2025 Fall College Baseball Preview: Wake Forest

It’s been a great past few years for the Wake Forest program, as far as producing pro talent is concerned. However, the process of re-loading isn’t easy. The 2026 Wake Forest Demon Deacons carried over a lot of talent from last year’s roster, headlined by several big bats who helped carry their 2025 offense.

The Returnees

Wake Forest lost a lot of punch in the MLB Draft this past July. Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad, both sensational prospects, were drafted in the first round as expected. Jack Winnay, who hit 35 home runs between 2024 and 2025, went in the 13th round to Boston, while Princeton transfer Matt Scannell turned a .978 OPS into a pro deal with the Blue Jays.

Between those four regulars, plus the losses of draft-eligible sophomore Cameron Nelson (5th – Rockies), as well as Antonio Morales and pitcher Logan Lunceford (12th – Dodgers), there will be opportunity abound for players on the Wake Forest in 2026.

However, the offense, despite losing a lot of power and depth, should remain a strength in 2026.

Kade Lewis showed power to all fields and hit a team-high .377 for Wake Forest. Lewis, along with power-hitting infielder Dalton Wentz — who had a coming-out party in Knoxville last spring — are two key names to watch. Not just this spring, though, but also the summer, as the two are eligible 2026 MLB Draft prospects.

Additionally, the Demon Deacons have their top two catchers back for 2026. Jimmy Keenan, a St. John’s transfer from the 2024 portal, had his swing-and-miss troubles in Queens. Keenan only hit .246 with 47 strikeouts over 44 games last season. Sophomore Matt Conte slugged .514 as a freshman.

Austin Hawke and Luke Costello, both of whom hit 10 home runs in 2025, are also back.

The pitching staff for 2026 includes Chris Levonas and Duncan Marsten, arguably the two best recruits from their 2024 recruit class. Levonas struck out 44 over 34.2 IP as a freshman and started 11 games for the Demon Deacons.

Additionally, soft-tossing lefty Matthew Dallas and Blake Morningstar, the latter of whom can gun it up to the mid-90s and is another notable 2026 draft prospect. Morningstar was a co-ace of last year’s team alongside Lunceford. The junior struck out 89 over 77 innings in 2025.

Morningstar was the lone Demon Deacon to make the USA collegiate national roster this past summer.

The Newcomers

Last summer, the Demon Deacons brought in a strong freshman class, along with notable transfer pickups in Lewis, Conrad, and Lunceford. For 2026, Wake Forest didn’t have as impactful a transfer class.

The big pickup this past summer was Cam Bagwell, a lanky 6’5” right-hander who pitched very well as a weekend starter for UNC Wilmington this past season. Bagwell didn’t pour on the strikeouts (62 over 85 IP) in his freshman year but sat in the high-80s and low-90s with his fastball. What Bagwell did do was limit walks (1.8 BB/9) and home runs (.6 HR/9).