruiting, they picked up a switch-hitting slugger from California. Smith throws lefty but swings from both sides of the plate, making him a useful plug-and-play tool throughout the year.
He played three years at the varsity level, and although his first season had him batting only 0.180, his next two years saw averages north of 0.300. His senior year was by far the most impressive with a 0.395 average, 34 hits, 20 RBIs, five doubles and an impressive four home runs.
His power from both sides of the plate was not the only impressive part of Smith’s high school tenure. Through 86 games played, he recorded only a single error, culminating in a near flawless 0.994 fielding percentage.
If that was not enough, his speed on the base paths makes him jump off the page. Smith swiped 23 bases in his three years, 12 coming in his senior year.
Much like the other outfield recruits and transfers on this list, Smith brings power, quality defense and speed to the base paths. As the No. 46-ranked outfield prospect in California, Smith is yet another quality pick up in the attempt to replace Johnstone’s production at the plate.
