BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - FDU Baseball was slated in the number five spot in the 2026 NEC Preseason Baseball Poll, as the conference announced on Monday afternoon.

The Knights were one of three teams to receive a first place vote in the poll, as defending champion CCSU grabbed six, and LIU was tabbed as the best team in the conference by five coaches, with FDU picking up a lone first place vote. The full preseason poll is listed below. 


1. CCSU (6)
2. LIU (5)
3. Wagner
4. Le Moyne
5. FDU (1)
6. Stonehill
7. Mercyhurst
8. New Haven
9. Coppin State
10. Norfolk State
11. Delaware State
12. UMES

The Knights will feature a club with several key returners as well as a plethora of new additions that are set to help the team from the onset. The Knights will be led by the return of key outfielders, Travis Stroh, Hunter Ray, and Jimmy Mantuano, all of which played over 40 games for FDU in the 2025 season. 

FDU will also have the left side of the infield coming back as All-NEC second team short stop Johnathan Gomez is returning to the Knights after having a breakout freshman campaign in 2025, where he led the team in average, hits, and extra base hits. Diego Urreta will sure up the third base position as he also returns after a 2025 season where he set the school's single season base on balls record. 

The Knights will begin their season by taking to the road for the first seven ballgames of the year, taking on Gardner Webb and Dartmouth in Boiling Springs, N.C. and then traveling to the nation's capital to take on Georgetown in a three game set at Capital One Park.