James Gladden gives Maryland a strikeout-leaning, battle-tested arm
In the 2026 season, Maryland right-hander James Gladden has been a useful swing piece, posting 24 strikeouts in 19.0 innings while making 14 appearances and one start. His calling card is bat-missing stuff and a track record of taking the ball after transferring in from VCU, where he worked 61.1 innings and tied for the team lead with five wins in 2023. He’s a good fit if you want a competitive, experienced arm who can attack hitters in short bursts, though his run prevention has been uneven and he’s more grinder than gaudy stat machine.
