ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Five Indiana State baseball players were recognized on the Missouri Valley baseball preseason watch list, while the Sycamores were selected fifth overall in the conference's preseason poll as we sit a little over two weeks away from first pitch of the 2026 season.
 
Returning Sycamores Carter Beck, Jeremy Martinez, Ty Brooks, Grant Parson, and Max McEwen were all named to the preseason watch list for the first time ahead of the season. Indiana State received 53 total points in the preseason vote from the league's head coaches.
 
Beck returns as one of the Valley's leading players ahead of the 2026 season as the junior outfielder was recognized by D1Baseball as their projected Player of the Year. The Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada native was a 2025 MVC First Team All-Conference and First Team Scholar-Athlete selection after sitting among the Valley's leaders in batting average (.335), hits (76), and RBIs (56), while adding 11 home runs and 15 doubles.
 
Martinez is the reigning MVC Co-Freshman of the Year, as the Caguas, Puerto Rico native returns to handle the primary catching duties for the Sycamores in the 2026 season. Martinez posted a .255 batting average in the middle of the Indiana State lineup, adding 11 doubles and a trio of home runs, while driving in 21 RBIs over his freshman campaign.
 
Brooks was among the conference's leaders in opponent batting average (.275) in his true freshman campaign on the mound as the Milford, Ind. native returns to the Sycamores' weekend rotation in 2026. He posted 17 appearances on the mound with 11 starts, adding wins over Wagner, UIC, and Purdue among his highlights last season.
 
Parson also returns to the Sycamores' weekend rotation as the junior right-hander is expected to provide a steadying hand to the mound. The Owensboro, Ky. native started nine games on the mound in 2025 and provided key starts down the stretch against both Bradley and Murray State in his first season at Indiana State.
 
McEwen was among the Valley's best starting pitchers over the course of the 2025 season before his year was cut short due to injury. The redshirt junior earned Second Team All-MVC honors following season where he finished among the conference leaders in ERA (4.63), opponent batting average (.223), strikeouts (64), strikeouts looking (23), and wins (6) over 13 appearances and 10 starts.
 
The Sycamores open the 2026 season on February 13-15 at the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge as Indiana State heads to both Caguas and Ponce, Puerto Rico for the opening weekend.

Indiana State Baseball Season Tickets on Sale Now
Season tickets for the 2026 Indiana State baseball season are now on sale as the Sycamores head into their second season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. The Sycamores will play 21 home games inside Bob Warn Field this season, starting on March 4 against Lindenwood.
 
Reserved chairback season tickets can be purchased for $110. General admission season tickets will go on sale as well with adult ($75), seniors ($55), and youth ($40) tickets also being available for purchase. There will be a $5 surcharge added to those wanting tickets printed.
 
The Sycamores have teamed up with Pacesetter Sports and the Spirit Shop for the third consecutive season for a season ticket deal. Fans will receive a $50 Pacesetter gift card for each $110 reserved chairback season ticket, $35 gift card for each $75 general admission season ticket, $25 gift card for each $55 senior general admission ticket, and $20 gift card for each $40 youth season ticket sold.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.