Troy University Athletics
10/30/2026 12:15:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. — As another Major League Baseball concludes, Troy Baseball celebrates another historic milestone. For the second time in program history, a former Trojan secured a World Series ring, as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays for their first-ever championship title.
Following the 2026 MLB Draft — which saw Aaron Piasecki, Benjamin Stubbs, Zach Crotchfelt, and Dylan Alonso selected — Troy has now produced 72 total draft picks and 31 undrafted free-agent signees in program history.
With the professional season officially wrapped up, let's look back at how the PROjans performed this year.
Brandon Lockridge – MLB – Milwaukee Brewers
2026 Season Stats — .277 AVG | 28 H | 13 R | 12 RBI | 6 SB
In his first full season with the Brewers, Lockridge made the most of his injury-shortened season. The former Troy standout appeared in just 39 games, but made his presence felt when available. Though he didn't make any appearances throughout the Brewers' postseason run, Lockridge became the second former Trojan (Danny Cox - 1993 Blue Jays) to don a World Series title in program history with Milwaukee capturing the 2026 title.
Caleb Bartolero – Double-A – Rocket City Trash Pandas (LAA)
2026 Season Stats — .294 AVG | 128 H | 80 R | 65 RBI | 13 HR
After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Bartolero has climbed the ladder up to Double-A. Bartolero started the 2026 season with the Angels' High-A affiliate, the Tri-City Dust Devils, and by June 9, received the call up to the Trash Pandas. The former Trojan capped off a terrific 2026 campaign by helping the Trash Pandas secure their first-ever Double-A Southern League title last September.
Kole Myers – Double-A – Tulsa Drillers (LAD)
2026 Season Stats — .249 AVG | 82 H | 56 R | 45 RBI | 19 SB | 9 HR
The lone Trojan to be drafted in 2024 also has made his way up the minor league ranks in just a few seasons. After just 13 games in High-A, Myers joined former teammate Caleb Bartolero and got called up to Double-A on June 9. The Driller's outfielder produced in 83 games and flashed his speed, with a team-high three triples on the season.
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr – Double-A – Pensacola Blue Wahoos (MIA)
2026 Season Stats — 3-4 | 87.2 IP | 6.06 ERA | 88 K | 40 BB | 59 ER | 97 H
Ortiz-Mayr made a team-high 20 starts in 22 appearances throughout his 2026 campaign just a couple hours south of Troy for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The righty-dealer logged the second-most innings and strikeouts. He posted a season-high eight K's in a shutout appearance on June 19.
Jay Dill – Double-A – Midland Rockhounds (ATH)
2026 Season Stats — 6-1 | 54.2 | 3.79 ERA | 65 K | 34 BB | 23 ER | 54 H
Dill was selected by the Athletics in the 18th round of the 2025 MLB Draft and has wasted no time making his way up the minor league system. The righty pitcher began the 2026 season in Single-A with the Stockton Ports where he dominated in his 12 appearances with a 3-0 record and 1.08 ERA. Dill's stop in High-A with the Lansing Lugnuts was short-lived, as he made just two appearances and registered six strikeouts with no runs allowed in three full innings before finishing out the season in Double-A in Midland. His strong 2026 campaign earned him an invite to the MLB's Arizona Fall League where he has been competing for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Zach Fruit – Double-A – Chesapeake Baysox (BAL)
2026 Season Stats — DNP (Injury)
The Baltimore Orioles selected Zach Fruit in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Fruit had a solid 2025 outing, starting in 13 of his 14 games across 51.2 innings and registering 52 strikeouts with a 6.10 ERA. The right-handed dealer did not make any appearances in the 2026 season due to injury.
Noah Edders – High-A – South Bend Cubs (CHC)
2026 Season Stats — 2-4 | 69.2 IP | 4.78 ERA | 76 K | 29 BB | 37 ER | 65 H
Edders was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The right-handed pitcher spent the majority of the 2026 season in Single-A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before getting the call up to High-A on Aug. 11. Edders made 15 starts in 18 appearances for the Pelicans and added three more appearances in South Bend. Despite just three outings in High-A, Edders went 1-0 with his win coming in his final contest of the regular season.
Clete Hartzog – High-A – Winston-Salem Dash (CWS)
2026 Season Stats — DNP (Injury)
After a strong 2025 campaign which saw Hartzog record 14 strikeouts in just 15.1 innings of relief with a 2.93 ERA, the former Trojan did not make any appearances in 2026 due to injury.
Benny Thompson – High-A – Tri-City Dust Devils (LAA)
2026 Season Stats — 3-5 | 58.0 IP | 6.05 ERA | 78 K | 57 BB | 39 ER | 51 H
In his fourth season in the pros, Backspin Benny recorded another strong season in his first full season with the Dust Devils. Across 40 appearances and 58 full innings, Thompson posted the third-most strikeouts on the team (78) and had the second-most saves with three.
Brooks Bryan – Single-A – Columbia Fireflies (KC)
2026 Season Stats — .319 AVG | 38 H | 24 RBI | 11 R | 6 SB | 3 HR
The former Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist made early impressions throughout his first season in the pros. In an injury-reddened season, Bryan posted the highest batting average (.319), on-base percentage (.406), and slugging percentage (.496) on the team. The former Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist capped off a tremendous season by joining former teammate Jay Dill in the Arizona Fall League, where he has been competing for the Surprise Saguaros. Bryan currently ranks third in the Arizona Fall League in homers with three through the Saguaros first 20 games.
Adam Falinski – Single-A – Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN)
2026 Season Stats — 2-5 | 69.1 IP | 6.62 ERA | 65 K | 43 BB | 51 ER | 89 H
Falinski spent most of the 2026 season in Single-A with the Mighty Mussels. He tossed 40 complete innings in Fort Myers, and collected 38 of his 65 strikeouts, while also tallying a team-high five saves to go along with four holds. Falinski got the call up to High-A with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he made 16 appearances across 29.1 innings.
Aaron Piasecki – Single-A – Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU)
2026 Season Stats — .333 AVG | 24 H | 15 RBI | 11 R | 5 SB
The first Trojan selected in the 2026 MLB Draft by Houston saw 21 games of action to begin his professional career. In just his ninth contest, Piasecki exploded for a four-hit, two-RBI game. The success followed Piasecki to his new home, as he helped the Woodpeckers secure the Single-A Carolina League title.
Benjamin Stubbs – Single-A – Lake Elsinore Storm (SD)
2026 Season Stats — DNP
Stubbs was the second Trojan to be taken in the draft, but did not make any appearances for the Storm in a shortened first year in the pros.
Zach Crotchfelt – Single-A – St. Lucie Mets (NYM)
2026 Season Stats — 0-0 | 3.0 IP | 0.00 ERA | 4 K | 0 BB | 0 ER | 0 H
Crotchfelt made the most of his limited action during his first season with the St. Lucie Mets. In just three total innings on the mound, Crotchfelt was perfect and tallied four strikeouts, with two coming against the lone three batters he faced in his final contest of the season.
Dylan Alonso – Arizona Complex League Royals
2026 Season Stats — DNP
The most recent Trojan to be drafted has yet to make his professional debut in his first year in the pros.
