Baseball is already back in Morgantown.
And after last season, expectations in Morgantown are going to be a whole lot higher. West Virginia opened its fall schedule Friday with its first Gold vs. Blue scrimmage at Kendrick Family Ballpark, giving fans their first look at the 2027 Mountaineers.
And after last season, there is plenty to be excited about.
WVU finished 2026 with a 47-17 record and made the College World Series for the first time in program history. The Mountaineers finished as one of the final
four teams remaining in Omaha and ended the season ranked No. 4 in several major polls.
Now, Steve Sabins and the Mountaineers are getting their first look at what the next version of this team could look like.
Gavin Kelly Is Back
The biggest returning name is an easy one: Gavin Kelly.
Kelly had a huge sophomore season, earning First Team All-America and First Team All-Big 12 honors. He finished with 19 home runs, tying the WVU single season record, and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Morgantown Regional.
He also spent part of the summer with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and is already getting plenty of attention ahead of the 2027 MLB Draft.
After what he did last season, Kelly will once again be one of the biggest names in WVU’s lineup.
Familiar Faces Return
Kelly is not the only player back from WVU’s run to Omaha.
Armani Guzman, Tyrus Hall and Matt Ineich are among the returning Mountaineers on the fall roster.
Guzman was one of the best base stealers in the Big 12 last season and helped make WVU dangerous on the bases throughout the postseason. Ineich also played an important role and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
That returning experience could be important for a team trying to follow up the best season in program history.
New Names to Watch
Fall ball also gives WVU a chance to see what it has in its newcomers.
One name that stands out is Morgantown native Slade Barton. Barton earned First Team All-State honors at Morgantown High School and was ranked as the No. 1 player in West Virginia in his class.
WVU also added several other freshmen and transfers who will be competing for roles over the next few weeks.
On the mound, sophomore Weston Smith is another player worth watching. The Hurricane, West Virginia native made six appearances as a freshman and had several scoreless outings.
With plenty of roles still to be decided, these fall games will give Sabins and his staff their first real chance to see how the new pieces fit together.
The Road Back Starts Now
Nobody is winning anything in September, but fall baseball feels a little different after what WVU accomplished last season.
The Mountaineers are not trying to prove they can reach Omaha anymore… they have already done it.
Now comes the challenge of building a team capable of getting back.
WVU has another Gold vs. Blue scrimmage Friday at Kendrick Family Ballpark before facing Indiana on Sunday. More fall games are scheduled throughout October, giving fans an early look at the new roster.
There are still plenty of questions to answer before opening day, but the first look at the 2027 Mountaineers is officially here.
