INDIANAPOLIS – The Horizon League announced the results of the 2026 baseball preseason poll, with the Panthers selected to finish second this season.
 
Milwaukee received 18 points, trailing league favorite Wright State by six. The Panthers were ahead of Northern Kentucky (12 points), Youngstown State (11), and Oakland (10).
 
Milwaukee reached the Horizon League championship round a season ago, earning wins over Purdue Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky, and host Wright State to advance to the tournament's final day.
 
The Panthers posted a 24-35 overall record in 2025, including a 16-13 mark in Horizon League play. Milwaukee finished third in the final standings after being projected to place fourth in the preseason poll.
 
Offensively, the team returns five players that played in at least 35 games last season, including Tristan Ellis, Bradyn Horn, Cade Palkowski, Charlie Marion, and Tate Schmidt. The Panthers also return seven pitchers who made at least 10 appearances with Tyler Andrews, Aric Ehmke, Aiden Fishnick, Matthew Mueller, Riley Peterson, Gavin Theis, and Mason Weckler,
 
Milwaukee adds a talented group of newcomers expected to make an immediate impact, including Christian Holmes, Dominic Kibler, Dylan O'Connell, Grant Ross, and Joey Spence.
 
The Horizon League will feature five teams this season following the departure of Purdue Fort Wayne. In 2027, the league will add Northern Illinois, returning the conference to six programs.
 
The 2026 season begins Friday afternoon when the Panthers visit No. 1/2 LSU at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. Coverage of the weekend series will be available on SEC Network+, with live stats available through the links found on MKEPanthers.com.