Big East strikeout artist with Friday-night stuff
In the 2026 season, Ryan Piech emerged as Xavier’s ace, going 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA, 98 strikeouts in 76.1 innings, and a Big East-best 11.55 strikeouts per nine while holding hitters to a .201 average and a 1.14 WHIP. His fastball plays above its 92-96 mph velocity thanks to ride, and evaluators praised him as a strikeout-oriented righty who can miss bats in bunches. After returning from Tommy John surgery in 2025, he showed durability, competitiveness, and real draft-stock swagger—ultimately going in the 2026 MLB Draft.
