Last season, the Hurricanes were a complete unknown. With 28 new players entering the mix, analysts across the country had no clue how this Miami team would perform. I sat down and made 12 predictions ranging from the overall record, player performances and more — many of which I was crucified for at the time. Fast forward a few months and I had the last laugh, hitting on the majority of my predictions.
Now heading into the 2026 season, Miami has some national focus — ranked 21-22 in most preseason polls with an expectation that this team will be an offensive powerhouse. And I sit here again, ready to share my season predictions for this squad.
Here we go:
Regular season win total - around the 38 win mark
This team is uber-talented.
We’ve said it all offseason, the talent/ceiling of this roster is the highest it’s ever been in the J.D Arteaga era. It’s a great blend of returning talent and crucial newcomers, especially on the offensive side. Nearly all of Miami’s offensive stars last season return, all with a point to prove ahead of their draft year.
And while a seven win jump is still pretty significant, I honestly believe this prediction is still a low ball. The hesitancy comes from the schedule itself, filled with ranked sides and tricky away trips. Towards the end of the season, the Canes will face off against Louisville, NCST and FSU — multiple series that will dictate the momentum heading into postseason play.
Three plus first team All-ACC
In all honesty this should’ve happened last year, but the ACC had some ridiculous talent at certain positions that blocked Canes out (also worth noting Derek Williams was on that path before missing half the season). This year, there’s both the talent and the path to do so. Whether it’s offensive guys or even some arms sneaking in there, I expect this team to boast some of the best players in the conference.
Bilka will be a do-it-all reliever
A preseason third team All-American and ranked the sixth best reliever in the country according to D1Baseball, Bilka has sky-high expectations from experts around the country.
So will he live up to being that lockdown ninth inning closer? Not quite, but in a good way.
I think Bilka will be a guy that actually eats more innings than expected, whether that’s a nine-out save or even middle inning help to kill an opposing side's momentum. He has a history of this dating back to his Richmond days last season, racking up multiple wins in the process. And although I don’t see the coaches going @Lance Roffers route as a full-on bridge guy, I agree his value to *this team* puts him firmly as a multiple inning stopper.
Protection will send Daniel Cuvet to a whole new level
Across his two seasons as a Hurricane, Cuvet has been one of the top hitters in the country. A .361 career batting average with 42 home runs, he’s always stepped up whenever the Canes needed him. What makes it more impressive is how he’s done so without real protection in the lineup —- teams would pitch around him consistently and take their chances with other players in the lineup. This year, pitchers won’t have that same grace. Cuvet will have transfer catcher Alex Sosa lurking on-deck as well as a full-year of Williams behind him to make opposing arms pay. Teams will be forced to attack Cuvet, and we know how that story plays out — I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends the season as Miami’s all-time home run leader.
Increased depth will lead to mid-game subs and platoon moves
A common problem the Canes ran into over the past few years has been a lack of depth, well that’s no longer. Across every position, there’s talent lined up and down the depth chart. And with this, there’s gonna be plenty of movement throughout the season whether it’s game-by-game subs or in-game adjustments. My mind immediately goes to freshmen Alonzo Alvarez and Gabriel Milano, who will be ready to go at catcher/DH and infield respectively when the moment calls for it. I expect lineups to change for platoon matchups, not to hide deficiencies, but to maximize output — a key distinction that makes this team different from previous Miami sides.
Pitching will be volatile to begin the season, but offense will keep steady
While I mentioned the Canes returned plenty of their talent, the pitching department wasn’t as lucky — losing Friday starter Griffin Hugus and multiple key relievers. Adding onto those losses, Miami also lost multiple pitching transfer additions to the draft in Easton Marks and Danny Macchiarola.
Last season's stars in AJ Ciscar and Tate DeRias return alongside lefties Jake Dorn and Rob Evans, but beyond them the room is still finding its role. Mixing in new transfers and freshmen will take some time, similar to last season. But unlike last year, Miami will have the offense to survive these struggles. From top to bottom the lineup will produce runs and continually provide life when needed.
Postseason run will be determined by how healthy Nick Robert and Frank Menendez can get
A crucial aspect in the pitching room finding its identity will be the return of Robert and Menendez. Both are recovering from Tommy John surgery last season, and as always the return can be tricky. They’re both expected to return around March/April, but the question becomes how quickly they can return to 100 percent. If the pair can reasonably contribute, the ceiling of this team postseason wise shoots exponentially up as arms are king when it comes to the postseason. Both can serve as multiple inning relievers and will extend the strength of the pen considerably.
This is my x-factor for the season.
Five over .300, five over ten homers
I predicted this last year, and while it didn’t hit I’m running it back again. All four who made this close last year return, and adding in some big-time transfer bats should push it over the edge.
Freshman All-American?
It wouldn’t be a Miami Hurricane team without a freshman AA, and this team is no different. However, with the depth in this team it’s gonna be hard for some of these hitters to get enough PT to really standout. Therefore my prediction is gonna land on lefty reliever LJ Drummond. I’ve raved all off-season about his potential with his pitch mix, and as the season approaches I’m even more confident. Not only does he have the talent to play early, but he has the path to doing so. I expect big things from him throughout the year.
Relevance re-established
Miami is a baseball blue-blood, there’s no other way around it. Four national championships, 25 CWS appearances and a record 44 consecutive regional appearances through 2016 — the Canes are etched in college baseball history. But since the last CWS appearance, it's been up and down with teams that failed to live up to the standard. Last year’s team came close and exceeded expectations with a Super Regional run, but their legacy comes in the form of what they did for the program.
People nation-wide began to pay attention to Miami, and this year's team will aim to continue that momentum. Likeable stars, draftable talent and rising youngsters; this team has the makeup of true Miami teams.
Omaha is the standard, and this team will look to knock down the door.
Now heading into the 2026 season, Miami has some national focus — ranked 21-22 in most preseason polls with an expectation that this team will be an offensive powerhouse. And I sit here again, ready to share my season predictions for this squad.
Here we go:
Regular season win total - around the 38 win mark
This team is uber-talented.
We’ve said it all offseason, the talent/ceiling of this roster is the highest it’s ever been in the J.D Arteaga era. It’s a great blend of returning talent and crucial newcomers, especially on the offensive side. Nearly all of Miami’s offensive stars last season return, all with a point to prove ahead of their draft year.
And while a seven win jump is still pretty significant, I honestly believe this prediction is still a low ball. The hesitancy comes from the schedule itself, filled with ranked sides and tricky away trips. Towards the end of the season, the Canes will face off against Louisville, NCST and FSU — multiple series that will dictate the momentum heading into postseason play.
Three plus first team All-ACC
In all honesty this should’ve happened last year, but the ACC had some ridiculous talent at certain positions that blocked Canes out (also worth noting Derek Williams was on that path before missing half the season). This year, there’s both the talent and the path to do so. Whether it’s offensive guys or even some arms sneaking in there, I expect this team to boast some of the best players in the conference.
Bilka will be a do-it-all reliever
A preseason third team All-American and ranked the sixth best reliever in the country according to D1Baseball, Bilka has sky-high expectations from experts around the country.
So will he live up to being that lockdown ninth inning closer? Not quite, but in a good way.
I think Bilka will be a guy that actually eats more innings than expected, whether that’s a nine-out save or even middle inning help to kill an opposing side's momentum. He has a history of this dating back to his Richmond days last season, racking up multiple wins in the process. And although I don’t see the coaches going @Lance Roffers route as a full-on bridge guy, I agree his value to *this team* puts him firmly as a multiple inning stopper.
Protection will send Daniel Cuvet to a whole new level
Across his two seasons as a Hurricane, Cuvet has been one of the top hitters in the country. A .361 career batting average with 42 home runs, he’s always stepped up whenever the Canes needed him. What makes it more impressive is how he’s done so without real protection in the lineup —- teams would pitch around him consistently and take their chances with other players in the lineup. This year, pitchers won’t have that same grace. Cuvet will have transfer catcher Alex Sosa lurking on-deck as well as a full-year of Williams behind him to make opposing arms pay. Teams will be forced to attack Cuvet, and we know how that story plays out — I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends the season as Miami’s all-time home run leader.
Increased depth will lead to mid-game subs and platoon moves
A common problem the Canes ran into over the past few years has been a lack of depth, well that’s no longer. Across every position, there’s talent lined up and down the depth chart. And with this, there’s gonna be plenty of movement throughout the season whether it’s game-by-game subs or in-game adjustments. My mind immediately goes to freshmen Alonzo Alvarez and Gabriel Milano, who will be ready to go at catcher/DH and infield respectively when the moment calls for it. I expect lineups to change for platoon matchups, not to hide deficiencies, but to maximize output — a key distinction that makes this team different from previous Miami sides.
Pitching will be volatile to begin the season, but offense will keep steady
While I mentioned the Canes returned plenty of their talent, the pitching department wasn’t as lucky — losing Friday starter Griffin Hugus and multiple key relievers. Adding onto those losses, Miami also lost multiple pitching transfer additions to the draft in Easton Marks and Danny Macchiarola.
Last season's stars in AJ Ciscar and Tate DeRias return alongside lefties Jake Dorn and Rob Evans, but beyond them the room is still finding its role. Mixing in new transfers and freshmen will take some time, similar to last season. But unlike last year, Miami will have the offense to survive these struggles. From top to bottom the lineup will produce runs and continually provide life when needed.
Postseason run will be determined by how healthy Nick Robert and Frank Menendez can get
A crucial aspect in the pitching room finding its identity will be the return of Robert and Menendez. Both are recovering from Tommy John surgery last season, and as always the return can be tricky. They’re both expected to return around March/April, but the question becomes how quickly they can return to 100 percent. If the pair can reasonably contribute, the ceiling of this team postseason wise shoots exponentially up as arms are king when it comes to the postseason. Both can serve as multiple inning relievers and will extend the strength of the pen considerably.
This is my x-factor for the season.
Five over .300, five over ten homers
I predicted this last year, and while it didn’t hit I’m running it back again. All four who made this close last year return, and adding in some big-time transfer bats should push it over the edge.
Freshman All-American?
It wouldn’t be a Miami Hurricane team without a freshman AA, and this team is no different. However, with the depth in this team it’s gonna be hard for some of these hitters to get enough PT to really standout. Therefore my prediction is gonna land on lefty reliever LJ Drummond. I’ve raved all off-season about his potential with his pitch mix, and as the season approaches I’m even more confident. Not only does he have the talent to play early, but he has the path to doing so. I expect big things from him throughout the year.
Relevance re-established
Miami is a baseball blue-blood, there’s no other way around it. Four national championships, 25 CWS appearances and a record 44 consecutive regional appearances through 2016 — the Canes are etched in college baseball history. But since the last CWS appearance, it's been up and down with teams that failed to live up to the standard. Last year’s team came close and exceeded expectations with a Super Regional run, but their legacy comes in the form of what they did for the program.
People nation-wide began to pay attention to Miami, and this year's team will aim to continue that momentum. Likeable stars, draftable talent and rising youngsters; this team has the makeup of true Miami teams.
Omaha is the standard, and this team will look to knock down the door.
