Merrimack’s workhorse righty flashed ace-level upside in 2026
In the 2026 season, Hunkele showed real frontline-starter traits for Merrimack: he threw an eight-inning, one-hit gem with nine strikeouts against Marist and later worked six innings in the MAAC tournament, giving the Warriors a chance to win. His calling card is a heavy workload mentality, attack-mode competitiveness, and the ability to miss bats when he’s right. The rough edges are still there — inconsistency and some blow-up outings — but the upside is obvious for a staff that values toughness, strike-throwing, and poise.
