Two baseball games will be of note next March 25.
The Cincinnati Reds will celebrate Opening Day at Great American Ball Park against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cincinnati Bearcats' Big 12 game with Houston at UC Baseball Stadium would certainly be on the undercard for the day, unless it is not.
Many experts covering Major League Baseball expect a strike in 2027 once the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires Dec. 1. Owners and players appear to differ on several issues, the most controversial being a salary cap.
Should there be a lockout, college baseball could prosper. Coach Jordan Bischel, in his fourth season at UC, will have his Bearcats in their 21st game of the season by March 25. He's had three seasons of 30-plus wins at UC and has had the Bearcats in the NCAA
Tournament the past two seasons.
UC Bearcats coach Jordan Bischel could seize moment if MLB strikes in 2027
"If there is no Major League Baseball and that's April and May, that will increase the spotlight that's on college baseball," Bischel said. "That's completely out of our control. I'm not pulling for anybody to have a strike. Ultimately, the other part is, if they keep playing Major League Baseball, we're going to see some Bearcats cracking through the next few years playing at that level, which is great for our program, too."
UC Baseball Stadium has a capacity of 3,085 and the field between Fifth Third Arena and the new Sheakley Indoor Performance Facility has become more popular since Bischel's arrival.
"My job is to make sure we have a product worth watching," he said. "If there's nothing else to watch, certainly that will put more eyes on us; that's for sure."
Taking advantage of a possible MLB strike isn't a rallying cry, but in addition to having several players make the pro ranks, the UC baseball program is on the radar and Bischel has already received a contract extension.
UC Bearcats coached by Jordan Bischel who were MLB draft picks
Slugger Josh Kross went to the Cardinals in the sixth round in 2024; then, after the NCAA Knoxville Regional run former Badin High product Landyn Vidourek went to the Dodgers in the third round and Big 12 Player of the Year Kerrington Cross went to the Padres in the seventh round.
This summer, pitching signee Jack Slightom went in the second round to the Royals, catcher Jack Natili to the Rockies in the third round, West Clermont High's Nathan Taylor went to the Mariners in the third roundand pitcher Dominic Mauro was picked by the A's in the 10th round.
Cheetah Lab is new for UC Bearcats bunters, base stealers
"Bischel Ball" has been UC's style as they've become known for bunting and moving runners around the bases. The Bearcats have led Power Four programs in bunt hits the past three seasons.
On the bases, the Bearcats swiped 364 bags since the start of the 2024 season and set a program record with 134 steals in 2025. UC ranked fourth among Power Four programs in stolen base success rate in 2026 (87.1%) and successfully stole bases at a 90.5% clip in 2025.
The Cheetah Lab is named for the fastest land animal.
Assistant coach Tom Winske pitched the idea to Bischel on the bus ride home from Knoxville after UC was eliminated from the NCAA regional in 2025. Bischel, who says Winske could sell "ketchup popsicles to women wearing white gloves", quickly went to the administration for funding and a sufficient area was found on the bottom floor of the Lindner Center near the weight facilities.
The area was formerly a golf simulator room for coach Doug Martin's squad. When they moved, the space was open and eventually turfed, painted and equipped with netting, a pitching machine and video equipment to help Bearcats baserunners improve their leadoffs and jumps.
"Most of our guys we've got here are up there to drive the ball in the gaps and out of the park," Bischel said. "But what we do recruit is athletic guys that move well. If you're a good athlete that moves well, bunting is a skill that can be taught. If you have good athletes and they're committed to it, they can pick it up and it becomes a big added weapon."
Bearcats baseball players returning for 2027
All-American Quinton Coats returns after setting a new UC home run record with 28 last season while driving in 79 runs in 60 games and hitting .339. Freshman All-American catcher Enzo Infelise was the team's leading hitter at .374 and hit 10 home runs. Outfielder Derrick Pitts hit .329 and made the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Other starters returning are Ryan Tyranski, Moeller's Charlie Niehaus and Conlan Daniel and Jackson Smith. Notable returning pitchers are Moeller's Carson Marsh, Adam Buczkowski and Chad Brown.
UC Bearcats baseball fall schedule
The Bearcats will play four fall exhibition games in the coming weeks. UC will visit Purdue on Sunday, Sept. 27, before playing Kentucky (Sunday, Oct. 4), Dayton (Saturday, Oct. 10), and Xavier (Saturday, Oct. 17). The game against Kentucky will be held at Prasco Park, while the matchups against the Flyers and Musketeers will be played at UC Baseball Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Can Cincinnati Bearcats baseball capitalize if MLB strikes in 2027?
