BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Three Camels once again were on opening day rosters at the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Cedric Mullins was the starting centerfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, Zach Neto the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels and Ryan Thompson once again a key relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In addition, nine Campbell alumni were on affiliated minor league rosters, while Allan Winans, after spending parts of the last three seasons in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees, continued his professional career on the top level in Japan.
For the second-straight year in 2025, Campbell established a new record for sending its alumni to Major League Baseball. Six Campbell alumni played in the major leagues, one more than the previous record of five set in 2024.
Campbell Alumni in Pro Baseball – 2026
Major Leagues
Cedric Mullins | Tampa Bay Rays
After spending his first eight seasons as the starting center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles, Cedric Mullins was traded to the New York Mets on July 31, 2025 in exchange for three pitching prospects. He signed a free agent contract with the Rays during the offseason.
In 42 games with the Mets to close the '25 campaign, Mullins batted .182/.284/.281 with four home runs, 10 RBI and eight stolen bases. At the time of the trade, Mullins led the Orioles in home runs (15), stolen bases (14) and RBI (49) in spite of a 10-day stint on the injured list in early June. In 91 games at Baltimore, Mullins batted .229 and ranked second on the team with 19 doubles.
His combined numbers with Baltimore and New York in 2025 included a .216 batting average, 23 doubles, 17 homers, 59 RBI and 22 steals in 133 games.
Over his 8-year MLB career, Mullins is batting .247 with 103 homers, 337 RBI, 147 steals and a .992 fielding percentage in 826 games.
He was Baltimore's 15th-round pick in the 2015 draft and made his major league debut on Aug. 10, 2018. Mullins was the starting center fielder for the American League in the 2021 All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award after becoming the first Orioles player to hit at least 30 home runs (30) and steal 30 bases (37) in the same season since the franchise moved from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954.
In his only season at Campbell after transferring from Louisburg JC, Mullins batted a team-leading .340 with 59 runs scored and an astounding 34 extra base hits in 2015. He tallied 23 doubles with seven triples and four home runs, tacking on 23 stolen bases. Mullins was named Second Team Atlantic All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Second Team All-Big South.
Zach Neto | Los Angeles Angels
The Angels' top pick in the 2022 draft set career highs in multiple offensive categories during his third season as the team's everyday shortstop in 2025. He played in 128 games before finishing the season on the 10-day injured list.
Neto logged career MLB season highs for runs (82), home runs (26), batting average (.257), OBP (.319), slugging (.474) and OPS (.793). He went 129-of-502 at the plate with 29 doubles, 62 RBI and 26 stolen bases for his second-straight 20-20 season.
After only 48 minor league games, he was called up to the Angels and made his MLB debut on Apr. 15, 2023. The 13th overall pick in 2022, Neto has played in played in 367 career major league games and slashed .247/.316/.440 with 190 runs scored, 80 doubles, 58 homers, 173 RBI and 61 stolen bases.
Neto won back-to-back Big South player of the year honors in 2021 and 2022 and was the tournament MVP in '23. The highest draft pick in program history and was a unanimous 2022 All-American choice. The Miami native slashed .403/.500/.751 in 100 career games at Campbell, where he set the school's all-time batting average record among hitters with 300 ABs, second all-time in OBP and slugging.
Ryan Thompson | Arizona Diamondbacks
Thompson concluded his third season as a relief pitcher with the Diamondbacks and sixth overall in the big leagues in 2025. He appeared in 48 games this year with a 3-2 record, 3.92 ERA, one save, and 36 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. Originally selected by Houston in the 23rd round of the 2014 MLB draft, he has pitched in two World Series – in 2020 for the Tampa Bay Rays and 2023 for Arizona.
In six major league seasons since making his MLB debut on July 24, 2020 with the Rays, Thompson has made 254 pitching appearances with an 18-16 record, eight saves, a 3.54 ERA and 208 Ks in 241.1 innings.
In two seasons at Campbell, Thompson led the Camels to back-to-back Big South title games and the program's first league championship in 24 years in 2014. The 2013 Big South pitcher of the year after leading the Camels to a 49-10 record and the conference regular season title, he was named tournament MVP one year later.
Thompson was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame on Jan. 24, 2026.
Minor Leagues
Thomas Harrington | AAA | Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates)
A first-round pick in 2022, Harrington opened the 2026 season with Pittsburgh's top minor league affiliate at Indianapolis. Tabbed as the number three prospect in the Pirates organization, Harrington made his major league debut on April 1, 2025 and was called up twice by the parent club. He has appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, including his first career MLB start against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Harrington has compiled a 0-1 won-lost record with a 15.58 ERA and seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings on the major league level. He was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 2. With Indianapolis, he posted a 7-9 mark with a 5.34 ERA and 90 Ks in 96.0 innings over 21 appearances (20 starts).
In his first three professional seasons, Harrington has made 69 pitching appearances in the minors (67 starts) and posted a 21-18 record, 3.73 ERA and 351 whiffs in 340.2 frames.
Drafted in the first round (36th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022, Harrington received a $2 million signing bonus. He was named the Big South freshman of the year in 2021 and the Big South pitcher of the year in 2022. In his final year at CU, the All-American led the nation with 12 wins (12-2) with a 2.53 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He struck out a program-record 111 batters while walking just 18.
Seth Johnson | AAA | Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Philadelphia Phillies)
Johnson opened the 2026 campaign with Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate. He divided the 2025 season between Philadelphia and the Phillies' Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He helped the Phils win the National League East Division title but was not added to the post-season roster for the NLDS.
With Philadelphia, Johnson made 10 appearances, all in relief, and posted a 1-1 won-lost record with a 4.26 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.
Converted to a reliever as pitching primarily as a starter in his 6-year pro career, Johnson's four-seam fastball touches 99 miles per hour. In 39 games (4 starts) this year at Lehigh Valley, he posted a 5-5 record, 4.75 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 60.2 innings.
Named the No. 12 prospect in the Phillies system, Johnson has made 108 career minor league appearances (66 starts), posted a 14-22 record, 3.22 ERA and fanned 342 batters in 304.1 innings. He made his major league debut with the Phillies on Sept. 8, 2024.
The 40th overall selection in the 2019 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Johnson was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on June 30, 2024. The Rays swapped him to the Orioles on Aug. 1, 2022. In one season at Campbell (2019) after transferring from Louisburg JC, Johnson made 14 appearances, including 11 starts, while posting a 3-3 record with 85 strikeouts across 66.1 innings.
Spencer Packard | AAA | Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners)
A non-roster invitee to MLB spring training with the Mariners for the second straight year, Packard opened the 2026 season with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. In 2025, he batted .278 with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 75 RBI over 116 games at Tacoma. He owned a .391 on-base percentage while slugging .413.
A ninth-round choice of the Seattle Mariners in the 2021 draft, Packard reached AAA for the first time in the '24 season. In 431 minor league games over his first five seasons, the 2021 All-American owned a .283/.389/.431 slash line with 91 doubles, 46 homers and 274 RBI.
As a senior in 2021, Packard ranked fourth in the nation and first in the Big South Conference with 67 RBI on his way to earning second-team All-America honors. He helped lead Campbell to NCAA Regional finals in 2019 and 2021.
Ty Cummings | AA | Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)
Cummings opened the 2026 season with Double-A Montgomery, where he spent a good portion of last year. In 2025, he posted a combined 8-4 won-lost record with a 3.29 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 123.0 combined innings between Double-A Montgomery and the Triple-A Durham Bulls.
Acquired in a 2024-25 offseason trade with Seattle, Cummings was named the Southern League pitcher of the week on April 20, 2025. He posted a 7-4 record with a 3.34 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 116.0 frames over 26 games (19 starts) at AA. At Durham, he posted a 1-0 record with a 2.57 ERA over 3 outings (1 start).
Now in his third pro season, Cummings has compiled a 12-9 won-lost mark, 3.72 ERA and 216 Ks over 239.2 innings over 54 appearances (45 starts).
Chosen in the seventh round of the 2023 draft by the Seattle Mariners, the right-handed hurler was Campbell's most-used bullpen arm over his three seasons (2021-23), making 74 total appearances, good for the sixth-most total appearances in program history. He logged 135 total strikeouts in 154.1 innings of work with a career 4.37 ERA while earning Big South all-conference honors twice.
Cade Kuehler | High-A | Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves)
After spending the entire 2025 season on the injured list after offseason surgery on his pitching arm, Kuehler opened the 2026 campaign on the active roster of the High-A Rome (Ga.) Emperors in the Braves system.
He made his professional debut in 2024 and made 12 starts with the (Single-A) Augusta GreenJackets and (High-A) Rome Emperors. He posted a 3-6 record with a 3.74 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 53 innings before going on the injured list July 19, 2024.
Chosen by Atlanta in the 2nd round (70th overall) of the 2023 draft, Kuehler was an All-Big South first-team pitcher in 2023, going 8-1 with a team-best 2.71 ERA. He compiled 243 career strikeouts, the third-most in program history and the only pitcher in the program's top 10 to reach that mark in just three seasons.
Cole Peschl | High-A | Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins)
Peschl opened his second pro season with the High-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernels in the Twins chain. He started his first professional season in 2025 at Single-A Fort Myers before being promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids on May 21. He owned a 5-2 record with a 2.49 ERA and one save while fanning 67 hitters over 68.2 innings in 15 appearances (11 starts).
Chosen in the 15th round of the '24 draft by the Minnesota Twins, the right-hander led the Camels with 83 strikeouts over 69 innings and made 16 starts with a 3-3 record and 5.48 ERA in his only season at CU.
Grant Knipp | Rookie | ACL Mariners (Seattle Mariners)
After spending the entire 2025 season on the injured list after undergoing surgery, Knipp opened the '26 campaign on the active roster of the Mariners' rookie league team in Arizona. He was selected as a two-way player in the sixth round of the 2024 draft by the Seattle Mariners. Despite playing in only 29 games due to injury, Knipp was named first-team All-CAA in 2024 after batting .402/.547/1.029 with 18 home runs and 46 RBI. On the mound, he had a 1.59 ERA and two saves in six relief appearances. After signing with the Mariners on July 23, Knipp did not play in any games during the 2024 minor league season. A 6-foot-2 catcher, Knipp was named first-team all-conference and the 2023 Big South tournament MVP.
Jake Murray | Rookie | FCL Twins (Minnesota Twins)
After earning All-CAA honorable mention recognition in 2025, left-handed pitcher
Jake Murray signed a minor league free agent contract with the Minnesota Twins organization. He opened the 2026 campaign with Minnesota's rookie league team in Florida.
He led the 2025 Camels with 15 starts and fanned a team-high 82, which tied for third in the CAA. Murray finished the season with a 4-2 record, 4.68 ERA over 59.2 innings and held opponents to a .220 average. Murray struck out a career high 14 and did not allow a hit in 6.0 innings against Texas State. At the end of the regular season, he was 12th in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.64. Murray finished his 3-season Campbell career with a 4.60 ERA in 38 appearances, making 19 starts. He pitched a total of 101.2 innings holding opponents to a .212 batting average.
Derek Vartanian | Rookie | FCL Braves (Atlanta Braves)
Like Knipp, Vartanian missed the entire 2025 campaign due to injury, but started the '26 season on the active roster in rookie ball. Vartanian signed a minor league free agent contract July 17, 2024, with the Atlanta Braves, but has yet to make his professional debut. In his only season at Campbell (2024) after transferring from Gaston College, Vartanian posted a 1-2 record with a 7.36 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 11 innings in three games before sitting out the rest of the year due to injury.
Overseas
Allan Winans | Saitama Seibu Lions | Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan)
After splitting the last three seasons between AAA and the big leagues, Winans signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level in Japan.
He was called up by the New York Yankees twice during the 2025 season. He made three appearances, including one start and posted a 0-1 record with an 8.68 ERA over 9.1 innings. He was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 29. Like Johnson in Philadelphia, Winans helped his team earn a playoff spot but was not added to the Yanks' wild card round postseason roster.
In his first season with the Bronx Bombers' Triple-A team, Winans compiled a 12-1 record with a 1.63 ERA in 21 outings (18 starts) for the RailRiders. He struck out 105 batters in 991.1 innings.
He made eight MLB starts with the Braves over the 2023 and 2024 seasons and compiled a 1-4 record, 7.20 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 40 frames. The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Jan. 23, 2025.
In eight seasons in organized ball, Winans' made 149 minor league pitching appearances (63 starts) and owned a 32-22 record, 2.70 ERA and 483 Ks in 513.1 innings plus 16 saves.
Originally a 17th round selection of the New York Mets in the 2018 draft, the Braves claimed him off waivers on Dec. 8, 2021. Winans made his MLB debut on July 22, 2023 with the Braves.
The Big South pitcher of the year in 2018, Winans posted a 6-4 record with a 2.73 ERA and 96 strikeouts in just 82 innings. He turned in 10 quality starts, and his 10.49 Ks per 9 innings that season was a program record at the time.
