Just four days after losing in the NCAA Starkville Regional while starting six underclassmen and using two freshmen pitchers, the Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team got three of those players to “run it back” for the 2027 season.
All three were key cogs for head coach Jordan Bischel’s crew, who won 38 games, just one shy of the school record, and made the first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in UC history.
Making their announcements on Thursday, June 4 were sophomores Quinton Coats and Derrick Pitts and freshman Enzo Infelise. More are expected and Bischel predicted as much after his season-ending press conference in Mississippi.
“We want what’s best for those guys,” Bischel said June 1 after being eliminated by Louisiana. “I want Derrick and Quinton and Enzo and every guy in our program to be wherever they’re going to be the happiest. Hopefully, they think that’s Cincinnati. I don’t think dollar signs are going to change that for them.”
Cincinnati Bearcats single-season home run leader Quinton Coats returns
As a sophomore, Coats was a Dick Howser Trophy Award semifinalist hitting .339 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs and 10 steals in 60 games. After hitting .315 with six home runs as a freshman and playing his way into the lineup, he blew past the school home run record of 23 set in 2009 by Mike Spina. Coats surpassed the record on May 5 on the road at Oral Roberts.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Coats is from Olathe, Kansas and was First Team All-Big 12.
Friday, June 5 Coats was named District 5 Player of the Year by the National College Baseball Writers’ Association.
SportsCenter highlight machine Derrick Pitts also back for UC baseball
Similar to Coats, Pitts played his way into the lineup as a freshman in 2024 getting into 42 games, hitting .247 with 10 steals. He improved immensely in 2026 and had a knack for the cameras with his defense and flair.
Pitts hit .329 in 58 games with six homers, 42 RBIs and 17 steals in addition to his defensive highlight plays that often found their way onto ESPN.
Big 12 Freshman of the Year remains in UC fold for 2027
A true freshman doesn’t always play regularly, let alone lead your team in hitting. That’s what the designated hitter/catcher Infelise did by hitting .374 in 59 games with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs.
When future pro Jack Natili didn’t catch, it was Infelise whose fielding percentage was barely behind that of Natili (.993 to .992). He is poised to become next year’s No. 1 catcher.
More Cincinnati Bearcats announce return June 4
Redshirt freshman Ryan Tyranski and sophomore pitcher Adam Buczkowski announced their returns on Friday, June 4.
Tyranski made the All-Big 12 Freshman Team and hit .313 with seven homers, 34 RBIs with 14 stolen bases. He started 43 of 52 games.
Buczkowski was Second Team All-Big 12, going 4-2 out of the bullpen with six saves and 63 strikeouts in 41.1 innings.
2 Bearcats will be in MLB Draft
Buster Posey Award semifinalist Jack Natili had a strong NCAA tournament and finished the season at .339 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs in 60 games. Natil has moved up to No. 87 in the MLB.com Top 200, which puts him in third-round territory next month.
Nathan Taylor was UC’s ace and finished 7-3 with a 3.60 ERA and a new school-record of 115 strikeouts in 90 innings over 16 starts. MLB.com listed him as one of the “sleeper” possible draft picks as UC went into the Starkville Regional. Prospect Porch lists the 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander from West Clermont High School in their Top 200 at No. 181.
The first round of the MLB Draft is July 11, with rounds 2-20 completed July 12-13.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats baseball already has key players back for 2027
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
