Coming back to ECU baseball: Players who have announced they will be Pirates in 2026

by | Jun 6, 2025

Now, for some good news.

Several East Carolina baseball players have announced through the ECU Baseball X account that they will return for the 2026 season:

  • P Sean Jenkins
  • IF/P Colby Wallace
  • P Ethan Norby
  • IF Braden Burress
  • IF Austin Irby

Their announcements come as at least 14 players have announced they will enter the transfer portal. That includes recent announcements by Brad Pruett, along with Lance Williams and Ian White. On May 14, Kenan Bowman also made the announcement.

Jenkins was 4-4 with a 5.76 ERA. He pitched in 19 games, starting 12 over 70.1 innings. He gave up 40 earned runs on 73 hits with 52 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Wallace batted .269 with 10 homers, 10 doubles, 47 runs and 42 RBI over 62 games. He also pitched in 13 games, registering a 6.39 ERA over 12.2 innings with 11 strikeouts.

Norby was the anchor on the pitching staff, going 8-4 with a 3.80 ERA in 18 games, 14 of them starts. He struck out 119 and walked 22 while giving up 38 earned runs on 74 hits in 90 innings. He created national buzz when he struck out 19 against Coastal Carolina on March 7.

On Friday, ECU announced Norby hadΒ been chosen to play for the 2025 Collegiate National Team.

Burress batted .289 (82 for 211) with 33 RBI, 55 runs, 11 doubles and four homers. He also stole 18 bases. He was named AAC MVP after the Pirates won the conference tournament, beating Tulane. He was also a freshman first-team All-AAC selection.

Irby batted .303 (63 for 208) over 62 games. He hit 12 homers, 10 doubles, scored 40 runs and drove in 50.

Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo)

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