College Baseball’s Top Relievers of the 2026 Season
Bullpens across the nation are preparing to showcase some of college baseball’s most dominant relievers as the 2026 season approaches. Three pitchers stand out among an elite group of closers and setup men ready to shut down opposing lineups. Arizona’s Tony Pluta, Coastal Carolina’s Dominick Carbone, and North Carolina’s Walker McDuffie represent top-tier late-inning talent. With Opening Day scheduled for February 13th, college baseball fans can expect to see all three relievers play pivotal roles throughout the season.
Pluta returns to Arizona as one of the nation’s most decorated relievers following a sensational junior campaign. The five-foot-nine senior from Palatine, Illinois, earned the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award in 2025 while collecting multiple All-American honors. Pluta’s résumé includes First Team All-American recognition from the ABCA and NCBWA, along with being named Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. His blend of elite performance and academic achievement underscores his status as a complete student-athlete. The right-hander also earned CSC First Team Academic All-American honors, reinforcing his excellence both on the mound and in the classroom.
Coastal Carolina’s Dominick Carbone enters his junior season with high expectations after a dominant sophomore year. The five-foot-eleven left-hander from Rocky Point, New York, posted a perfect 6-0 record while recording five saves in 2025. Carbone appeared in 28 games, logged 41 innings, and struck out 52 batters while facing 174 hitters. His preseason accolades include NCBWA Preseason Second Team All-American and D1Baseball Preseason First Team All-American honors. Carbone’s ability to neutralize opposing hitters positions him as one of the most reliable arms in college baseball entering the new season.
North Carolina’s Walker McDuffie completes the trio following a standout freshman campaign. The six-foot sophomore from Broadway, North Carolina, appeared in a team-high 28 games and recorded seven saves across 55 and one-third innings. McDuffie earned second-team freshman All-American honors from the NCBWA, D1Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game. He finished the season with a 3.74 ERA, 72 strikeouts, and just 25 walks. McDuffie was part of the pitching staff that had the third-best ERA in the nation at 3.47. The Tar Heels will lean on McDuffie as they pursue another title this upcoming season. Standout sophomores like McDuffie will play crucial roles for their respective programs in college baseball this season.
