Defending Champion Bluejay Baseball Picked Second in 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Poll
12/18/2025 10:15:00 AM | Baseball
Capece and Magers Earn Spot on Preseason All-BIG EAST Squad
Creighton's 2025 season took the Bluejays to the Regional Final against Arkansas. The Bluejays went 2-2 in Fayetteville, besting Kansas and North Dakota State. Creighton posted a 43-16 mark last season and went 17-4 in BIG EAST play.
Capece had a breakout sophomore season in 2025, closing the season with a .351 average. The Bluejay backstop appeared in 50 games, starting 45, with 15 combined extra-base hits and 41 RBI.
The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year last season, Magers posted a 6-2 record with a 3.09 ERA in a team-best 67.0 innings this season. In seven BIG EAST contests, he went 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA.
UConn was picked to win the BIG EAST with 46 points, including five first place votes. Creighton earned 43 points, including three first place votes. Xavier and St. John's are slotted to reach the BIG EAST Tournament with 37 and 32 points respectively, while Seton Hall and Villanova are picked to finish fifth and sixth with 26 and 19 points. The final two teams were Georgetown with 13 points and Butler with eight points.Â
The 2026 season will be the first for Mark Kingston at the helm for Creighton. Kingston has led 17 teams to the NCAA Tournament during his coaching career, seven as a head coach and 10 more an as assistant or associate head coach. The influence of Kingston as well as pitching coach Billy Mohl and assistant coach Mike Current were instrumental in Creighton returning to the NCAA Tournament during the 2025 season.
Â
The Bluejays open the 2026 season in Moraga, California as Creighton faces the Saint Mary's Gaels (Feb. 13-15).Â
BIG EAST Baseball Preseason Poll
First place votes in ( )
2. Creighton (3)Â - 43
3. Xavier - 37
4. St. John's - 32
5. Seton Hall - 26
6. Villanova - 19
7. Georgetown - 13
8. Butler - 8
Â
2026 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Connor Misch, 1B, Sr., Xavier
Â
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Steven Svenson, RHP, So., Seton Hall ^
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Sean Finn, RP, Jr., UConn
Tyler Minick, OF, Jr., UConn
Rob Rispoli, SS, R-So., UConn
Connor Capece, C, Jr., Creighton ^
Wilson Magers, SP, So., Creighton ^
JT Raab, SP, Gr., Georgetown ^
Jon LeGrande, OF, Jr., St. John's ^
Shaun McMillan, 2B/DH, So., St. John'sÂ
Jauder Raifstanger, 3B, Jr., St. John's ^
John Downing, RP, Sr., Seton Hall
Steven Svenson, SP, So., Seton Hall
Clay Burdette, OF, Jr., Xavier
Connor Misch, 1B, Sr., Xavier ^
Ryan Piech, SP, Jr., Xavier
^ - Unanimous Selection
* - due to a tie in voting, there are extra members on the preseason all-conference team.
