Baseball Signs 10 Players for 2027 Season
November 12, 2025 03:30 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University baseball head coach Steve Sabins has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes for the 2027 season.
Joining the program are CJ Alfano (Bohemia, N.Y.), Slade Barton (Morgantown, W.Va.), Jordan Burwell (Pompton Lakes, N.J.), Kyle Casteel (Butler, Pa.), Luke Coats (East Northport, N.Y.), Colin Harrison (Elkridge, Md.), Blake Krushinski (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Kayden Lipscomb (Frederick, Md.), Joshua Viars (Prosper, Texas), and Seth Williams (Galveston, Texas).
"I am thrilled about the quality of players and people we are bringing to WVU," Sabins said. "Coach Jacob Garcia and the entire staff have worked tirelessly to build one of the strongest classes ever assembled. In recruiting, we relentlessly search for the 'total package'. The players in the 2026 class fit this mold."
"This is a major milestone for these individuals," Sabins continued. "The work and expectations only grow from here. I look forward to seeing these players develop into the best college players in the country."
CJ Alfano | 1B | Bohemia, New York | St. Anthony's High School
CJ Alfano played for coach Paul Parsolano at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York. Alfano, a two-time All-League selection, is the second-ranked first baseman in New York, and the 29th nationally. He is ranked 24th overall in the state of New York. Son of Chris and Kathy, Alfano has not decided his major yet.
Slade Barton | RHP | Morgantown, West Virginia | Morgantown High School
Slade Barton played for coach Patrick Sherald at Morgantown High School. Barton most recently received 2025 First Team All-State Honors. He is the #1 overall player in the state of West Virginia as well as the 205th-ranked RHP in the nation. Son of Garrett and Katie, he will be majoring in Sports Management at WVU.
Jordan Burwell | 1B | Pompton Lakes, NJ | Seton Hall Prep
Jordan Burwell played for coach Michael Sheppard Jr. at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, New Jersey. Burwell amassed several key accolades in high school, including First Team All-County, All-Conference First-Team, 2025 Essex County Player of the Year, NJ First Team All Non-Public, and First Team All-Division. Burwell is the top-ranked first baseman in New Jersey and the 17th overall player in the state. He is the 18th ranked first baseman nationally. Son of Harold and Elizabeth, Burwell will major in Finance at WVU.
Kyle Casteel | RHP | Butler, Pennsylvania | Butler Area High School
Kyle Casteel played under coach Josh Forbes at Butler Area High School. As a three-year letterman, Casteel most notably posted a 0.63 ERA his junior year. Casteel is ranked 18th overall in the state of Pennsylvania, and is the 10th ranked pitcher. He is the 203rd overall RHP nationally. Son of Mark and Kristan, Casteel will be majoring in Business at West Virginia.
Luke Coats | RHP | East Northport, New York | St. Anthony's High School
Luke Coats played for coach Paul Parsolano at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York. As a four-year varsity athlete, Coats earned All-League honors his sophomore and junior year, while being ranked a top 10 pitcher on Long Island, as well as a top 100 player his junior year. In his four years, he pitched to a 2.76 ERA, with nine wins and 111 strikeouts. His batting average-against was .191. Son of Christopher and Ania, he will be majoring in Kinesiology at WVU.
Colin Harrison | LHP | Elkridge, Maryland | Mount Saint Joseph High School
Colin Harrison joins WVU from coach Phil Kraska at Mount Saint Joseph High School. Harrison comes to Morgantown as the fourth highest ranked player from Maryland in his class, and the second highest LHP. Nationally, he is the 45th ranked LHP. Son of Brad and Allison, Harrison will be majoring in Finance in Morgantown upon his arrival.
Blake Krushinski | RHP | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Fox Chapel Area High School
Blake Krushinski joins the Mountaineers from coach Jim Hastings, at Fox Chapel Area High School. The No. 200 player and No. 58 right-handed pitcher nationally according to Perfect Game, Krushinski was also on the WPIAL All-Section Team, a 2025 Underclassmen All-American (Atlantic Region), and 2025 All-Tournament Team WWBA Worlds. Son of Brad and Andrea, he will be majoring in Sports Management at WVU.
Kayden Lipscomb | INF | Frederick, Maryland | Urbana High School
Kayden Lipscomb played under coach Michael Frownfelter at Urbana High School. As an MSABC preseason All-State nominee, Lipscomb went on to be recognized as First-Team All-County, CMC First-Team, and participated in TeamXposure All-Star Weekend. Son of LaVictor and Dayna and brother of Trey Lipscomb of the Washington Nationals, he will be majoring in Communications at West Virginia.
Joshua Viars | UTL | Prosper, Texas | Prosper Walnut Grove High School
Joshua Viars played under coach Mark Cain at Walnut Grove High School. Viars received several key honors in high school, including First Team All-District DH, Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-State DH, Second Team All-District SS, and four selections to the Academic All-District Team. As the son of Billy and Tracy, Viars will be studying Finance once he arrives in Morgantown.
Seth Williams | OF | Galveston, Texas | Galveston College | Ball High School
Seth Williams will join the Mountaineers after three seasons at Galveston College. After playing just three games as a freshman, Williams played 42 games as a redshirt-freshman and hit .299 with six home runs, 25 RBI, and 32 runs scored. A threat on the basepaths, he also added 13 stolen bases. At Ball High School, Williams was named First Team All-District and All-County for baseball as well as football. Son of Billy and Annie, he plans on studying Political Science at WVU.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Joining the program are CJ Alfano (Bohemia, N.Y.), Slade Barton (Morgantown, W.Va.), Jordan Burwell (Pompton Lakes, N.J.), Kyle Casteel (Butler, Pa.), Luke Coats (East Northport, N.Y.), Colin Harrison (Elkridge, Md.), Blake Krushinski (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Kayden Lipscomb (Frederick, Md.), Joshua Viars (Prosper, Texas), and Seth Williams (Galveston, Texas).
"I am thrilled about the quality of players and people we are bringing to WVU," Sabins said. "Coach Jacob Garcia and the entire staff have worked tirelessly to build one of the strongest classes ever assembled. In recruiting, we relentlessly search for the 'total package'. The players in the 2026 class fit this mold."
"This is a major milestone for these individuals," Sabins continued. "The work and expectations only grow from here. I look forward to seeing these players develop into the best college players in the country."
CJ Alfano | 1B | Bohemia, New York | St. Anthony's High School
CJ Alfano played for coach Paul Parsolano at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York. Alfano, a two-time All-League selection, is the second-ranked first baseman in New York, and the 29th nationally. He is ranked 24th overall in the state of New York. Son of Chris and Kathy, Alfano has not decided his major yet.
Slade Barton | RHP | Morgantown, West Virginia | Morgantown High School
Slade Barton played for coach Patrick Sherald at Morgantown High School. Barton most recently received 2025 First Team All-State Honors. He is the #1 overall player in the state of West Virginia as well as the 205th-ranked RHP in the nation. Son of Garrett and Katie, he will be majoring in Sports Management at WVU.
Jordan Burwell | 1B | Pompton Lakes, NJ | Seton Hall Prep
Jordan Burwell played for coach Michael Sheppard Jr. at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, New Jersey. Burwell amassed several key accolades in high school, including First Team All-County, All-Conference First-Team, 2025 Essex County Player of the Year, NJ First Team All Non-Public, and First Team All-Division. Burwell is the top-ranked first baseman in New Jersey and the 17th overall player in the state. He is the 18th ranked first baseman nationally. Son of Harold and Elizabeth, Burwell will major in Finance at WVU.
Kyle Casteel | RHP | Butler, Pennsylvania | Butler Area High School
Kyle Casteel played under coach Josh Forbes at Butler Area High School. As a three-year letterman, Casteel most notably posted a 0.63 ERA his junior year. Casteel is ranked 18th overall in the state of Pennsylvania, and is the 10th ranked pitcher. He is the 203rd overall RHP nationally. Son of Mark and Kristan, Casteel will be majoring in Business at West Virginia.
Luke Coats | RHP | East Northport, New York | St. Anthony's High School
Luke Coats played for coach Paul Parsolano at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York. As a four-year varsity athlete, Coats earned All-League honors his sophomore and junior year, while being ranked a top 10 pitcher on Long Island, as well as a top 100 player his junior year. In his four years, he pitched to a 2.76 ERA, with nine wins and 111 strikeouts. His batting average-against was .191. Son of Christopher and Ania, he will be majoring in Kinesiology at WVU.
Colin Harrison | LHP | Elkridge, Maryland | Mount Saint Joseph High School
Colin Harrison joins WVU from coach Phil Kraska at Mount Saint Joseph High School. Harrison comes to Morgantown as the fourth highest ranked player from Maryland in his class, and the second highest LHP. Nationally, he is the 45th ranked LHP. Son of Brad and Allison, Harrison will be majoring in Finance in Morgantown upon his arrival.
Blake Krushinski | RHP | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Fox Chapel Area High School
Blake Krushinski joins the Mountaineers from coach Jim Hastings, at Fox Chapel Area High School. The No. 200 player and No. 58 right-handed pitcher nationally according to Perfect Game, Krushinski was also on the WPIAL All-Section Team, a 2025 Underclassmen All-American (Atlantic Region), and 2025 All-Tournament Team WWBA Worlds. Son of Brad and Andrea, he will be majoring in Sports Management at WVU.
Kayden Lipscomb | INF | Frederick, Maryland | Urbana High School
Kayden Lipscomb played under coach Michael Frownfelter at Urbana High School. As an MSABC preseason All-State nominee, Lipscomb went on to be recognized as First-Team All-County, CMC First-Team, and participated in TeamXposure All-Star Weekend. Son of LaVictor and Dayna and brother of Trey Lipscomb of the Washington Nationals, he will be majoring in Communications at West Virginia.
Joshua Viars | UTL | Prosper, Texas | Prosper Walnut Grove High School
Joshua Viars played under coach Mark Cain at Walnut Grove High School. Viars received several key honors in high school, including First Team All-District DH, Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-State DH, Second Team All-District SS, and four selections to the Academic All-District Team. As the son of Billy and Tracy, Viars will be studying Finance once he arrives in Morgantown.
Seth Williams | OF | Galveston, Texas | Galveston College | Ball High School
Seth Williams will join the Mountaineers after three seasons at Galveston College. After playing just three games as a freshman, Williams played 42 games as a redshirt-freshman and hit .299 with six home runs, 25 RBI, and 32 runs scored. A threat on the basepaths, he also added 13 stolen bases. At Ball High School, Williams was named First Team All-District and All-County for baseball as well as football. Son of Billy and Annie, he plans on studying Political Science at WVU.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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